Arizona republican., 1904-04-23


 it like iremen of the city Cowboys are
 the fire fighters of the plains" and
 burning grass is the material con- stunned.
 We. will take, for illust~
 the Fort Worth Record. the great Espuela or spur" ranch in the lower Panhandle country otNnorthwest Texas, and go back a dozen years, when de- structive fires were more frequent than they are now. Hundreds of cowboys were employed on that ranch, living in camps widely separated, covering the unsettled counties of Dickens, Crosby, Garza and Kent.
 Great and very destructive prairie fires often occurred. and systematic plans were adopted to fight successful ly the devouring element which not only involved a great loss of grass, but of stock also. One Of the most sue cessful plans was the following: It was understood among the men at the various camps that when a smoke was discovered ascending from the prairie each and every cowboy must saddle his horse and gallop away toward the fire straight. out in line from his camp.
 This had to be done at night also. the fire then being detected by its light; and the boys would come from every direction, striking the line of fire at many different points almost at the same time. If the fire had spread much the men from the different camps would sometimes be many miles from each other. those from the same station going in squad together.
 If it was at night the scene would
 be one of wild and weird grandeur. The great line of fire, the galloping horses as the cowboys approached it, some from camps on oposite sides. their forms and those of their horses standing in relief in the bright glare of. the burning grass. Herds of bel lowing, frightened stamped:ng cattle made the scene more terrible and ex- citing as they ran before the pursuing. cracking, roring flames Above the din could be heard loud shouts of con-
 Inand from leaders of the assembling
 men which woui3 remind soldiers o; q battlefield. The resemblance became
 more realistic when rapid pistol shots
 were heard far out on the prairie in the
 midst of the running cattle.
 The men were not standing still on | their horses; the fire was travelling and they were going with it until ready to begin their attack Cattle must be sacrificed to save cattle. As soon as an animal fell four cowboys dismounted and sharp knives and hatchets were at work ana in less time than itstakes to tell the slain animal was cut in twain! The halves were split so as to lay flat
 upon the ground, and to each hoof tho. end of q rope was fastened. the other end being around the pommel of a cow boys saddle They dashed away to the line of fire, dragging the severed parts after them
 When they have reached this two men would cross plunge through the
 blaze Tom tried it, but his horse wheeled and turned away from the
 blaze snorting loudly and. in terror.
 Give me your end Of the rope.
 Tom" one of the other men said. q can go over; Black Duncan will face it" and with great plunge he cleared the line of fire
 One of the other two also crossed. and without moments halt and with scorched faces, they wheeled their horses and ran parallel with the fire. dragging the bloody half of the beef over 1t. smothehing the fire out as their horses could run and drag the weight One man was then on one side of the iire and the other on the opposite. each with his rope to the foot of q beef straddling the blaze and beating out the greater part of it.
 They wore slick duck jackets and leggings upon which the fire could not easily take hold. Tt was hot work. however. They could get only the length of their ropes from the fire. The two men with the other half of the steer were going in the opposite direction, taking the other end of the line of fire.