The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18
WAS A COSTLY Maverick.
FEUD FIGHT OVER A $40 STEER
STILL RACES HoTLY.
Has Caused the Death of zoo People
and Cost 100000 in Cash-Animnl
Long since Dead, Hut the strug-
gle Is Yet bitter between Rivals.


Some twenty years ago the rangers OF
Central Southern Texas held a spring
roundup" down In Colorado county
That was time when much OF the huge
state was one enormous grazing ground,
when fences were mere sources or irrita-
ton and when long borns abounded. Cow
boys with leather-fringed leggings, artil-
lery pTofuse vocabularies and string
each of bucking ponies constituted the
greater portion of the populaee. That
roundup resulted in one maverick" and
a fight. a few days ago another chapter
in the feud of a score of years was pub
lished I'm Bastrop a village of an adjoin-
ing county. Two men were slain and
three are behind steel bars awaiting trial
on the charge OF murder.
The "colonels" have held the FIRST rank
IN America for vendettas since the days
of Daniel Boone, but the Corsica of the
United States has never developed as
many fierce rackets as the Lone Star
state can boast OF The wide expanse OF
territory over which a Texan can fight
has initiated seriously against that pub
licity which the narrow confines of Ken
lucky and the fondne.s Of the shooters to
shoot up the town have furnished. So 1t
happens that the bloody records of Texas
have found their only medium of pnbllca-
ton through the pens of writers of cat
tle-range romances. 1t Is due TO the state
to say, however, that these romancers
have had bias of fact from which to
build fairy tales OF brief. fierce and san
culinary bicker where no witnesses but the
lowing kline attend.
That lone, reluctant maverick has cost
100000 in cash and is responsible for 200
lives suddenly terminated by the bark of
rife or pistol. The steer which caused the
feud has long since passed over the range
to where duels and melees are not fought
to determine ownership of neat cattle.
He was not a mild-mannered and bug-
ing-eyed calf when the bicker arose In
faith. he was wiry. untamed. truculent.
spiral horned steer of a lovely dun or
smoke color, who had escaped from cou-
pie of round-ups without feeling the eager
embrace of the branding iron. He never
survived to feel how II seems TO have an
arrow, an anchor. a lying letter OF the
alphabet or sign OF the zodiac scared into
his quivering hide; he died on the field of
battle and by one short pun of smoke
from Saxon became French and beef
Settled by Chance.
They had way down on the ranges OF
settling all questions OF ownership by a
species of bartering with chance. Skill.
OF course, is on element. In this case It
was skill with hardware rather than with
dice or the rope At these round-ups the
wear brands. Prior TO the roundup the
cattle Of several herds mingle freely the
outfits OF each owner merely camping on
the general trail to see that no trihula-
tions in the matter OF water and grazing
arise. Idle time is-or was, for 1t is about
all over now--passed in playing cards for
everything in sight.
When the roundup season arrives n CEN
trial spot is chosen and the herds involved
are driven there. Then the wild work of
cutting out follows. The boys dash into
the mass of cattle. skilfully cutting out
those with the brands Of their employers.
Several days may be necessary 10 COM
plete this cutting out or separation into
distinct herds Calves which follow dams
are, OF course. the property OF the owner
OF the dam. Short yearlings, weanlings,
do not follow the dams, but gather togeth-
er 10 suit themselves The determination
of the ownership OF these mavericks is
the real sport OF the roundup.
The mavericks are carefully counted and
split up In proportion TO the horns in each
herd. II an equal division results the round
up ends without any great fun. But II a
few extras are left over then the boys get
down 10 the smallest amount OF clothes
possible and prepare to ride like--well how
Is well known. for the boy who lays his
rope on an extra wins II for his employer
There ia no disputing this rule. but the win
ner must rope the calf first.
In that roundup years ago the Townsends
and Reeses OF Colorado county had herds
When the cattle had all been cut ont and
the mavericks disposed OF small bunch
OF wiry extras remained. In that bunch. TO
| the surprise OF all was steer. full grown
| and desirable, for he was fat and ~ for
market This dun-colored steer uninier-
tionally caused the two families 10 become
| emhroiled. He had no brand and It remain
| ga for the boys told or 10 ride to settle
| his ownership. Townsends man and Recess
man determined to win the steer or die in
| the attempt They died
When the pistol shot sent the chosen rid
| ers into violent exercise the rival COWBOYS
| cast on all thought OF any extra but the big
| steer This brute gave q snort OF defiance.
/ turned ana fed swiftly being a good one on
| the hot foot The boys we're well mounted
| and 81 was a race from the crack OF the
! gun. They lay well over their ponies with.
/ ers and plunged In the SPURS In eager com
test. They bore down on the steer. when
I let out a few links and loped afar ~. where
he waited. This was his uudoinE. for the
4 boys separated and surrounding him as well
{ as TWO horsemen could
Cuts in Befwcen.
Mr., Steer saw hls error when the bows
were close up. one on each side, so he IN
| dertook 20 cut IN between. Two ropes
we're swinging around two heads az the
/ animal started 20 hud an exit from an
/ unexpected pocket They few from their
| owners hands as the brute ducked his
head trying "a avoid them. Townsend
sent hts around the neck Of the steer
while Reese found a fore leg. Up swery-
ed the ponies and the steer came 10 the
1 ground with n crash. out 81 breath and a
I trembling prisoner. Who won him.
Both claimed him and were arguing
/ verbally Whfn she owners rode up and
| Joined In. From words. strong aud warfe-
/ gated as they were, tie dlsputauts went
/ 70 other arguments more powerful when
the smoke 'of battle cleared away two
ropes needed handlers, enc owner was