Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-04-10
Some Remarks by a Cowboy.


To the people who do understand
the idea of roping, branding and de.
horning stock, especially tame cattle
as in this country, / speak these
words Of explanation. We all know
that strange cattle or cows whether
tame or range stock
which is more less wild, will
fight and often do much damage even
kill one another at times. AND
branding of course we know why it is
done in the west. But here, | know
some wonder if there is need OF it,
There is many a time that a steer
will take sneak or trail back or in
any direction and travel miles. OF
course they will be watched and tax
en- care of, but when they take the
notion they go. Then if they could
not be found soon and without a
brand, the owner would have to ask
whoever he met or advertise for a
black COW, or white or red steer OF
any other color of which there are SO
many alike, with the brand, every
one would notice it and the animal
quickly found. Roping and branding
looks and sounds. to some like a good
time and lots of fun or anything but
work and science. Tt is a hard and
dirty work. at its best, when it is dry
and warm. But the day the BAR-C-
Il. UuUnU UlanL.Ca, & Was seen i1U It's
worst. 1t was wet, slippery and cold.
Puddles of water wherever one was
thrown and the men out of practice
with the rope and had to work on
foot, as the horses not being used to
the work would keep the riders
busy with the reins, let alone rope.
which by that time had become so
wet that they were nearly useless
about like trying to throw a cable.
The work was finished at last and
the stock fed, none the worse for OPP
Grafton and were taken the next day
out to the En1noils farm 20 De kept
until they are trailed for the Ranch
where there will be shelter, and feed
galore. There were some that saw
the use of the Chaps. or riding pants
at the branding, and will / think adj
nit, that they are made for other
purposes than to show off in, as also,
the high heeled boots and even the
the leather cuffs worn to protect The
wrist from the rope and horns and
many other things that may occur.
The idea of the big muffiers that the
cowboys wear around the neck and
they frequently continue ~ Wear fur
the rest of their lives after quitting
the range, is brought into many uses.
When they trail stock OH the plains
or in the roundup, the dusL is So
thick and heavy that it becomes al
most impossible to breathe. fhen
these muf1ers hanging loose arounu
the neck are pulled up over Tie face
and as they are mostly of silk can De
looked through and keeps out the
dust. They are used for the hot sun
and in cold weather and even to tie
down q stray calf with The idea OF
fringes on snaps came years ago in the
good old days as we call them. 40
that time they were made Of two big
pieces of square hard hide, laced To-
gether in front top and buckled in
the back and laced down the ley with
about foot long every inch
or two. This was the handieSt place
TO carry lacing for tieing down : calf
or fixing > broken saddle or . Thousand
different things a tough string or
strand would be used for. Just cut
them of as they needed them, and
when they were all gone, put in some
more. But now they are useless, or for
show, as far as can see AS 4 rule, a
cowboy on tile plains or in the hills,
becomes like an Indian or decorating
his saddle. snaps, bride and every
thing he's got, with silver or gold but
tons, or might say brass. braiding
from three To sixteen strands into
Qairts, ropes and brides. This habit
comes from sitting around on a
horse or close to the horse and noDh-
lag to do only keep awake and it be
comes pleasant pastime.
Il. ~ CHRIsTTANsON.