Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-02-04
COWBOYS AS FIREMEN
THE WAY THEY BATTLE WITH FLAMES
ON THE PRAlRIES.
Horses and Men Plunge Through the
Line of Fire to Their stations-Cat-
lie Must BE Sacrificed TO Save 9th
ar Cattle and the Grass.


Line of Fire to Their stations-Cat-
tie Must be Sacrificed 40 Save 9th
err Cattle and the Grass.
The "flremen of the plains work
with a system, each man knowing
what is expected Of him and bravely
executing it like firemen Of the city.
Cowboys are the fire fighters OF the
plains" and burning grass Is the ma
terial consumed.
We will take, for illustration, the
great Espuela or spur" ranch In the
lower Panhandle country of northwest
Texas and go back number OF years,
when destructive fires were more ire
ouent than they are now. Hundreds or
cowboys were employed on that rancn,
living in camps widely separated, COW
ering the unsettled counties OF DICK
ems, Crosby, Cara and Kent.
Great and very destructive prairie
fires often occurred, and systematic
plans were adopted to fight successful
" the devouring element, which not
only involved a great loss Of grass, but
of stock also. One of the most success
full plans was the following; 1t was I'M
derstood among the men at the various
camps that when smoke was discov-
cred ascending from the prairie each
and every cowboy must saddle his
horse and gallop away toward the ire
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 ut 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 a 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 II, some
from camps on opposite sides. their
forms and those of their horses stand
ing in relief in the bright glare OF the
burning grass. Herds of believing.
frightened, stampeding cattle made
the scene more terrible and exciting
as they ran before the pursuing,
cracking, roaring flames. Above the
din could be heard loud shouts Of COM
mand from leaders of the assembling
men.
The men were not standing still on
their horses. The fire was travelling,
and they were going with 1t 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, and in less
time than it takes to tell the slain ami
NAL was cut in twain. The halves
} were split so as to lay fat upon the
I ground. and to each hoof the end OF q
rome was fastened, the other end being
around the pommel Of a cowboys sad
die. They dashed away to the line
of fire. dragging the severed parts art
er them.
When the cowboys reached this, two
men would cross plunge through tne
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. u
can 20 over. Black Duncan will race
it, And with a great plunge he clear
ed the line Of fire. =.
One of the other two also crossed
and without a moments halt and with
scorched faces they wheeled theil
horses and ran parallel with the hre
dragging the bloody half OF the Deel
over it. smothering the fire out as fas'
as their horses could run and drae
the weight. One man was then on one
side Of the fire and the other on the
opposite. each with his rope to the
foot Of beef, straddling the blaze ano
beating out the greater part OF 1t.
They wore slick duck jackets anc
leggings, upon which the fire could no
easily take hold. 1t was hot WORK
however. They could get only the
length of their ropes from the nre
The two men with the other half o.
the beef were going in the opposite al
rection. taking the other end of th'
line Of fire. Suppose the fire was traV
cling south and the line extending cas-
and west. two dragged east and tive
west. fast receding from each othel
and every moment widening the blaci
streak which marked the trail OF INT
smothered flames.
While these four men were getting
ready to do this work other cowboy
were sitting on their horses near by
their faces lit up by the burning grass
and cheering their companions VIM
were crossing the fire line to Tight Tn
main battle.
Those, however, who were idle ha'
their work to do. Each held a roile'
sltcker In his right hand, and when tn
| DredCD was LudlC III thS hAS >'AAN 49,
divided their forces and followed tn
boys who were sweeping the flames Il
order to extnguish efectually an
which might be left
Before the plan described was put Il
practice wagons loaded with water an
tow sacks were run to fire, and tn
BOYS had to dismount and fight tn
flames with wet sacks. They wer
supplied with these by men gallopin
back and forth between the wagon
and fire fighters. The dry, hot sack
were carried back as fast as wet one
were furnished.
The other plan was the best bein
more rapid and efficient. Horses woul
get crippled and men burned at time
: especially when the wind was higl
those on the windward side being MOI
exposed. Some have been known
stav in their saddles during q long ru