[Gaston Fergenson]

Document text

r' e/7-40-1
authter. 6haljon f.
KaaL:elora.
arrant co.,Dist.,d7
iage al
PC 240
tiaeton rergenson) 77,1iving at 4C.6 Florence,
St.' Port Worth,Texas, waa born in Hamilton co.,
junta 18,1E61. His father, Gaston rergenson,Sr.,
died when Cisst we tax) years old. He went to
work between the age of six and seven, on a
cattle ranch located iu Ion tireen co., and owed
7y Saul aras. ne remained as an employee of the
71arns Ranch for more than !a5 years. lived in
tha open an dugouts during his early life. He
has aeon Indian raids, fence war, conflict
1.etweea aheepspen and cattleaen, and Lave seen
vicilante committees dea/ing with cattle rustlers.
a, e at an angelo, when -a e„.J. battle wue
oagt with cowboys on one side and gamblers
on aLe utter.
is stors, 2 ranac life follows:
"I it this
aud down In ”allltan co., near tie Wan
of laaliltens it larql tJune 1E4861, when I was born. I alwa,a
celebrate .1;;'- lasthda' for two day, which carries ne over with
t:e aelorer folks celerbrating egancipation day.
ly f ther, Gto. rergena n$ is n rancher and far.ler. He
fre st-eaoua;4 in t. raise what we needed for tne family's
ua. ia. the hoae. Cattle was our c:-sh
fatiar died when I was two years old. that was during
the Civil Par. Ey the ti ,e t.. war (laded) was .our yeaas old
an then old enou h to reckon what was go 1g on.
"Urecall tha .aWier) vs alaoat all Va folkt were) wns having
a hara tire to 'aaan toah erata eeti. e didn't cg., hanaTvl, because
tit:a rage contated tbouseads of cattle, and this state of affairs
ailoued us all the beef ueat we needed to fill our innards. Then,
besides the beef, the bottoms contained thousands of wild turkeys,
wild hops and deer. The upla-da contained saLcaens The covies
nuabered in the huadreds) and buffalo by the thousands.

:authier..;-heldaa r* Page #2
#ancelore* F 240
Tarrant co*,mist., 47
Aafl egot%les ac. grin* So, fro.. the land
ve i;et cur suplit of meal 1LL flour* t was L4)oeible to starve
us follls, but re aearse ss teeth in a hen's :outh* there
ave. lot cf tLinL;e 17n/other w4ntee to do an,i buy, w ich too money
'or insuncel she wanted, to give us children a chance to get sore
eeho.ii;:g* ti,sce w ich called for cas we h:41 to
go without, and te w-tisfied with wishi..g or thew*
"When I was still a towhead, it behoved Le to Lit out for
myself* I was n t quite seven years old .hen started hu_ting
ra ,;o1)*
'Tow, the i..oiy section thu country, in the nays
whor. I as a lad, coulU not help but know co u work* Aa had seen
clrticulari•-r nothiLg else done 'oat cow work* we learned to ride
a hose about the f.rst ju-p after gettinL out of three cornered
11 I
4 rect.11 the ut it wLs in LI* early Spring,
bet_re I vpos seven years old, that I .11J.1.6 stakes and dragged
out co to Ureen Co., and lit on Saul Larnsts outrit* I hove
often voL,flerreo h .aul's foreLan, A.11 rorter, to give iO a
job, but he thd give fx. work* I nefAed .41th with ie outfit for
many :jar, th i'.ever a day durin the time was 4 without the
hossy tiLckout cle*
"As I have ceid, I could ride a :ioss and tirow a roi,e* I*
knew viWA, should be donelLut of couriie, could not esoote with
the old cowhides* I wa6 paid $10 per month wages, and I felt I wLs
getting a corner on the money* Yact is, it was the first money

Gauthicr.ohei6.onfF.
'YanLeloree
tarl'ant co.,Qist.;17
Page ;4-
rc 240
I ,had ever :lit hands on azi'i. it felt 2light big, Uhen look
clz on gettng a ,ab, i reckm aul r d All Porter the
top-ecrew, sort J:L- fioci: me to raise.
"L4v.- first work was stiding the ranges -going amp:: the critters
looking for inZured animals. he cattle were or•47hortss nad often
crittc culd hook a Lurn into ench other and cut a gash.
Also, cuts vould runnini: into trier:. At
Umes e. critter would break off a 'aorn in a fight. These outs and
iuries had to b. Ettende.:1 to. If .1lowed to go witouL doctoring,
serew-wors t into th.; ut rZ the pars.sits would cause
which wo.lta finally cause the critter's death.
"I would leave 1.11 cailla after Mi&cr Tom, te cooks fed us
ty.a. -loraini,; chuck. kith a smak in my sEddle bag, I would be out
all day ,Jorking a -on the riLer. 1 ;,ould return about sunset.
°Cattle ra_4.;eu over a lame iece of the territor, are to
cover oy section of the range I hud a heal.' of vidi% to do. The
numberoL cattle wilk h carried :Saul's Stalc Five brand run
oroan 20, jsX or Liore, nd he had a large r.u1.1‘er of (el,.ec too.
The bred racs,la:A thus; 0 and 1,hc rJrich lix.s called the
Laras oL:ered °,300,00C fur %is
,'aJ t cae ic e-ff.:fused.
"i2esides tker were four others riding the range. Each
A us took care of a designated section. When a crit'Ar was esied
needing attention the animal would be thrown rd doctored.

f•
Lament coolialist.,/7
ka.,z;e
.7- 240
“We flopped a critter by putting a rope on one of its front
feet. Py throwni the r,..pe on a fre'at foot the animal would
tri,Ted .utting the rope on an cnimels front foot is
nut s hLrd a4;• :t dears to be. It is jus a uater of throwing
t. rope at t,e p er ti etso as the loop lights where cones
down, the a.;1, ti ste.s into the loop. Loon a the animal takes
Lp the slack, Az ;),e: is 'lied J:.;t :.;er it, and the cr,ter
takes
the ankaal hits Lhe grou.:41 c. always will fo.low a
fibeficcondswhi1c to critter is geAing aAr buck ilito its bellows,
it will lie stA.1. uring this spell hed to put a tie on its
hind legs, and this rope was tied to its front legs. he fo..r legs
that it
:er' pi1leJ togeter a in tl,is position: I lied this way, the
critter is l'eleEs ac&i one cn do ahytLing with it. hen flipping
a critter for the -svotl,e of doctoring it, one had to leave the
saddle quickly an get the ,c)! done before the critter got its
wind b ck and went to kicking.
"Alen the ,ick wtx fi..A3ihed, I untied the abiral and then beat
it f r py tr,ss. !then the longhorn got to its feet, it was ready to
fichtarvthir.4: on he :round in the vicinity. If the wttddpis on
his ho43, ri..Vg, away, the crit,er would look around bit. If it
didn't seebanything to tackle it would stalk away.
',Generally, about bOyEaddies were employed on the 6taple rive
outfit. A nuAber of waddies looked after the bosses, and did the
wrangling. 'he rest of the outfit itepent their-tiftk with various

Gputhier.6helden 1. tice if 5
'Rvngelore. FC 240
Urr,lInt co.,10ist.11,7
jobs. Ow hunch %)erN kept busy watcilng for straying critters, -rid
theia to the range. Others were kept more or less
usy sepnista6 cricters for larket. During a spell of bad aather
we all were ket busy hol,Alz.the he d :fr.m drifti:€ ohea o the
atom and during s st)rm, it alvAys o.3E more or less of a tough
jib t hoL.. the herd and we did not alv4avo do so.
I have seen he's of stampedes, ulid BOtik to,611 .41es.
TkY ties I have been ridinE my 7Julit with li6htnin6 fl.shing
and thunder roari!..E. A.th the sound f hoofs hatio6 the .,round
End horns clochir,g, fro sevcrsa thut.rld firghte,t'ied loLe,honrs,
it wo,Ad scrid ee thotch hell hE,d, turhed all its im.ps i000es
YFAV shot down 7r1nz,leMr stl-res In attept odheck
thP Punting critter, wa could hen:; to ,:orriir;c4, I have
seen lightniny weiz A.on tip tottip of the crIt'..ers3 horns as
th k,e1 there were a ti'iousan!1 hips lay1nf wAh brlls of .fire.
withdarkness eddod to the situntion, ,ycu cri fure thc tud needed
111 rdd's gird to stay put on thQ jpb.
"A etncpede wnutid alvay':; end ui,) A.th :..:ore or less strays which
cold not find follorin7 tha sta.1eco. Thcse star wculd turn
up some where durinL: the course the gerni ruundu„
',During the .,e!,eral roundup, which took about, three months each
spring and all, our whole outfit would have plenty of work to do.
The system followed _la doirc the rouu,_ work in the Ism green
territory was for the Ifti4/ outfits to Uunc;. their crews. fJne
f@alow would be 14cLed out to act as the top-rliew. Tie uu.]41

aKe #5
4.
Tervaht
assign lg to 1.Z:: wadies to lAitice up waJt uas e lied t -e swi,k, crews,
L. would faske sveral ,)f these crews. zle ufould deAghate the
6(iCIA _or cc-4cl outfit 0 cover. Thu silting would start out it, r
c;.uek tine, uo. uhdco.. their Section lor erit rs,
ax 0 drive theil Lite c,up.
"Pegininl, t aoty,t the swi- outfits wid st.ru o
Arn wit! eautie contihue till :4ark. Those critters
Mat mtare helu id.o a .ierd untill worked. ,44:1t ;Awl is thLt
Le cr..ter cnc- he.4A1 in a herd ti.L.1 all the unorn ui critters
vier, bra.T4ce1.
lien the in, uttufit. retur.,eu., uheir NOrt;. was ende...: fJr the
day. ;IA. .toulc„ tura; their hosses over to the .runclers nd rested
tillthe ,,ext 44 1.e waddies, ho ,ioucoaId suaha :urther
work, -o,4t tne .ounte .,ere in need cs, rest ,ufter beint, used
a swin,t, urive toe oties ..11u.ed to rest .Cor a day or wore,
before being use-, sc„iii. Lech morning wneu startn, uut the
sisin outfits took 4:resh mJuntS,
rFroLl the uta,t i.tie early •ornilii; till the swin, trip for
day ,als e16, the slii4c hosses wore Clle un ti cover the
ground.
"lhere was so;& ppri. connecteCa, wit=4 tka aiz wofk. he viaudies
all wieu to bc .L11 -o4 gong an returnih6. ‘.1.4sh tse QUO4 called
out,teowe and Let it you tLe waddles rite ,1 out of t. eir
Llai,kets eLld sa:,,dle,- their mounts• lhen the waddies would wash
line their flue. boon ae the waddles fihished t;e job of lirJg
their flue, tie top-Ilerev oulu yellOride you rawliides•I AL. of

G uthier.t4heldon t.
langelores
4arrant ce.,Qist.,d7
tYe
seed4, Itne'
4.
A:,711ed
a
Page n
FC 240
LOU,. at tup
46.,A, lead, silk,. that resulted
in a race. Sr), ‘7 d c rEICO srcl..
""st rrt" thr, wr-dler nevtr usc:•their ettrrups for ,,iouating
in startinr thelr wei•,16 take a runniL0 ;Aturl.p of
c1.4,ut 15 rect. Itr:n17.t t.c rer of Vieir hc.'ss, they %JotAd ju ,p
And place their herds on ti'e b:,s 4s hips ds,i;TIL6 oi-to tie anial's
sck.
"e an. the Aarle rive outfit cfte r,etoec. 4 a
11,7
would stand fm
off the ilouat the
art of us ,xat,:. 1-L..co ses i- a row, and we
142.o lar.ck or Jle ht:2ass ;,....out 20 feet. ic iould
qu-Lexesti
"Eeeh ou.t hd t
cev1v. ia
iL ithe rif71,c,rtl Ui criorc...oLic 11,r, 1,1,e \parlous cutting
aL.0, lx‘rndlnt! nw.Lted.'tsor uJra cLCZ.L,fa, QapediLalw calves.
Th.! cres wc-f2 su, oced to Urpnd or44 clves w.AI. cows
their onl.fltillnds There ',6rQ mal4 calves which t,ers
not wit ppy (e),f n•Ipee, civreE,
iron or 4.11e fir
est cutf
ca3f crop.
rich roped it. ste tfit aa‘.... the
crm.; k as the o received the beet
tb4-; c&lves, thc cattle were separated
be
i the various outfit;: -oad/driftedthoi2 critters to thtiir home
ranEe. After V- r(Nur,,:ur wt -41 overt all the machers would ilz.,ve
the critters carryinz their brand at lwmet.d then ag
in a few

urvt%ier•t3held-n
:eloro•
?arrant co.,131.st.,-7
Page A
FC 240
would atry now and then. gy the time the next roundup was an
ortl 1],c he 7 lot of strqys mixecl with each herd. CAcasionally,
rour rtrcyc belon-,ed as far as CO miles wf,ay,
'101ur!n,7 t! -,e rnurximp we lived with the chck -‘4agori nc 1c t
ul In 1T,1:_nknts• If it rained ve asce...: our slicker .iver
'0Aft.
rains,
Alr-11rt, luring the Oprii, roondui, Lhere wLa lots
"'JIlle in crmr tr'so, did our slee4n6 outside
Froulds
udaition tre
on the
dur:nut to crawl into duriw ui* rain. In
--3o shade. To 4.!_d u.is .ole bhawz, wc
141L a trenci e:c !Ilaced tue poles on ehrilin he trench, e.4
(!rt -nids• We covere0 the top with
'crass :4C.CcIS:
shade wban 71-17t -ro
"lt,1
*q_
f.
poles
ttie sun was noL we co lu sit in our
6votit e.nki le -siinde vuro.
oar 110. squr..t -n ur h.: IAAt
uquilt c(
rap.1
I.
Ir
so 1041 'Vet I felt plural: out of
wben evtiic•
.,nforee ilc.1er,a• This 'Jae
th7,..t
or telline sllittv stories aoalc
moPived a1rL ttehtion, oeca.,e t e
2m/Stoent r v lctin' it was a doec leggens• To cdfilnister
•the punishrxht, a imA)er of ,the waddles would hold the violator
wit his buttock in the air, and a leg6eh would be a:lied.
"mir chuck u ot the rangy stuff, LL6:. t-er, i4aa
plaiL victualc served. hainely, of beef, beans, sourdough

-!41r.'";%-zia'.)n P.4;u
2arcelore. C'AC
Thrrt
ceLne,.. vegot es aud black coffee.
"I t of :Aul Lb:n.8 often arid 13 treattxnt of us waddles.
9 VII -J -:4.d vit.:, a o2 A Ley
r.z.ds2 we 16 (..u.„Ja uud owear E1L say,Idamn you fellov4, I
_may, I am ilt.....b,broko. You fellows have
t e „.:oley., I a, going to turn this tfit ,over to you hf-mdc and
tri-ea ,ob cr var:1 little p.onc..) f VveviU1(.7
!-Etar 3u L ich i)ay dajt bt. _te'..,er quit Lis of
Lat,6.
r ilaado if
:-)Ota OP t es",,Ju&t1 0: uc.de
ittrl z,nked for ticv.i16 cut.; a .1.ilae streak.
C!2 t a
we !vAd the
s'7; a clurter
Co
1711.14.4.
..1;St r.
LUL
2C.-1
4.
r.1
c
Loa t. I L.14Jen
too e were .,,,tting
=e t1..e lLtu o, evenlic and I t id. s; hem vuuld
R" 21.1ze a ;,eAr:0! Thcz
d it vo:ad tickle
tie r gozzel. o, book qy rifle anki a tcy J'ar,t to 4 E. cr
"I had n,ot I'm the brake 10 LiLutcl; %then I eanied e decr.
I reised :4 gun to shoot rit.: at te se 1-_,.Lieni I heard l'huffthuff.'
I fzel,; Vie sound well. It was ',he grunt of ,lusk hogs. I looed in
r.".ireetion fro c Vie sou: cr7.1te
11.114 headedtow:rd. ri.. -Aime of the old hlee have tusk atout

ittr•-e,Licii 21.
\i4440ap.e0it
tfle
rc
c c 1n vicous. hse owlet Ci.t and
Ill use t!,eir tusk to eat It'll, aild tear alvtill4g. AAL their tusk,
or bea. c41c.e cel, quickly or cat. a
LuAls
hOt
LaZiO
d
ran to tree and ell:Ix,. it. In
gar, at the tr se oi trze tree, o that it
i.Intl:3e hogs ley'ed aroulDft ,thq
stti raigiit up, alueLliI,.1
LLe;i. hark: away &t the tree.
r',118 particular true wat. not a var ui tyA:1, andhQP tN,
af .L -16.0L; _ 6(06y ic ends of hog tus.;ex
i:0 c' la have killed tic tecct, te
:.1°. :or a;A,,r whca, exte(_ to clitA) tk!r
CUL iO the t.ree. and 4 la ithoUlt rL n
V.1C2 e a4.4o _'.4ice ior ii o escape, and that was to oller.
.Liat
tit, 16 tat. .,;:f? Cr,r.1) VOLII(.. her r :e
3C:ttleCI COLU.4"u.Cy Will carry co.:Adaerableg
ow, I bin tent.
L.S :Alto a fj. Lt.
Lye ou.., Lht Ito one ,114-leared, and r7
:,a4.;au6 toe
owed Uj. which 1.aade ate belicve
the lo:is couldn't i,en ,da. After Dy voice became so hoarse thEA it
useleos for e I ,ust se Aled do to au- fate.
"Tt was -ot till a fusillade of shots Ali l.Lit') tile hogs

r,lictiAerelcon 1°.
ore.
cerrrLt co.Oist.
Page #11
PC 240
a nonber of the boast fell dead, while the rest rah away.
ft
1-ws heard fie kihea I et out the first 'oellow, but
7,•,,olmet to were the' could see what T4 prodecament was, and
rc they a&t eWo'vint,- the fiaghtu2..cjil,c11c,Y1 on, n lirb rhd
cUinat the to of
"".10 deal vas 4o4, e,k) etc Vit. tc c of this Beene.
Imeddis told overfbod
they met LI,
1.7.w...t didLst know
t Uet, a and a 6(,er. That 1 vent
,teer anti drovc
whel-;. 7 calTt u:,.1 with
e i; LC; 0 U run. t.''cr‘r, a
r"
tmell tYereefkr.
1•.iti
°I reePi) k
ittej 4 1i 1 OUX
aLcITa. r!e'r
mmyth A01 t-1,1 on
ster
at ta-4e6 Ale.1 crare:11 and taczan 7 ,t7,1c, rInet -16er.
e
av er
ff,aQ
ee.Led
Pai:V1P
tri-t art -L Nab f4 t. t1X
a Jt00,2r Joc.ed iT
stolanh
lrf was I'D er it Lnd hune in the cti??rup and py richt s ou,i(aer
FPW t'Irmh out n7:= •int. T;Iero I was he7lass vnd the cteer eke.
ej. 7
*-1
j
cor nre stept cur
clole, Another
bad reined Ln
I had not no-ced
steer Goaded
7t4t out oi rap hibef re I notieel tte
ai j: iWLjj 7ic. ri7ped c)e oy
rn. lu ho3o1nC 11X and t3till, but
away to ...1ParA. 1.:LtLcAl run at re.
1r
,:in ti to sho3i, the aniel anCi save Aio some embermss.ent.

GRutideretiheition 10. Page 142
,teuegelore. FC 2,40
Tarrant co. #iti
"1 L;ot, on to a trick which_. enabled to bc.,,st a furicus steer
out shootine it. ,.),014 of us waddies would ei,J.07 ourselves by
riding. steers a woulk,. ride our ,:tou,i.t to the side of a steer and
leap on its back. is took a .top rider to stay with tit critters and
all waddies would- engage in the sport.
"I learned thet if the rider poured tLe gut•hoL,ks to the steer,.
It s mind would be te.i.:61.1. of o ighting .and be centered en getting
nray. hen one WCodlid began to rakin6 the critt.ers ribs with
tue tatnooki L e Qrii. Ler would threw its tail IL: he air start
rnalsg. and pitching ,,hen one had ridden as
far as he whited to# etines the rit..4er would cut short on the
stance by the steers s ..t.ction# then lee ould leave the. steer..
The critter weu.i.o. 1%th a couple uriJer rdc after setting rid
of the rider ahLi ti' -on turn around It w,,,uld atoi.) runni;,g arid
stand there snorting and shaking its head,
"After I had learned this abisk# whet:.a steer taade for au would
leap on its baolc# I it get where I cou.i.ti. Leke the leap* i;heii I
gave it the guthook treatment., I have never nad a- stilaraila forget
about, fignting asui ceilLer on its own hide soving•
oar8elves with riding, .shooting roping aI other
_
cont,est durin vU.t' ikiC b lead 04;16aillitAidAPV
"UAW goou tae i:eas bcl.wee., ai-terj aye
a few of us at a wo.,„ItA get ELM for a day in town. ftf Ler
the general roundup, there was always a few days given to all that
could be allowed a-ocay fro campy and a good time would be had by
al the boys

Uauthier*She don ir* Page irl3
iiungeloro* PC 240
*arrant co*IpRist*O7
"In the 1704 arid 113011 San Angelo !vovided all the citfferent
Unds of amuselAnt a fellow night wish for. the joints ran from
t- ordinary saloon to ganblAng, queen toints and dance hnils*
'...4me of the boys ':iould 'mule •thensevies 441their money wrs gone,
.ils others to stay one or two days an,:.Anndrg beck to C644
A. bunch of boys in town generally J cl the town to themselves*
the oji, Act harm anyonst.providing they were not stomped
pro %).4:* courzo,. th44 t„ier a little roght but everything Nab done
in Dual,
01 aiw a right pert fight in hhgeio, ostwimian a crowd of
cownands and a- 1.:.a%ch c.. turib.lersk*
"h „.;anicier at,o,ted to ..heat a waady axAk got csught in i.he
at. ,Alen, the -wyddy demanded his iAioney Ale embaor refOoled to
turn it aver, cirmidd, drew Lis gun and so did th guider* shots
were exchanged and he wa vc-4 woui.ded4 Other waddles took up
the fight for their pal -.-„nd, other gzalli.acre took up thc-fiti, for
their pal, an a battle took placer*
The cots/lands went g,u,ing for gaMblirs* There was lots of
Eoting.jeveral were wounded. Aie waddy and tLo gapt ere
were killed* Tie. fight ended WAqi Were were n [Are gad7...,;ers in
sight to shot at. the gavOlererwent ihto hiding* The cowhands
rode from on,41)lace to another amj would ride into the joints*
They shot at every :Icanbier. In sight and put the lights out with
bullets* Whan the waddies quit the town, it ULS well cleaned*
The San Anglo day.jmbl.r tight taL, olio of the worst bttleS
ever saw in a town, ut gun battles were net unsual those dcls*-

414.14.e.,:o0.11-,..141 Al F.
..oro
Tarrint co.,Diot$
FC D40
ri alma shoop.x.). caws Ante the Tom ureen *oft range section
tilerc, took d.ace•aciac none fight-!Ag.
"LA obected to the shetk,,beoause the animnls spoiled
ilie...mAge for eLttle.ie oataemen r4otified the Oomph= ti take
their folcks e oleo ...tut aeepmen held their Felund.
On the oattlomea Uecvna are of ftct .Le shaeivin were not
tiolre to leve, re:...,ortc4-. to 4ic..id.ht lin; !Avertible ror
UM
4heepsio.
411addies were aL zi.uch agaist. the aNA uen as were the ranch
‘m,ersisecu '6.1-44,proeived their L k-1441.141. out. ;.:01 Alen
thw Uop*serewv -L.r.4L.L. dtUt to vut. t c sheik.; off of the range
the order ticklec thit waddles gizzarqt
"A i-LZst;, ;;71.:..i; would ride into L. floc' .0.!" shoting
large a4L';Oors C;J: tht! c...1i.cerse t f.:.n:Are&e onl,y one or tWo
herders at a shcl, *nus,the Jheed lardo,s-wers hal:Joss to
ufer.1 their C1001,4 It was not loni, till 1...h(7 shoopmen put aovefal
orders at a 041. -4 -with rvaers to protect the sheep. Those herders
were armed c.ad Let ova, to 641;;; orders. These Wore
ed to shootiog. 4 iber of rcealiz wou.ded mn4 sore
Liiled w £i &ki raid:: on a fioc or41tieJp* The cownler, wive
their waddles orde.'s to shoot bask and the fight was on. ',his
led to mew being hIlled nd wouLetee on each side. The sheepoon
would lie in hiding and shoot soymel. and the cowman shot herders
on sights
"The cowman had the shespmen bested i/4. huL:iberS. Therefore,
it was e losing fight for the showmen. in our territory's the

GAuthieribheldon 1. Page m lb
Rengeloreqpitftga PC 940
4rrart (well/let*, 417
eheepmen out, fter a number of then were found hanged to
e tree. Jn soe sections of the range aJ:icere took charge to
rotect t sut, there as ,ior. or less f44,-;htii4c
fencing eook pine, an0 uhe country fklio- u, wore or leeri with
eettlerago
'Ttie next situation which brought on ,lerce fight:nt; was. the
wire fence. It ryPe In the early 160e the suitable wire tor fencirk,
,Ima rut r j -arvAt• in Tom %green co., it was the drift fence
ic' amused tte -nrof, i'ighting and put tie email and large ranchers
to fielbting el4c other.
"The large ranchers joined together and Luilt a fence sC„ut
160 miles long, Ns end wfk to hold thokr oattlo frow drifting •841
of the Conch* aver. is fence beld ti:e cattle from drifting
claw it, but ales, held cattle below it. Ihe cattle S. of
tte fence were preventea from 41azin t. ol the river. he stall
rnnchers S. of the river did not have the gains idea swout the
prop,: locpt!.oi: o: t!le fence. ithey held that 1.44 fence oheattd
tlAtm out of range riFhte.
idea as to
"The difcerence inithe proper location and extent of tne fence
led to the440ectore cutting the. fe ce EIJU letting cattle through*
To meet the fence cutting, the large outliate put watchers
out for fence cutters an0 this led to shootings,
"1 watchect for fence cutters for a time, but it was elm*
to arde the en. o the trouble and I never gok. mixed lt4 sly sipotO
ing scrape. he small outfite.fina4y realized the idventage of
drift fences, an. they joined in building some. --After the

k,authier40.0heAcoL k*
mhgelores
Tarrsnt
Page 1 16
re 246
outfits beau* reconciiecito the drift twice, the rustlers
occasionally would 'cut che fence to drift stolen cattle through.
l'Aow, the rustAer trouble 1 must not overlook tellinc about
this trouble, and 42or a time there was lots of it.
*When cattle .rices were up durigAg the early Me and ire
Wa, rustlers err -eared in large nurers at mum* many section
of the rare. C91.1 try. 4mme to the range country had re trouble
than othewo. hustliNT became so bad in some localities that the
ramblers had to take matters in their own hands. This was so in
Xoz ‘'reen co., end i&. to many killings and many men were hanged
by vigilante committees.
',The Uorrison rope party was tne wildest of such perties which
took place.in Tom k.4reen
This ilenuarrison was tho top heee aad cattle rustler of the
soi;:tion en6. 1,he head of a ring of thieves. I gusset). was about
19E4 big a rustler a P her was in thc stpte Coring biv digs. Ii..
stecteA,i to be onerzed, because try as herd as the ranchers did,
Oarrison could not be stoorted. It seeped ttiat' partitive evidence
coulC. not be 04VAIN. inet him* Xt. leant the law courts could
hot in 1ytbifl oTi
“The vigilantes got after the man and found 1800 head of
'cattle and hosaes which came into his position which had been
rustled.
"The vigilantes set a_dete to go after utarrison end civilize him.
bui. the law seemed to eet buoy at the same time When the vigilantes
went to get Gariioan they found that -he had been arrestiO and was

.an.t.1,,iitr•Liileld011 24 :Age #27
Itaugelores FC 240
Tarrant cos, oist.,o7
'-14-
t
war
eC t1_,1C jrvisicL *as :1Lcod in
041i, 3i ra;,,,c1.3rs ax d oa the: aheriff and
_oma=fleu I'llarrito(44. 11,c: WiczIff ref tr t!d- j&il, a the
covhatc aak. 71th crow/Juni, ctur barc, aloft,
bulzers Lind whLt ,ot, the gang wrockeu tix jails They :Asite,. off
,11 the bora at l& dolio: the doors, Le. toA Wrriao4 out of
the buliciugi
0 'I.
Le cat tie .-IcarmofUe sherif d convened h m to
;Istrola witn the crowd. Ahey took darri“m to the ce:Istery
the,rc, II tlk ccrumAy, except tflow v'arrieon to ratke a
last statmeut,h. was civilised. AO 1.ii;ed and aeade to be
allowed a trialj at, and W fate put in the heads
of a jury.. tinny. 1it realized his ttli ns not getting him off,
he wilted au4 bad 'uo to be held up.
noose wu.s eir4uua hiz. Lock aza a .17.opo looped over
e tiaojack ixeel 111.14 er4. tv4 was UC ui toe or or feet from
the kro4nd. Ths crowd waited tultil tho ieckoned garrison vas
aivtliiidand said to the sheriff,' you awl Lave your LA= now."
"The pribeipal .lerc: so teri.1cvilizi
GerrieoL,'.was tiecause he was the lc Ue..or the ru%thrsi ..they
feareQ that Ixuited.t:ilove6 v.be man to be tried by the court, the
watt would be turtiuci le. Garviaon'b coaneotions were with
many folks all, zi iord ;..la aortal to contaiL more or lees of his
friends. Another thia6 which iLflu.encecl. the crow 4 to hani,; the
man was that folks wert 11,,,re or le ep afraia to teatigy age;_nt hint
because they feared uo be ebot by a meSber of Ottrioaa's 41011064,

“authierfidhe1don Vw
ros.ngeloreel
Tarrant co*,Dist*,47
about 60 feet to the
t.;ox
8
iert te?And*
t:7.e tri7.7er
r."n in
,2relmen to
nwLv* Protter :-etel GO
ilige
FC 240
right of the hese* e calculated tp!,t L e
Lc the ol:oeite direction from where t.e s:,ot
LP inte!Ide. to r. i,:L*1 1;rub 261.,
reckoned Le:: use wheA, he
acw.dea, last; 1C
a..,.. left. c..Z.1. 4rit-44 o .ht.6rouAld*
Pell 1 s
:0110t4.21Z t,„'e kiiitAat PAIL
1.-yunt. 7a slnce6 L.er un the !oes EIJI rude
t was the deal, .1-retner
nm often
L at
U ,71/1.
ss cuetionstne
n;.;4. r.ttbe, tf) cmor.tt..c
inat question
Anple rive ba::
.rd
"3.21srer*
re.e21..164$6
the Lest rie1, ros)er,
ccieLF„y.',21 O 1-.1vc tt ith1.1
c"44
r':ar 1 evcr XArlde telp*
wac our top vFraer, and co;A:Ld stick ia i:JSCI. a$ 4LX
7.Tii...edt Gould COlk Gut from ,der Jim 41.1Les
vur top.screw,iAl
can truly sa:'
s.retP ^c-2.or*
eaLtonwood trees,
nnel foiloinina
sl4ot anti at ti.e me
hLunch* I yelled:
":Tis the al. ro; r of our eLtf-l'us
c tect al -,0t, too. 7 4fe the renof. 1 oein
were rf: ne e4 trnil throui7,h
tie Contho Aiver 1:ottom* I wasii4 the
a out AL- yards c me* Zuddsua;i1 1 %card a
:Lestanlit a limp pailther dropped on Iv ho s'a
"Ilhat in heA. is taking 2 lace?'”
re I
Gast" sez e. "iyou betar keep our toys pimpled while

-..uttler• heiiw e
rrant
Pau
passing under tre 13.1 lwaped the panther lea:"ine on you out
of that eott5.rzood
t 1.0
"I ,just U auat say this shot -In .orter made ipm,i4 the
Lest
T over have seen.
"I 'worked !Aar. .U.ke .,-Lap2, rive ,s--ut•ffi.t LIU Le 190e. 44. t is t:Lle
4hE: ranges le ter- illir;" fi11i.g with soL,lers
tl.E.
WEW
St.
E.2ritLers,to
1 i,ut acrosz the A..° !,-;,rs...--de$ 1 qu.itt ause
.:1E1 t. live
herAI ti rasts z....7,tfit; .12172.rried for sovcr.-a t.le4rs•
the reeeot T 1.-z",.‘tf been peddletc veretrible for a
k