Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-06-15

executing IL like nremen of the city
Cowboys are the lire lighters OF IN,
plains and burning grass is the ma
terial consumed.
We will take. for illustration, tn
great ESp0cla or spur ranch in TIT
lower Panhandle country Of northwes
Texas and 80 back q number of years
when destructive fires were more FIRE
I quent thas they are now. Hundreds o
cowboys were employed on that ranch
living in camps widely separated. GOV
cring the unsettled counties of Dick
ems. Crosby. CARA and Kent.
Great and very destructive prairi,
fires often occurred. and systematic
plans were adopted 10 fight successful
" the dcVOuring element. which not
only involved great loss OF grass. but
OF stock also One of the most SUCCESS
ful plans was the following: 1t was un
derstoOd among the men al the various
camps that when smoke was discOv.
cred ascending from the prairie each
and every cowboy msSt saddle his
horse AND gallop away toward the lire
straight out i'm a line from his camp
This had 20 be done at might also. tho
fire then being detected by IFS light.
and the boys would come from every
direction. striking the line OF fire ut
many different points almost at the
SAME time. II the fire had snread much.
the men from the diGcrcnt camps
would sometimes be many miles from
each other those from the same station
going I'm squad together
Ii it was $40 night the scene would be
one of wild ana weird grandeur the
great line % fire. the guloping horses
as the cowboys approached 81. some
from camps on opposite sides. their
forms ana those OF their horses stand
iuc I'm relief i'm the bright glare OF Tie
burning grass. Herds OF believing.
frightened. stampcdiug cattle mulc
the scene more terrible ANA cNciiiur
as they ram before the rursulnr
cracking. roaring flames. Above the
din could he heard loud shouts OF COM
mand from leaders OF the as~rmblin.
men.
The mon were not standing StiH on
their horses. The fire WAS travcl.u-.
and they were going with &c until
ready TO begin their attack Cattle
must hc S1criuccd To save cattle. As
soon as an animal fell four cowboys
dismountcd. AMI sharp knives and
hatchetS were at work. and I'm less
time than it takes Co tcli the slain ami
NAL was cut in twain. Tho halves
We're split 50 us to bay nat upon the
ground. ana To each hoof The end OF
rope was fastened the o,hcr end being
around the pommel OF cowboys sud-
die. They dashed away To the line
Of ere. draggins the sevcrei parts aft
or them.
When the cowboys reached this two
men would cross plunge through the
blaze. Tom tried 81, but his horse
wheeled ami turned away from the
blaze. Snortins loudly ana i'm terror.
GIVE me your end OF the rope.
Tom" one OF the other men said. Il
can 80 over Black Duncan will face
it." And with a great plunge he clear
od the line of Gre.
one OF the other two also crossed
and without moments halt and with
scorchcd faces they wheeled their
horses and ran parallel with the ire
dragging the bloody half Of the. beef
over il. smothering the fire ont as fast
as their horses could run AMI drag
the weight one man was then on one
side of The fire and the other ON the
opposite. each with his rope To tile
foot of a beef. straddling the blaze and
beating out the greater part OF il.
They wore slick duck Jackets and
legglngs. upon which the fire could not
easily take hold. IL was hot work.
however They could set only the
length of their ropes from the fire.
The two men with the other half of
the beef were going In the opposite di-
recuon, taking the other end Of the
line OF FIRE Suppose the fire was tray
cling south and the line extending east
and west two dragged east and two
west. fast reccding from each other
and every moment widening the black
streak which marked the trail OF the
smothered flames.
While these four men were getting
ready 10 10 this work other cowboys
were sitting on their horses near by.
their faces III mp 10y the burning grass.
and cheering their companions who
We're crossing the fire line TO fight the
main battle.
Those. however. who were idle had
their work To do Each held a rolled
slicker in his right hand. and when the
breach was made I'm the fire line they
divided their forces and followed the
boys who were sweeping the flames in
order TO eXtinguish enectually any
which might be left.
Before the plan described was put in
practice wagons loaded with water and
tow sacks We're run to fire, and the
boys had 10 dismount and fight the
flames with wet sacks. They were
supplied with these by men galoping
back and forth between the wagons
and fire fighters. The dry. hot sacks
Were carried back as fast as wet ones
were furnished.
The other plan was the best. being
more rapid and efficient. Horses would
get crippled and men burned at times.
especially when the wind was high.
those on the windward side beng most
exposed. Some have been known 10
stay In their saddles during long run
until the skin would peel from the side
of the face that was next to the line Of
fire-Fort Worth TEX Record.