The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06
COWBOY And HIS WORK
HOW HE PASSES HIS wEARIsoME
DAYS on THE CATTLE RANCH.
The Horses He Rides, His Round OF
Unceasing Labor, the Pay He He
cefves and what He Does with IL.
Lexingtoa CKy.) Herald.

Lexfngtoa (Ky) Herald.
Leslie Mcgee. Lexingtonian who for
several years has made his home in Colo
RADIO. is visiting his mother. Mrs. Annie
Mcgee. After spending the winter in Den
Yer. where he was In business, MIR. Mcgee
Joined FRIEND who owned Rawhide Ranch.
and spent the warmer months in the ex-
treme western part of the State. The first
roundup OF the fall, In which he par
ticipated as a cowpuncher. had just been
completed when he left for Kentucky.
Round-ups begin with September. and by
the end OF this month, or when the snow
begins 10 fly. the fat cattle have all been
shipped TO market.
During the open weather cattle are re-
leased from ranches and roam unrestricted
over the range, which is government land.
In the territory in which Rawhide Ranch
Is situated the range means a tract fifty
miles square. which is primevaI wood,
mountain and plain, with no fences, few
streams and practically no habitations. AS
early as the weather permits the gates OF
the ranch opened and the cows and
calves are at liberty to roam over this vast
area The steers have almost all been win
tered on the southern confines Of the range,
subsisting on browse, and, in lieu OF water
10 drink. eating snow. These are OCCASION
to the ranch any individuals which become
too weak to hustle for food. 1t is calcC-
lated that 1t requires a ton OF hay, 81 to IS,
20 carry cow or steer through the hard
weather period, SO it becomes requisite TO
profits that as many as possible be COM
PEELED TO spend the winter on the range.
Born almost as wild as a buffalo, the life
In the open only intensifies this, so that
handling cattle in the West is q very diff
fersnt proposition from that which domes-
tic cattle would suggest. Each ranch
brands its stock-calves and all-before
turning It out, for numerous ranches take
advantage OF the same public grazing
lands. During the summer each mas It's
men keep in touch with the herds. Calves
that are born in the ranch. and after the
turning out time, require attention. Those
born on the range have TO be branded, TAX
ing the brand from the mother.
ROUNDUP PREPARATIONS
When the leaves begin to turn, the
ranches combine forces for the roundup.
Each cowboy has from six to twelve
horses. They are to be far away from the
ranch wagon and men to care for the
mounts are necessary. The mess wagon is
O travelling boarding house, the men paying
the proprietor given sum per week. usu-
ally 81 This outfit follows the band all
over the range. The wagon carries a tent.
taken care Of night and day by men known
night and day ''Jngles." The term has
It's origin In the fact that the horses not
fn use wear bells. The reason that each
cowboy needs from a half TO a dozen horses
Is that at the pace and under the conditions
ridden horse will not last over eight
hours and must then have three days m
which TO recuperate. All are OF the type
known I'm Kentucky as the Texas" pony,
every = time me- they hey are are bridied. They are
confined in a corral made by stretching
ropes around trees They learn TO bunch
their heads and duck to avoid the lasso,
and IL requires an expert to rope them.
Secured, they are brought to the opening
and held While bride and saddle are ad-
Justed.-. II Is then up TO the COWBOY 10
mount and keep his saddle until the horse
Is content 10 cease efforts to unhorse him.
In the end, however, the cowboy must
mountain side, which could not be climbed.
IN full run after wild steer, where mis-
step would mean death; through forest sto and
and the rider must drop reinS and win
both hands fight the limbs and bush not
horse. trained to follow the boiling steer
wherever it may lead, FORCES on at break
neck speed and cannot be restrained, the
puneher offers little suggestion, trusting
the leaping thing under him and to luck to
In every bend. of ranchmen there is
leader. Obedience must be given to his or
ders. The men are parceled out, this pair
60 take this gulch and that squad to take
the mountain SIDE. "A nerQlnS STOuuu mas
been selected and all know where they are
TO drive the cattle which they find
AS long as the cattle stay together, all is
easy, for the horses know their business,
and a large number may be handled with
the same effort as required to drive dozen.
II Il the boilers which lead the cowboy
who must follow, into danger, for to lose
a steer would be little short of disgrace.
Riding at steady run, the bunch is finally
driven 10 the level ground, chosen for herd
Other teams bring In their quotas, and
several hundred are soon assembled. Din
ner Is served, steak from a beef that has
been killed. and potatoes and canned goods
composing the menu. The riders eat
ravenously. Fresh horses are roped, de-
the others are off TO collect more cattle.
Night comes and the herd Is swelled by
other hundreds. Horses, almost ready 10
fall from fatigue, enter the corral. The
night jingle takes charge. The herders
are relieved and supper is served.
HABITS OF CATTLE.
All night long a detail must remain in the
saddle, riding around the cattle. They Craze
until their bedtime. and. If in good tenn
per. lie down, all about the same time. At
about midnight all get up. stir for a few
minutes, and again lie down, but on the
other side.
Breakfast is served at daylight. and just
as soon as the horses in the corral, over
which the night Jingle has stood guard. can
commences. The men then take up their
riding after scattered cattle, while those
in charge OF the now restless herd drive 1t
to water.
stream must govern the location of the
herding ground. Cattle of the plains spend
two hours I'm drinking. Unlike domestic
kin. they will not drink muddy water. and
instead of bolting into a stream they form
a file. When the first to reach the water
have drunk all that they desire. they re-
sumo grazing. After ten or fifteen min
utes they again enter the file, and have
another drink. This is kept up till all are
satisfied. the whole herd moving in a cir
Gle. Back on the herding ground the cat
tie are kept well together, and. il kind. will
spend the day grazing until early afternoon,
when the whole herd takes a nap Sink
ing TO the ground almost as one, they doze
for one or two hours.
Fortunately, stampedes are rare. II at
night they mean the most severe trial the
cowpunchers may know, attended with
great hardship. Anything that may badly
Brighten the herd. like bolt of lightning
into the bunch. which is especially terrify-
Ing when they are lying down, produces
stampedes. It is then that any number of
men cannot prevent them from tearing
away In all directions. Nevertheless every
man mounts as quickly as possible. and