Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-10-17
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YIN the spring of 1876, George Chip

Ill
western Kansas for the purpose of
starting sheep ranch. had been
compelled by Ill health to leave college
In my sophomore year. George, too,
was driven from an Eastern city by
fear of consumption.
SO we put our little capital together
and resolved to seek climate where
consumption was unknown and engage
In an outdoor occupation which might
bring to us both health and wealth.
Before many weeks had passed we
had purchased from Kansan his en-
tire outfit-team, wagon. house, cor
rails and O thousand head of beautiful
merlno sheep, together with his right
to certain springs and n free range.
Our dwelling to Eastern eyes. was
a very small affair. 1t was of the kind
known as n portable house, and con-
sisted of but one room. The sides and
ends were made separate. of light
grooved lumber, and were fastened by
bolts which ran through the corner
posts
The roof of the same material, made
In two sections, fitted snugly over the
structure. When put together 1t was
strong and convenient. The few houses
about us, built of wood, but never
painted, presented an even more dilap-
dated appearance than those made of
sod or stone.
We determined that our house
should be an exception George bought
q can Of paint and brush, and paint
Cd the entire structure, including the
roof, bright red From this distin-
gushing characteristic our place re-
ceived the name of the Red Sheep
ranch.
When we were compelled to move
the sheep to a fresh range or pasture
we took the house apart. loaded it
upon the wagon and transported 1t to
the new range Selecting suitable
spot-near a spring or running brook
we again erected our portable home.
With the approach of cold weather
we always moved to the south range.
Here, in ravine, sheltered from the
north winds, we had previously
stacked the hay which was to carry
the sheep through the fierce and chill
ing storms of winter
In the perpendicular side of a bank
facing the south we excayated a space
large enough to contain the house. We
set It up with the door and window
fronting the rayine. When we had
carefully filed In the earth and banked
up about It, our burrow was ready for
its occupants.
A dugout stable near by furnished
shelter for our horses, while a few
steps In front of us, where II could
be plainly seen from the house, stood
the corral. surrounded by fac shelter
ing stacks of hay.
Corral Is the Spanish name for an
Enclosure where cattle, sheep or horses
are kept. 1t is aot pasture nor a
feed lot, but simply a large pen made
of wire. boards oy stone.
In the daytime the herds are per
mitted to feed over the boundless prai-
ries but at night they are driven into
the corral for protection and safety.
NNOl lno ituSi VI Inc lItdSuTtS Nultu
were transferred to us with the ranch
was Jack. Upon sheep ranch one OF
the most valuable assistants Is the
shepherd dog. His services are mdls-
pensable; for, unlike hired help, the
more dlsagreeable the work. the more
surely he can be trusted.
No matter how dark or stormy the
night or how cold and piercing the
winter storm, the well-trained dog is
ever ready to go at the bidding OF his
master.
In a locality where good dogs are
carefully reared for this work. Jack,
10 our prejudiced minds, surpassed
them all in intelligence and faithful
ness.
In appearance he was anything but
prepossessing. Long of limb, slender
OF body, his bony frame covered with
brindle yellow hide. through which
every rib could be distinctly counted.
while behind him streamed tattered,
yellow, bushy tail which reminded one
Of reglmental battle flag returning
from the wars-such was the condition
to which hard work and poor fare had
brought him.
Add to this that he always hoped
upon thsee legs owing to a past en-