New-York tribune., 1901-03-03
FLUSH DAYS IN TEXAS.
WHEN PEDLERS DEALT IN DIAMONDS
WITH BRANDED STEERS ON THEM

WITH BRANDED STEERS ON THEM
From The Dallas News.
The old judge was in a reminiscent mood That
was plain by the manner in which he directed
his fire at the big cuspidor half way across the
hotel lobby.
The papers tell u.s. he finally began. that
the Texas steer, that famous animal with long
horns and brand bigger than a gridron is
passing away. His companion. the being whose
race is griZZled and whose boots of raw
hide and whose profanity is appalling is also
going over the Great Divide. The first is being
succeeded by grade Shorthorns, Herfords and
others of the swell set in cstttledom. while the
latter is giving way to the cold blooded business
man. who has reduced cattle raising and feed
ing 10 science and who follows that avOca
tIon not because he knows nothing else but be-
cause he has found it 10 be profitable
Well. sir. with the passing of these two tho
great commonwealth Of the Southwest loses its
most picturesque features. by those. who have
spent the greater portions of their lives in this
country. by the cowboy. whose only companionS
Tor weeks at a time have been the long horned
boys and whose only boss the pictureS,tu,. ma
in rawhde bOOts-by all who still possess a
little sentiment. in spite of the commercial
spirit of the age, this will Toe noted with feelings
OF the kecncst regret Much has been said
against the development OF the longhorn and
more against the cattlcmen. but the former
brought many "A dollar into Texas and kept it
mere ana the latter was "A most important fac
tor in the development of this state
And speaking of development. / am reminded
Of the great cattle boom We had here back in the
eighties. Almost anything that wore horns and
hair Was worth it's weight in gold. Texas cat
Tie men had more money then than they had ever
possessed before. or. as it was subsequently
pf"N'd 10 the satisfaction of all. they would
haF" FOR many long year to come | don't
know what caused the boom. Thoroughbred
cattle didn't do II. FOR in those davs the long
horn was stiIl king. But I DO know that cat
q" raising and feeding were for n time very
profitable indeed There were many men who
what 10 do with. Literally and not fi.ura-
lively they had money to burn. for some of
them actually showed Off occasionally by light
inE cigars with $40 hills
II was about the time this boom struck
Texas that cattiemcn acquired "A passion for
diamonds II one man bought a stone big as
the nail on his little finger. his neighhor must
have one that was big "a his thumbnaiL
This brought into existence class of ped
lcrs the like Of whom was never known before.
and very probably never will Toe known again.
They didn't handle tinware nor sell cement that
would even mend "A broken heart. Their stock
IN trade diamonds sir and of the
finest. too. Think Of il. Will YOU, The idea Of n
man trottinE around over the plains of West
Texas with SaotN-sp worth Of diamonds in his
grip and selling them To the owners of ranches
Just Ike other pcdleTS Of the present time sell
SuSpc ntcrS and shocStrIngs To the farmers who
are too busy To 90 To- town. Yet know il To be
"A fact h'cauSe Nave seen such pedlers and
witnessed the display of their wales made right
out upon the open prairie. | have often Won
dcr-d why they were not robbed but there is
not ease record, so far as | know Of where
one of these fellows ever suffered loss at the
hands Of a highwayman.
watches OF fabulous value. AS soon it began
the diamond pedlers changed stocks Hand
satchels that had heretofore been packed with
precious stones now contained watches and
watch charms and chains. l have seen a cattle
man pay 5000 for a watch that he bought on his
ranch from one OF these peders. The timepiece
vas generally eighteen karat gold, with a steer
head engraved on the front lid and a prairie
scene on the back. II was not unusual for the
steers eyes to he of small diamonds. and maybe
there would be "A good sized stone in the place
where the brand out to be The biggest kind of
diamonds We're in tn" watch charms.
so long I live | will never forget an Incl
dent witnessed in Panhandle town day.
a cattle man pulled from his pocket a watch of
the kind nave described.
" How much did you pay for it,? asked a
companion. who owned an adjoining ranch.
4" Five hundrs dollars the reply.
Pulling from his pocket watch that was
identical in every respect to the other the qIes-
TONER said that he had one just good which
had cost him only 500.
U'mph" said the man with the $500 watch:
I'll bet 500 that | can throw mine further
dowr the street than YOU can
"'Thn money flashed in a minute. and the
watches were hurled through the air. Then
these two men actually walked leisurey down
the street and picked up what was left OF those
watches The condition of the tckers would
have made blacksmith weep
Just because she made those goo-goo eyes
hummed an Fastener.
Young man. snared the Judge its your
ignorance that makes you incredulous You
make tired L can't blame Won much thnuph