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Range -lore
Annie IcAulay
ikaverick, Texas
RANGL -LORE
Page one
.41 Rawlings was born in Lurnett County, 41.exas, in 1664.
Ite cloyed to 6weetwater in ilolan County in 1685. Ee did his
first ranch work on the western range there; then moved with
his family to Coke County in 1693.
hawlings says: ”1 started ridin' when 1 was just
a led of a boy. All kids learned to ride young then just as
they learn to ride bicycles and drive oars young these days.
"1 -got my first real ranoh job on Dick,Howell's ranch,
and I learned a little about workin' cattle but mostly my
job was herdint horses. I worked for tbe Colorado Cattle Comm
pony in rurnett County for two years. Got to be a pretty fair
rider. The range down there was pretty brushy and that some
time ma() our cattle work a little mean, and nede ridint harder.
Page two
"I helped to drive two trail herds to north Texas while
there. One went to the XIT outfit, and the other to the XL
ranch on the Canadian river.
"On our first drive there was fifteen men in the outfit;
and a herd of cbout 4,000 head. It was ell open range then
and we had to guard our herd very closely when we'd camp. As
a rule two or three riders would stand guard while the balance
slept, different ones guarding each night. ,e had two or
three stampedes, mostly caused from thunder showers, and then
we got into it proper.
"When we got to the Canadian river it was on a big rise.
We had to wait some time for it to run down a little and then
we started miming our herd a few at a time. Lilt when we
got 'em to the opposite side of the water, we found our trouble
was just beginning. AS they came out of the water they walked
into quicksand. e had to work test to keep 'em from bogorgin,
down. We lost some in spite of ell we could do. It was ter-
rible to hear them bawlin' and almost screamint for help as
they went down. That was the saddest and most exeitinl ex-
perience I've ever had with cattle.
"I worked for the ;krlington Cattle Company for several
years. It WOE one of thc biggest outfits in these parts at
that time. They worked about a hundred Ilion and used about a
hundred and fifty during e round -up. During a summer or fell
round -up all the neighboring outfits little or big would get
together, each one bringing his boss, ridc!rs and we7on. Then
erre three
they'd elect c general boss over tl-lom oll and tile fun vould
becin.
wand a bunch of riders out in every direction.
They'd drive in all the cattle they could find to a central
place, then each outfit would out hie stuff and hold it 'til
all had been rounded up. The calves were branded, too. It
took maybe a month or six weeks to complete a big round -up
wftere there was lots of range to cover.
"1 moved with my family to Coke County in 1893. There
were two stores, a si,oat Jffloe and a boarding house at Bronte,
lad lot much more at Robert Lee. I wee the first mon thet I
know of to ride down Red Bluff Canyon in Coke County."
13.:7PLENCL:- 14. Rowlings, Eronte, Texcs. Interviered
June 17, 1938.
Mrs. Annie r:cAulay
TI.P7TE-r4'1:T, TE'r 2
Runnels County
Pe 1.
COWBOY LORE
ED RAWLI:;CIS was born in Burnett County, Texallin 1864.
He moved to Sweetwater in Nolan County in 1835. -He did his
tIrst ranch work on the western range there,'
/-4,ct.lidros—#114e44.arnasellmjuj$20:;..,,iiVmoved with his 4amily to
Coke County in 1393.
Mr. Rawlingdr-say4 "1 started ridin' when I was just
a lad of a boy. All kids l rned to ride young then just as
they learn to ride bicycles and drive gars young these days.
"I got my first real ranch job on Dick Howell's ranch,
and I learned a little about workin' cattle but mostly my job
was herdin' horses. I worked for the Colorado Cattle Company
in Burnett County for two years. Got to be a pretty fair rider.
The range down there was pretty brushy and that sometime made
our tattle work a little mean, and made ridin' harder.
itT
helped to drive two trail herds t orth Texas while
there. One went to the XIT outfit, and the other to the XL
ranch on the Canadian river.
"On our first drive there was fifteen men in the outfit.
and a herd of about 4,000 head. It was all open range then
and we had to guard our herd very closely when we'd camp.
Page 2.
As a rule two or three riders would stand guard while the balance
slept, Afferent ones guarding each night. We had two or
4/1 thr e stampedes, mostly caused framraa*mt/9er thunder showerg+0--_,
and then we got into it proper.
"When we got to the Canadian river it was on a big rise.
44 had to wait som time for it to run down a little and then
we started swimmi
our herd a few at a time. But when we
ggt 'em to the opposite side of the water, we found our
trouble was just beginning. As they came out or tlioe wnter
they walked into quicksand. We had to work fast to keep 'em
from boggin' dowa. We lost some in spite or all we could do.
It was terrible to hear them bawlin' and almost screamin' ror
help as they went down. That was the saddest and most excitin'
experience I've ever had with cattle.
"I worked for the Arlington Cattle Comp:tiny ror several
yeaks. It was one of the biggest outfits in thee parts at that
time. They worked about a hundred men )/.1c1 used Kbout a hundred
and fifty during a round -up. During viummer or/hal round-
up all the nei:hboring outfits little or big would get to:etili,,r,
each one bringing his bos,,/riders and wagon. Then tney'd
elect a general boss over them all and the fun would begin.
ders out in ever- direction.
"He'd send a bunch of ri
They'd drive in all the cattle they could find to central
place, then ePch outfit would cut his stuff and hold it 'til
all had been rounded up. The calvesat04anded, too.
Page 3.
It took maybe a month or six weeks to complete a big round4up
where there was lots of range to cover.
"I moved with my family to Coke County in 1893. There
were two stores, a Post Office and a boarding house at Bronte,
and not much more at Robert Lee. I was the first man that I
know of to ride down Red Bluff Canyon in Coke County. h
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