The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-11-18
ROUNDUP TIME IN THE WEST.
Heyday of "Puncher's" Life Betwixt
Seasons.


Cleveland Leader: 1t is roundup
time in the west again. Across the
broad, spreading plains, along the sun
kissed valleys and on the grass-cover-
ed hills of the big cattle ranches on
the sunset side of the Mississippi the
cowboy is once more dragging his
lariat and hallOoing to his long-horned
charges. Smoke from the chuck wag-
on and the branding iron fire curls
into the blue. The artist of the long
looped rope has come again unto his
own in every outfit camp. 1t is the
heyday of the "punchers" life, is this
Indian summer interval before the
coming of the SHOWS and cold winds.
All summer long he has been a. com
parative nonentity. Mayhap he has
been riding housekeeping watch
and ward on the miles and miles Of
barbed wire stands that mark off the
ranch's areas and several divisions.
Maybe he has been a member of the
"screw.fy" gang, or if an adept in the
business he has perhaps spent the
heat-scorched days in breaking bron-
chos in preparation for the start of the
wagon.
Or, worst of all, he has been just a
common farmland, helping to garner
feed. At any rate, his midseason work
had been comparatively dull, prosaic
and devoid Of any excitement. In
short, he hasn't been cowboy at all,
but an ordinary man of all work about
the ranch. He hasn't had a thrill
since the last semi-annual roundups of
last spring, and the monotony has pail.
ed on him.
But now it's different. The first
"norther" late in September blew
away all danger of 'screw-tlies" and
sang a song of coming activity In the
ears of the disconnected puncher. The
second north wind saw the start of
active preparations. The puncher got
down his highest heeled boots, laid in
an extra rope or two donned his hair.
covered leggins and took up his trail
with the chuck wagon. He will con-
tinue with it until the entire ranch is
covered" which will be we'll up to-
ward Christmas time. The weeks will
be some Of the busiest OF his life.
Say, but it's great, this roundup
time. 1t represents all that is wild
and active and picturesque in western
life. 1t epitunliZes the puncher's ca
reer. 1t comes but twice year-once
in the early spring and again in the
fall 1t is frauEht with plenty of hard
work, but your true cowboy always
welcomes il. 1t is so varied, so full
Of experiences, so different from the
work he has been doing all summer
Whether in riding as a member of the
great circles thrown out for rounding
In the cattle to the spot selected for
the roundup, helping to hold the herd
in its confinement until the days work
is over, roping, throwing or welding
the branding iron, he finds plenty of
spectacular work to do.
The "outfit" in these undertakings
consists of a chuck wagon, which is
driven, of course, by the cook; the
horse wrangler who is charged with
the duty of keeping mounts in readi-
ness for the more active workers. and
ten or fifteen cowboys. The first
roundup of the series is generally held
at the ranch headquarters and is for
the purpose of looking after cattle
which have formed the habit OF brows-
ing in that particular vicinity. On the
morning of the start the members of
the outfit mount their freshest horses