The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-19

ter the war the Texas legislature pro-
vided for calling out twelve hundred
rangers to protect the frontier once
more against hostile Indians. Then as
the country quieted down once more
the rangers were gradually reduced to
a thousand, and then by easy stages
to three hundred men, and for the last
ten years there has been no legally
constituted force of rangers.
In the summer of 1S47 the Rangers
followed the Comanches, numbering
over three thousand, for three months.
and during that time scarcely left the
saddle, sleeping, If need be, on horse
back, and never leaving their clothes
for an instant. Several times there
were engagements of several hours
length but at last they subdued them,
and then Immediately had to turn their
attention to crush the even more dan
gerouS and hostile Apaches on the
west. This took three months more
of their time. but with these Indians
the United States troops also took a
hand, and bore their share of the hard
ships and danger. In October of the
same year, hostile bands of marauding
Mexicans that had crossed the frontier
with the avowed purpose of killing all
defenseless settlers, had to be searched
out amid vast stretches and trackless
foothills, and fought under all imagin-
able hazardous circumstances.
In one week % Rangers were killed
by the intrenched half-breed bandits
to the number of 800. Altogether, the
campaigning against Comanches
ApacheS and marauders lasted IN
months, and there was not a rest dav.
no time when the Rangers felt secure
from danger, no time when they were
free from the danger of a rifle shot
from some skulking foe in all those
months. Seventeen per cent more were
wounded by poisoned arrows and bull
let's, SO that they became invalids for
lie. No danger was too risky. They
thought nothing of attacking twice
their number and even went so far as
10 catch desperate outlaws intrenched
IN houses behind barricaded doors. who
We're All the while pouring a leaden hail
OF bullets as they rushed to the attack.
LlItIe squads of Rangers had no
thought of the fearful chances thew
We're taking in going for miles into a
hostlle Indian region surrounded on all
sldes by treacherous savages.
any unmarried man over is wears
OLD Is eligible as a ranger. but il is an
exceedingly difficult matter to get into
the organization, and but few men can
IuinH the requisites for membership
Inc term of the enlistment is one wear
Inc ranger furnishes his horse. ac-
coutrements and arms, while the state
furnishes food for the men, forage
ammunition, medicine and medical at
tendance. The pay of captains is 500
a. month, sergeants $50 and privates $50
Inc force is made up of young men
sober, well ordered, and, as a rule
talrly well educated. The rangers of
today attend to business in the same
thorough fashion as their famed prede-
cessors, and in small bands of six or
eight pursue and capture the worst
desperadoes of the border communi-
ties. They dress as they please, but
experience teaches them that cordu-
roy coat with reversible waterproof lin
ing, heavy riding trousers and boots
well spurred, a flannel shirt. buckslzin
gloves and big hat are the best ONT
hts. For arms they carry a short car
bine, bowie knife and a Colts six
shooter, which hangs almost to the
knee. In their belts are their cart
ridges, and so ACQUIRED thew are
always ready to mount and ride.
whether 1t be to capture some desper-
ate train robber who has held up a pas-
senger train or to pursue a gang of
cattle thieves, or, mayhap. a murderer
or some other desperate character. In
Waco, Tex. there is a club of ex-
rangers, and when the members as
semble and are in the mood a visitor
may have some of the most thrilling
anecdotes and stories he has ever heard
or read.