The new era., 1910-04-21

X III itess areas OF waving
0NA grass; vast rowing herds:
cowboys and ponies-both
of the unbridled variety:
bad men whose chief business was to
start graveyards and the glad primeval
lawlessness that prevails when worlds
are new.
Not so many years ago the Panhandle
was distinctly a world apart and new
one. With No-Man's Land on the north.
Indian Territory the east and New
Mexico the west. civilization could
come only from the south, and 1t did not
come very fast. Indeed. there was still
plenty of territory in that direction to
be subdued-two or three tiers of coun-
ties in fact-before the Panhandle would
be reached. So. 1t was place apart
an isolated fertile land jusufying the as
sertion OF tramp that he had lost $780,
900 there in one year by not having cat
tie to eat up the grass.
The cattle came in due time. fighting
back the Apache and the Comanche pro-
tected by Rangers from Fort Griffin.
companied by stockmen Of every nation.
cowboys Of every grade and criminals OF
every breed. That was wild epoch /
chaotic and picturesque-a time of indi-
vidual administration and untempered
Justice.
1t was also time OF mighty domain.
Ranches there were as big some king
doms. One, the x l. T., covered good
portion OF the northern part Of the Pan
handle. Another, the Matador. spread n
1tself into five counties. When settle y H.
ment became thicker-when there were ~
ranch houses not more than rs to 30
miles apart-ohicial allotment of the Ii
hands was made. Then there was grand
gobble The big stockmen fenced every IS
thing with little regard for boundaries
and less for the law.
1,lou hos IN fUh
places, It is not strange that q general fndif-
ference to legal rights and possessions pre-
vailed. Next to cattle-raising. cattle stealing
was the chief industry. The cowboy proper
was not concerned in such work. He was like
~ to be clean-handed, Straightforward. even
II reckless, individual. honest according to his
lights True. loyalty to his employer might
render him tribe Indifferent as to brands and
marks when strays mixed with the herd, but
Ut was the employer and not the cowboy who
profted by such laxity. The cowboy was
retainer who would tight for his ranch. would
die for 1t when circumstances seemed to re-
quire such a sacrifice. and the increase Of the
ranch herd by any means short Of actual raid
and theft was q custom which bore NO relation
to disrepute. But individually the cowboy was
likely to be the soul Of honor and good nature.
troublesome only on holidays when he was
anoved to ride into the nearest settlement.
drink up all the whisky he could buy. and then.
with six-shooter drawn, 90 careertng up ana
down the streets, shooting In random direc-
tions explaining meantime with noisy and
repetitious adjectives that he was bad man
. very bad man from very far up the creek
The Panhandle was full Of bad men In the
early nineties Most Of them had graduated
from other schools OF crime and found here
= last resort Come OF them-a good many OF
whem-had obtained ohhcial positions and were
outlaws and deputies by turns or worked con-
punctively as both As rule they were IN one
Way or another associated with gang
Local authorities. even when conscientious.
Aera noorlv equipped to cope with such an ele-
ment and 1t was for Company Ranger Force.
consisting Of eight men with quarters at ANA
rillo. Capt W. J. Mcdonald commanding. 10
spolice this vast wilderness. and to capture ana
convert, or otherwise tame its undesirable
Acitizens.
soon after McDonald's appointment he was
notified of marauding band that across In
Hutchinson county were committing the usual
crimes They had burned the hay belonging 70
a ranchman on Turkey creek-severai nun
dred tons in quantity-they had cut his wire
fences. they had killed COWS for their calves.
n,,tchered heef CATTLE cut out brands-in
vord they had conducted the busines OF cat
Ale atealine and general depreciation on large
kcale.
Taking q portion of his force. Capt McDon-
hld went over to Investigate. There seemed
TO be good deal OF mystery concerning the
identity
Eort does not stand a very good chance when
NJ Is operated upon BY man with eyes Ike
khose Of Capt Bill and with a nose and pair
bf ears of his peculiar pattern nj short time
he had identified one member Of the band In .
young ran prominently connected in that sec.
tr... This young fellows dupe. no doubt. OF
professional COW thieves. whose glitterinS repu-
tation as bad men had dazzied him-was tho
son of an able and reputable lawyer. member
Of the state legislature The son. supposed to
be a cowboy. had become In reality an outlaw
Capt Mcdonald took him IN charge ono
day. questioned him, and secured suncient evil
deuce to ile a complaint The prisoner was
turned over to the shefin OF Hutchinson coun'
ty. and Capt Bill pursued his investigation. He
located bunch OF stolen calves. herded in the
brakes of the Canadian river, guarded By an
other member Of the gang. The calves were
~hobbled and necked" and their mothers had
been shot as an easy method of getting rid OF
them Capt Bill found the dead cows In near
by canyon. aud he brought q man who had lost
. number Of miIch cows and calves to den-
xtfv thn nrnpertv di6lcuN mat.