The Globe-republican., 1909-03-25
EARLY CATTLE DRIVES
"Reminiscences slihs Early Cattle Trail md
tho Cow Boy by N. q. klalns ~

| ~ Ah& 0AAO " sA0 VesssU NAAvs
from the breeding ranches ol
i Texas, tho trail lay along ths
western part Of Texas md
Oklahoma into Kansas, vAfioul
points. in Kansas being thsrsndsvcul
until the settlements in Kansas forced
the drive to the western part Of ths
state, and Dodge City became the end
Of the drive, where buyers congrs
gated and made purchases Of cattle
to stock permanent ranches located
north, south and west.
The end Of the trail remainded ai
Dodge City until settlements forced
the cattle drive to points still further
west, when the whole system Of
plains driving became broken up and
cattle were shipped by rail to Colo
RADIO and other states west and north.
The driving usually began from
the breeding ranches in Texas in
February and reached Dodge City in
the early summer months. The
preparation for the drive was always
attended with some anxiety, into
which risk and danger was to be
taken into account. Necessarily
there was required abundant pro-
vision for the several months on the
trail, with an equipment Of COW boys
and ponies. The cattle subsisted on
the grass Of the plains, the march
sometimes being impeded by the
backwardness Of grazing, or the
swollen streams. The Red, Canadian
and Cimarron rivers, and the lesser
tributaries were dangerous to cross at
certain times, owing to high water
and treacherous quick sands. Often
herds we're detained for weeks on
account Of high waters and yet the
peril was not always avoided, for
cattle to the number Of hundreds
perished in the swiftly running water
and men lost their lives and camp
equipment was buried in the shifting
sands in the changing currents Of the
streams. Old cattle drivers frequent
ly refer to the hazardous under
taking of the cattle drives in the 7O's
and SOS, when losses frequently
equa!ed the value of the profits Of
the herd at the market point. Even
the system Of branding did not al
ways insure against a loss in the
early days, for disregard Of owner
ship, where roundups were not close
was made by many in recouping
their own losses, out Of struggling
punches Of cattle. The maverick" /,
an unbranded animal found common
ownership. by reason of an unwritten
custom, and was usually picked up
and placed with passing herd. 1t
has been stated that in the early days
Of cattle driving there was a class in
the gang Of drovers, who would be-
gin the drive in Texas with a small
bunch OF cattle and reach their des
tination with drove numbering
hundreds il not thousands. For
this reason honest drovers employed
cowboys who were skilful in the use
Of the gun, and who we're fearless in
warding off the cattle rustlsr or
hostile Indian.
A drive occupying the time re-
quired was eventful in many par
not alone for the hsrdships
or dangers which were incident, but
for the reason that several months on
the trail hardened the character Of
the old time cowboy, who eventually
became more or. less Of q desperate.
he was not only skillful with the
lasso and quirt, but was a convincing
with the six-shooter, had
The courage for any undertaking,
and held his life at little value. He
was a picturesque human being, this
Of the "long horn" with
his high heeled boots, clanking spurs
,ombrero and frazzled leather
,reeches. His companionship among
he wild herds, over vast and
lreary plain Tor months. made him
Is stubborn and unruly as the wild
,attls. II was during these long
irivss that they used to conceive that
hey would stake the town" when
hey reached It, and they did and the
own "took them in with out
arma. sometimes into