The sun., 1908-05-17
LAST OF FAMOUS TRAIL. :
Old Route Over which Cattle Were Driven
North From Texas.

Guthrie correspondence .Kdnsas Ctr Journal.
The last vestiges Of the old National COW
trail, stretching UP through Texas and Cimar-
ron counties toward the northwest. will prob
ably be .oblitereted by the march OF few
years more OF civilization. but now in spite Of
the fact that the tread Of cattle has not been
heard over this historic trail since 1890 the
old trails are still marked by we'll defined
paths. running parallel. where the. cattle
walked single file one behind the other.
There are usually from a dozen to twenty
flve such paths, silent landmarks OF tho days
when thousands Of cattle were itrailed north
ward from southern Texas and Mexico to
north Colorado. Montana and Wyoming.
For many years the Texas cattlemen took
their herds at will across the country. all Of 1t
unienced and uncultivated,' but as soon as
there began to be any settlers at all In the" Okla
homa Panhandle" they entered serious pro-
tests against that method OF transportatins
the herds because the southern cattle COM
municated the Texas fever to their own
herds. At first an attempt was made by Col.
Jack Hardesty and other pioneer oowmen to
entirely. bringing on what was known as the
Jack Hardesty war Hardesty and his as
sociatee hired a number Of armed lighting
men and placed them along the route usually
traversed, with Instructions to stop all south
ern cattle. or course the blockade was OF
only temporary duration, as the Texans took
the matter up with the authorities at WASH
in gton and the Hardesty forces disbandsd
when they found themselves likely to have
to face Federal troops. '
As soon as the settlers became more numer-
Gus they effected an organization known
as the League" for the purpose Of COM
pellinR the Southern cattle to be driven along
one well defined trail, thus minimizing the
danger Of infection to cattle on other parts
OF the range. A sort Of patrol was estab-
lshed, one member being delegated to keep
the herds on the trail and go with them a
part of the way through specified territory
In the one or two cases where the Texans
we're unwilling to comply with this regula-
ton they were visited by o committee from
the league and informed that they could
either follow the trail as other herds had
done or the entire outfit Of, cattle, horses
and men would be escorted back to the Texas
line
=, , II has now been something like fifteen
or sixteen years since driving cattle overland
from the South to the Northern ranges was
abandoned, and few OF the present residents
along the line Of the old trail have any idea Of
the number OF cattle that formerly passed
over II. They began coming early In May. and
herd after herd passed until well up to July.
the herds numbering from 800 to $500 head
of cattle, and with from seven to twelve men
with each 0utnt. Esacn man was BenoTdly
furnished with q mount of horses ranging
from Ave to seven head
= At night the herds were rounded up on the
open prairie, and guards consisting usually
OF two men, would ride around them all night.
the riders singing continually through the
night. The guard was changed three times
during the night. and the fourth guard. going
on at daybresk, was known as the cocktail. :"
the duty of this guard being to move the cattle
from the bed ground TO grass. a little further
along the trail.
The "punchers' who composed these out
fits were generally men whose ages ranged
from 80 to so years. weatherbeaten, storm
tried and big hearted fellows. When quar-
rels aroae the cooler heads usually prevented
gun plays. and the boys fought y out with
their fists. They enjoyed 9 game Of -one
come along two" and considered two deuces
good enough to stay on until the raise came.
Their manners were often rough. but they
were big hearted men, who would give their
last cent to needy friend,
F Some Of them. who settled down and be-
came owners themselves, are still living In
the country across which they drove cattle
years ago. and look back SOM etimes almost
with q Sigh Of re gret TO the old days.