Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-21
TEXAS RANGERS.
The Men, the Work and the Way the
Work In Done.

The Men, the work and the way the
Work Is Done.
The little "dobe" settlement on the
banks of the Rio Grande, few miles
from Ell Paso is headquarters Of one
of the most valiant detachments Of
that famous organization Of peace Of
ficers, the Texas Rangers.
Company D Of the Rangers, under
Captain John R. Hughes, who has
been in the ranger service since 1886
as private and captain, camps here in
the midst of alarms. Almost any day
one can see a ranger hiking out"
across the desert through which the
Rio Grande winds its sluggish way, to
run down q horse thief or smuggler
or to do little scout work. Captain
Hughes, a keen-eyed, broad-shoulder-
ed giant, who is always mounted on
his powerful horse, Gray Buck, Is a
familiar feature along the border line
between Mexico and the United States.
He knows the ways of smugglers and
other border criminals "like book"
and his influence has had much TO do
with breaking up organized gangs Of
outlaws on the Rio Grande. He and
his men cooperate with the United
States customs authorities whenever
occasion demands, hence this part Of
the work of the Texas Rangers is
more than local in character. The
whole country benefits through their
vigilance and fearlessness, for with
out a systematic patrol Of the Rio
laws would quickly form and both
America and Mexico would be heavy
losers. On the other side of the
stream are the Mexican rurales, how
ever-men who are not less hardy
and capable than the Texas Rangers
so the interests of peace are well
cared for.
The work Of the Texas Rangers Is
by no means confined to patrol work
along Texas's hundreds or miles Of
border. The ranger must always hold
himself prepared for any emergency
that arises. There are only twenty
seven men in the force Of mounted
police, yet they are supposed to be
everywhere at once. If race riot oc-
ours in some Texas town remote from
railroads some rangers will be on
hand ahead Of the state militia. If a
condemned murderer escapes from
prison and takes to the desert, heavily
armed, a ranger saddles up and
throws the diamond hitch on a pack
horse and Is on the trail in a few
hours. Usually he comes back with
the outlaw-and he is not particular
whether he brings his quarry back,
dead or alive. Occasionally a ranger
Is killed in performing his duty, but
the gap in the ranks Is filled by some
body whose worth has been proved.
The rangers get the magnificent sum
of $40 a month, and must furnish
their own horses, but are allowed
horse feed and travelling expenses.
Sergeant gets $50 and captains 500.
Such rewards would not tempt the
average man to enter an employment
meaning constant risk Of life, but
money Is the last thing these enthu-
siasts think of-fortunately for Texas
and the country at large. There Is a
fascination about the life in the sad
die, the sudden calls to dangerous
duty and the satisfaction that comes
to a man when a hazardous task has
been we'll and skilfully performed. 1t
Is the enthusiasts Joy In his work,
and explains why the ranger force
gets the pick Of the hard-riding,
straight-shooting young men Of Tex
as, and why the famous captains Of
old, like Major ]. B. Armstrong and
]. H. Brooks, still long for the old life
in spite of the wealth and political
honors that have been theirs since
retirement.
There Is no bad man" swagger to
be found on the part Of the individ-
uals who make up the present day
rangers Let the stranger drop In
at the camp Of Company d, near