Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
WORK OF TEXAS RANGERS.
Dodging Mexican Bullets, Rushing
Jackets and Hunting Cattle Thieves.

Jackets ana huntluS OdttAe AhASseS'
From the Kansas City Star.
The Texas Rangers are the most effective
policemen In the world. They. at least, Ia
Dor under this impression. and 1t Is not de-
MED by lawbreakers who come In contact
with them. They are always chosen for
their intelligence. good Judgment and self
possession in times of danger 1t Is this
latter quality which Is their safeguard. AS
one Ranger explained 1t:
Nineteen men out of twenty get nervous
when they undertake to shoot you, even
when they fire from ambush. You have
only to keep a cool head and a steady hand
to get the best OF the argument. we Rang
ers ought to know, for 1t has been no rare
occurrence to have some fellow take
crack at us. A couple OF years ago Mex
fence corner on dark night, just as l
was about to enter store seyenty-nve 1eet
away. He had a good chance, as was out
lined against the light and was not expect
ing anything: but he only clipped a cnunK
out of my hat brim. / put five mighty
sudden bullets into the fence corner wnere
the fash came from, but the fellow got
away in the darkness.
..Once two of US were rushing a jacket
pronounce 1t hackeD, which Is what they
call their novels of sticks and mud OF
boards and canvas, where we were expect
ing to find some Mexicans who were want
could in the mesquite, sprang from our
horses and sprinted across the little clear
ing to the door. which was the only exit
Just as the sergeant lifted his foot TO KICK
the crazy door down it flew open and two
shots were fired from inside. Both missed
though we were within twenty feet OF the
muzzles of the guns.
I'VE returned the fire instantly. badly
Wounding both Mexicans. Although they
had the advantage of positions. they were
too ratified to shoot straight. 1t Is tickiish
work rushing these jackets sometimes we
find a dozen men inside They nave every
chance to kill any one who attempts to ap-
proach and sometimes they have the fncii-
nation but they never seem to make good.
1.-The days when peace omcer mas IL
necessary to use firearms are disappearing
In Texas The Anglo-Saxon outlaw has
become extinct and the Mexicans are as
docile as doves for the most part. The
minority who were inclined to be obstrep-
erous have been subdued SO thoroughly that
thew scarcely dare breathe for a week ar
ter Ranger passes by. When Mexican
gets within earshot of our camp he always
halloos to let us know he is coming. Ii ne
doesn't we thrash him with q iariat and
make him go back and approach In prop
err manner AS a result we can go away
for week and leave our camp unt,uarded
and not thing will be touched. Once In
a while Mexican fills up on mescal and
starts In to abuse a Ranger, but we merely
knock him down with revolver butt and
go on Next day Mr.. Mexican is sure to
come around and tell us we did right and
assure us he bears no Ill Will on account of
the affair"
The Rangers are organized into four COM
panies of eight men each, including cap
tain and sergeant under the command of
the adjutant general of the state. The
Rangers are very carefully chosen, for they
must act almost wholly upon their own
Judgment They are as nearly absolutely
Independent as 1t is possible for an organ
ization of men to be.
There are no reviews, encampments nor
drills and above all. no politics no favor
itism and no red tape The Ranger enlists
for two years with the understanding that
he may resign at any time he feels that he
doesn't like the work and the knowledge
that he will be put out IL he falls to do his
duty. He is given commission, Win
chester rifle and Colts AS caliber re-
volver, which are his universal warrants
and the only ones he ever requires. He is
assigned to camp in some place where ne
Is most needed and left there until his pres
epce Ia rentired elsewhere.