The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-24

~ HE cowboys are all white men
generally native Floridians, and
the most Independent, resolute
hardworking men engaged in
IL any branch OF rural industry.
Some colored men have been
tried occasionally, and when they were
men Of the old -eeime they have sorae-
times given satisfaction; but he negroes
of the present generation are well-nish
wort HESS Their work is not that steady,
unbroken toll which is the ut of the
agricultural laborer. but II is full OF peril
and exposure as the writer can we'll
perceive after following band of cow
boys In the saddle for one forenoon.
Each cowboy carried as his instructions
10 select the beef animals and the un-
branded calves. Securing far out over the
illimitable prairie each cowboy, as he
comes upon a group or a single animal,
must decide with promptness whether
there are any III for marketing II any
he sweeps them in toward a common CEN
ter Some OF the cattle. especially calves.
seem dazed by the clatter and rush Of the
horse, and they have not a particle OF
sense: they dash helter-sketer in every
direction. A well-nourished calf Of two
or three months, with head and tail In
air can run with incredible swiftnes The
pony is obliged to head him of al what
ever cost and II may he the tiftieth squirt
he has taken that morning. carrying a
man In addition. while the caf Is fresh
and carries only his own skin. The pony
may step on palmetto root or slide in
the mud. and hurl the rider headlong.
though this seldom occurs. Galoping
through n piece of woods, he may strike
his rider against tree or brance and
irf1ict severe injury upon him.
Therefore, the pay they receive-si.25
day and found. or $50 day and board
themselves-is not out of reason. even
though they may pass fhany days in the
year in inactivity.
The writer has ridden many day with
the Texas cowboys; in fact. he once
crossed the continent with a company OF
about thirty, driving herds, which aggre-
gated ut the start about 1900 head. The
difference between the cowboys OF the
two states is marked. The Texas cowboys
are noisy. roaring fellows; when they cir
Gle out to raise a herd and start II In
motion they utter prolonged yells;
Whoop Whoop! Y-o-o-oopl Whoop
Whoop! The Florida cowbys dart 81
lently and swiftly arund the outlying cat
tie. only occasionally cracking their long
whips and uttering a suppressed oath. or
more frequently, some rough. cowboy
Joke. In great rush. when the cattle
are hard to head or, or I'm a stampede, in
order to drown the noise and distract the
attention Of the cattle the Texas cow
boys do not hesitate to shoot into them
with revolvers. not always over their
heads, either, but boring them through the
quarters anywhere. even dropping one on
the prairie now and then. The Florida
cowboys are never so reckless
But Ii must he admitted that they have
not az much provocation as the Texas
cowboys have. Both Florida ponies and
cattle are less vicious than those of
Texas. We have often seen Texas steers
maddened with thirst or long driving
pursue man on foot, making desperate
efforts to catch him on the horns; in
fact, this sometimes occurred when there
had been no special provocation The
cattle In this state are seldom so vicious
as this. Probably this Is due IN large
part to the moister climate of Florida
rendering the animals more sluggish and
gentle.
Texas cattle have n great aversion to
water. but Florida cattle are almost am
phibious. In crossing the Rio Grande
at Fort Selby the herdsmen had to IRE
into the rear of the column and make
an unearthiy uproar TO force the cattle
TO take the water: then they had to gai-
Top down the river half mile or more
and fire into the head OF the column
swimming In the middle OF the river, 10
Keep them from returning to the bank
they had Just quilted. Florida cattle
VIII for days together swim the Kissim-
NEE river every morning. or stop on
some island 20 Craze on the choice pastur-