The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-05-06
Most Picturesque Body OF Fight
ing Men the World Has
Ever Known.
FOUGHT Two WARS AT ONCE.
Organization Dates Back to Time
When the Lone Star State Was
Separate Republic-Seif-Reli-
ant, Resourceful and Brave.

Dallas.-Texas is the only state
which has the distinction, not 10 say
privilege, of working out its own in
situations before becoming member
of the Union, writes W. 2. Urbb OF
the history department of the Unlver-
sity of Texas in the Dallas News.
This fact has given Teyans singular
feeling of independence and has en-
shrined the states institutions with
IA peculiar interest for those within
and many without her borders. Her
flag. her presidents, her 'Oreign am
bassadors, her army and navy, all have
come In for share of the song ana
story, the history and tradition OF
the Lone Star republic.
OF all her institutions, however,
Texas has none which has attracted
more attention at home and abroad
than that organization of hghtinS
men known us Texas Rangers.
Just what is the Texas Ranger?
The question can be answered best
by finding out what he has been, DIS
covering his origin, tracing his devel-
.opment and examining his duties. The
exact date of the origin of the Rangers
is lost in the obscurity of early Texas
history. Stephen F. Austin mentioned
them In his letters of 1923, nearly a
century ago; Bancroft ascribed their
beginning to 1888, but in this he was
clearly wrong for the Rangers hae
not only come into existence but hat
acquired a legal status before thai
time.
RANGERS Date Back to 1885.
When Texas revolted, in 1885.
general council met, and, as part
it's work, authorized the first Range
force. This organization was to- con
sist of three companies Of % me-
each, one to range east of the Trinity
one between the Trinity and Brazo
and the third between the Brazos an
the Colorado. The men were to serv
solely as protection against the IL
dians the remuneration being $1.25
day. s4a$ss
Thus was the Texas Ranger fort
created in the midst of revolution, an
from that day to this it has existe
almost constantly in some forr
though under varying titles.
The first settlers from the Unite
States were introduced into Texas
Stephen f. Austin during the latt
part of 1921, now just one centu
ago. Why did the Mexican COVER
ment permit an alien race to come i
There are several reasons well know
TO the historian, and 1t is said tn
one Of them was the desire TO pla
some strong arm between the timoro
Mexicans, like those of San Anton
and the wild Indians. The Comanch
horse might become too hard to no
Ouien sabe? However this may
an examination of the land graz
made TO Americans will show Il
their holdings tend to form q tier
ing roughly between the timber b
ana the prairie region. In short,
Americans from the United Sta
were to serve as buffer between
wild tribes and the interior set
ments, and on them was to devo
the task of conquest at which b
Spain and Mexico had failed.
Mexico Unable to Close the Ooo'
Once the door Of Texas was o
the Americans pushed IN with
mighty surge which carried the An
American civilization from the AT
tic to the Pacific during the first
OF the last century. Mexico, bee
Ing alarmed. undertook to close
door, but 1t was too late. The ]
ans-for such the immigrants had
come--not only stood off the lndi
but turned on the Mexicans ana WI
ed from them Texan independents
1885, just Is years after they mad
tered the state.
This done. however. they II
themselves In most precarious
uatlon. They were caught, a. "
between The jaws OF great
III