The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-08-02

AZ one time the track hugs one wall in few min
utes it jumps the stream to cling to the other wall
and thus from side TO side cnging to the bases of
the canyons rocky walls, the engine keeps tugging
and putting as if losing its breath. We finally
reached Buffalo Park, much to the satisfaction of
many OF us. Nearly every lady on the train, and
some OF the gentlemen, too we're quite seasick from
the tiain's irregular motion before we reached our
destination.
There are about hundred cottages and good
sized hotel in the park Our cottage, known as the
Ford cottage, is Of pretty Swiss design with broad
porches on three sides, and has five rooms. II is
one OF the prettiest in the park 1t fronts on Buff
fao Creek clear little mo ountain stream that me-
anders through these foothills and joins the Platte
about quarter OF mile below our cottage. With
in two hundred feet Of the cottage the falls OF Buff
falo Creek, miniature Niagara, about thirty feet
high, add to the picturesque surroundings and rem
der the nights quite musical with their ceaseess
roar. We spend hours fishing, wadeng, batheing,
and watching the trout fighting, and shooting the
little rapids below these falls The fishing is good
Tor him who is well prepared and who knows the
habits OF the gamey trout. There are very few wild
animals left here. There is an occasional nightly
visit OF few coyotes from the mountains to forage
in the park. They are harmless, and flee at the
slightest sound. mountain lion few wild cats,
and few deer are found high up and far back in
the mountains The advance OF civilization is driv-
ing them out. The meanest insect Or animal here
is the mosquito. He differs very much from the In
diana species, in that you never know Of his ap-
proach, as he has no orchestral accompaniment
He is no vocalist like his Indiana cousin but he
quietly and thievishly lands upon you, and when he
takes his departure you fully competent to bear
testimony to the fact that he is ION his job" The
next thing that dislike most here is the continuous
strong wind that plays havoc with ones complexion
and bangs.
One ride miles and miles on the cars without
seeing farm. Everything used on the table must
be shipped by rail many miles, and eatables cost
from two to three times as much as at home and
board is correspondnPly high, and it is the same
with drinks. have often thought it is well that the
nights and mornings are cool here for small
glass OF beer costs ten cents and quart costs wen-
ty-fve cents.
Cowboys often pass through the park, as
cattle grazing is extensively carried on through
the mountains. There are few or no fences, and the
cattle are branded in the spring and fall and then
turned loose to range they please. Each man has
his brand recorded The "round up" twice year
is an event. The cowboys, cow-punchers, 90 in
squads, and ride hundreds Of miles in search of their
brands Of cattle 1t is wonderful to think Of bring
ing stock together that has been roaming at will for
six months or more over mountains and valleys hum
dreds of miles in extent, and as vegetation is not
rank the stock must keep travelling. But, at the ap-
pointed time for the Ground up" these Western
Knights mount their ponies, and with broad SOM
breros their highheeed boots, big spurs, large re-
volvers swinging from their belts, and followed by
their faithful "c,w-dogs," go forth with many a
whoop TO drive the cattle home, that the increase
may be branded The laws Of nature establish tie
ownership Of the calves, as they cling closely each
to its mother, and the mother being branded the
calf is similarly marked. About week ago We
went to place called Higginson's Ranch to see
them branding the calves The ranch is composed
Of low house and low barns, pine log cabins, as
We would call them. The barn lot as we would call
it, is here called corral. This corral was subdi
vded into several lots. After waiting an hour off
in the distance down the email canyon in cloud
Of dust, came pe nell large herd of cattle, with
the cowboys and COW dogs at their heels. They
were soon enclosed in the corral A large fire
was started in spot surrounded by large stones
and arm load Of long iron pokers were placed in
The fire, and on the end of some Of the iron pokers
we're large crude shaped letters or designs Then
he cowboys began lassCing the calves to be brand
ID. The long rope is whirled through the air and |
With wonderful skill drops around the neck Of the /
victim It is dragged to the lot near the FIRE be- \
ween two posts about thirty feet apart A rope |,
hen pnons the hind legs and is drawn around the Il
me post while the first lasso is drawn around the L
'ther post, and the poor animal Is thus stretched Il