The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-06-24
The IIEAAS RANGERS
Old Institution to Be Legislated Out
Of Existence.
Ma. Lost Caste of Late Years ana
Has DwIRdled Down 40
Mere Handful Of
Old Timers.

We are KDittk bD use Nnhb mas 81
wayn been 10 me the most character
istic Of the men of Texas. If bit OF Leg
islasioa now pending manages to pass,
said Frank H. Lamar. of Austin. In that
state. The proposition is up 10 do
away with the Texas state rangers, a
body Of rough and ready fellows who
were a cross between the gentleman
cowboy, the policeman and the tough
man OF the plains. At one time there
was bunch Of these fellows, who liked
the rough and careless lives they had
to lead They were the most irregu-
lar Of regulars, but they were very Fl.
licient police force for the state, and
they have n record Of very many good
deeds performed In the line OF duty.
as well ~ one OF some pretty rough
fun.
"They came into being just after the
war az q sort Of mounted police for
our frontier, 10 guard the then sparse
ly settled country from the greasers'
who came over from Mexico 20 steal
cattle or smuggle goods from one coun-
try 10 the other. They hated greas-
srs, Indians and aquawmen n his Sa-
tanic majesty In said 20 hate holy wa
ter, and would rather kin one than eat
q square meal or kin RATHER. They
had n sort Of uniform, but the prin-
cipal feature OF IL was the saddle Of
their horses, and whenever one had
made q good bit of money IL was
saddle that he first thought OF pnr-
chasing. Some Of these were gorgeous
In the extreme. all covered with silver
ornaments and tillRree work Of all
sorts. Each Of them carried n navy re-
volver, a cnrblne, laseo and blanket
when he was on duty. Their ponies
were the tough little bronchos Of the
plains, and they could ride like the
devil. shoot 10 kill. riding or standing.
and endure any hardship. They feared
neither God, man nor the devil, as has
been well said Of them. and each had
u lot Of notches In the butt Of either his
earbine or his revolver. generally in
both, as proof OF the individuals they
had killed in the line Of duty. each
notch indicating life taken. II was
generally the life of man whom the
community could well spare. They
thus marked the passage to their last
account Of horse thieves. smugglera. In
diana or bad men, who were the worst.
as they were the most cowardiy and
treacherous, OF the whole bunch.
"of late years the rangers have
rather lost caste and they have dwln.
died down 20 about so In all. drawing
pay from the state. The country has
become 80 generally settled and the
tough element SO well subdued that
there seems now no longer any place
for them In the police scheme OF the
state. am not the only old Texan
that In sorry 20 see the rangers 20. for,
even though they have of late lived
rather In the imagination Of the people
than In fact. they were 80 thoroughly
feared by thieves and rufiiana that their
past reputation has served To keep these
people ON their good behavior. W.
all fear that with the passing OF this
body there may return frontier troubles
and perhaps the old.tlme thievery and
smuggling, Hut l suppose the stat,
officers and legislators know best about
the matter, and we will have 10 nc
cept their dispersion whether or no
hut one thing do know, and that 10 thai
the women who have 10 live on IN,
ranches win regret the passing OF tbs
rangers. They rarely had any use foi
them, but when there was any troubl,
and the rangers were around. the WON
en- folks knew they were safe. Man,
woman owes her life TO the timely ar
rival az the ranch of one or more 81
these members of our frontier police
They've been mighty good friends Il
the Texans, but as they have oHtlivc,
their day In helping along the schem'
OF civilization suppose they must 40
They will be nightly missed by IN,
early settlers Of the state. those mcI
who aided 20 develop the big ranches
some Of whom are bigger than IN,
states up east hefe."--N. Y. Times.