The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
THE ROUGH RIDERS SCHOOL
ACTUAL LIFE OF THE COWBoY ON
WEsTERN CATTLE RANGES.

ships and Fascination of the I.ife-Food
and Pay Good-work of the Round-Up.
FORT COLLINS. Col June 21.-lt Is not to be
wondered at that the rough riders made good
fighters. They we're trained and hardened to
that kind OF work. The majority OF them were
cowboys. fresh from the Western cattle ranges.
Some OF them we're born to tho life while
others had become familiar with 1t by
long usage. Cowboy life IL moro ardu
ous than most people suppose, For in
stance. the dangers Of the roundup are
greater than those OF the battlefield; that is,
the statistics will show proportionately more
casualties among cowboys than among sol
diers engaged in active campaigning This
does not include casualties from shooting In
the case OF the cowboys. The cowboy seldom
carries a gun on the roundup. and he would
have little use for II II he did except to shoot
prairie dogs and coyotes In olden times an
occasional shooting scrape was heard OF. but OF
late years IL 10 not considered good form for a
cowboy to pack around heavy six-shooter on
his hip. 1t is only the cowboy that you sec In
the picture books that does this.
Life on the roundup Is n very sober and
matter-of-fact affair. There is much hard
work and little time for frivolites. 1t IL up
early In the morning and lato to bed at night.
The life has its destinations. The broad plains
stretch away on every side until they touch the
horizon. Overhead. as q general thing. there
is a clear sky and bright sun At night the
stars. which appear to hang very low down,
beam mildly from rich blue. and II the moon
be full tits light enough to read a newspaper by.
Across the plains the breezes play conttn-
ualy signing softly through the bunch
grass and sage brush. And mounted on
q feet-footed bronco. 1t Is up and away
for miles and miles over the swelling plains
with the lightness and freedom OF a bird. Two
campaigns each year the cowboy makes-the
spring and the fall roundup. The spring
roundup is for the purpose Of branding tho
young calves. The fall roundup is for the
gathering OF the fat steers. which arc destined
to be sold for beef. The fall roundup is the
more agreeable. for the branding OF calves is
not pleasant occupation. especially to one
who has nerves that in any way sensitive.
But at best 1t is life OF constant ac-
tivity Leagues OF prairie must be secured
in all directions. Every ravine. every little
valley. every place whore a CREATURE may hide
from human sight must be searched so that no
calf may escape the branding iron and no fat
beef escape tho shambes. Like an invading
army the roundup sweeps across the country,
and little of any account slips through its
meshes until the last nook or corner has been
searched. and nothing is left in the "cavvy"
but lot Of mavericks. These are rarcelled
out. and the roundup is disbanded
Quite simple affair Is the cowboys outfit.
suit was Of buckskin-trousers and shirt orna-
mented with a fringe OF the same material.
Nowadays it may be a cheap hand-me-d down
suit. but the trousers-legs are tucked dee p into
. pair OF high boots-high both as to legs and
as to heels. and at the bootheels Jingle pair OF
spurs. The broad brimmed felt hat or SOM
brero is seldom missing. 1t is q protec-
ton against sun and rain. The crown
is surrounded by leather band and
depending from beneath the brim is a leather
loop to be used under tho chin in case OF high
wind. frequently 1t 10 marked upon its ample
brim with the owners name. the brand OF the
outfit TO which the owner belongs and various
other legends o. character significant OF the
range. The cowboy wears heavy woollen shirt
or perhaps a sweater. with some kind OF hand.
kerchief knotted loosely around the neck.
This Is for both and ornament For
rough weather he has his leathern jumper
and oilskin slicker. Over his trousers he
wears q pair OF chaps. or loose leather trous-
ers. as a protection against rain and wind. as
suns at the fS wrist i. a a. M v
with thick, heavy handle. very much OF tho
e enc 81 weight p uy S &c used
s1ss q an u4[IS s9T R9n n or o3stresPsro1s
Is he ns
to handle with dexterity.
whsn shs M o he b
s1Sspsiopp Of the horse that he is to ride This
sDars: chars: is5iaf aaa Kit q 6ed ., H. Tho
sarpauIin Is made Et p Of double isnsth and IS
composed Of eighteen ounce canvas. In pack;
length upon the ground. and the rest Of the
piled oys Sr at tbs s T neS
the whole made into compact roll and secured
By stout leather Sq9ked tightly IL
ss SrS to t. TRsH has EdSTsG6
gnSaad sss sss p SaR9 9gH
One fold Of the tnfp.udH ts K him
him. and is 81 such length that tho
end in case Of stormy weather can ,sn,s h
the tempest may howl across tho ,treeless
plains and the rain fall in the 9seo
the sleep OF the just. The first thing he does
upon srlsiPs in the morninG unless ssr his PED q,
roll up his bundio in precisely the same shape
that It was before he retired on the previous
20 %as sna' %
roundup outfit consists OF foreman. cook.
occasion demsnis. q The foreman Is com man der.
in-chief. and his orders are absolute. The
re- meals hs se
from point to point as the roundup progresses;
The ssf Of the haad
as an indication Of the amount OF riding done. II
stated h 20 to
depending upon the character Of the animals
and tho nature OF the country to be ridden
over. The first one stirring In camp in the
morning is the cook who turns out soon after
s O'Clock. He rouses the camp and starts his
fire for breakfast. The cowboys crawl sIeepiiy
Forth from their warm blankets, rubbing their
eyes and strengthening their lin os, ,stifrened
Of the campfire they roll up their bed
ding, make a hasty toilet and then go OUT
TO where the ponies are picketed 10 select tho
horses which are to be- ridden for the day. OF
course the freshest are seected; Then the an
Imals are saddled and brided and taken to
camp. whore they are picketed to await tho
pleasure OF their riders. who must get their
breakfast before going out upon the range.
breakfast over and the sun perhaps Just ap-
pearing above the HORIZON the cowboys receive
they scatter over the waking plains in
the fresh morning air, When, they return
depends upon circumstances II they have to
ride far and they are bothered with wi Id cattle
or weakly cows with calyes that must be driven
slowly they may not get back to camp until
late In the afternoon or far into tho night;
but whenever they may return there Is hlWays