XVI. AN ACTIVE SUMMER

by Andy Adams

　　AN ACTIVE SUMMERThe summer of 1878 closed with but a single cloud on the horizon. Likeourselves, a great many cattlemen had established beef ranches in theCherokee Outlet, then a vacant country, paying a trifling rental tothat tribe of civilized Indians. But a difference of opinion arose,some contending that the Cherokees held no title to the land; that thestrip of country sixty miles wide by two hundred long set aside bytreaty as a hunting ground, when no longer used for that purpose bythe tribe, had reverted to the government. Some refused to pay therent money, the council of the Cherokee Nation appealed to the generalgovernment, and troops were ordered in to preserve the peace. We feltno uneasiness over our holdings of cattle on the Strip, as we werepaying a nominal rent, amounting to two bits a head a year, and wereotherwise fortified in possession of our range. If necessary we couldhave secured a permit from the War Department, on the grounds of beinggovernment contractors and requiring a northern range on which to holdour cattle. But rather than do this, Major Hunter hit upon a happysolution of the difficulty by suggesting that we employ an Indiancitizen as foreman, and hold the cattle in his name. The major hadan old acquaintance, a half-breed Cherokee named LaFlors, who waspromptly installed as owner of the range, but holding beeves forHunter, Anthony & Co., government beef contractors.I was unexpectedly called to Texas before the general settlementthat fall. Early in the summer, at Dodge, I met a gentleman who wasrepresenting a distillery in Illinois. He was in the market for athousand range bulls to slop-feed, and as no such cattle ever cameover the trail, I offered to sell them to him delivered at Fort Worth.I showed him the sights around Dodge and we became quite friendly,but I was unable to sell him his requirements unless I could show thestock. It was easily to be seen that he was not a range cattleman, andI humored him until he took my address, saying that if he were unableto fill his wants in other Western markets he would write me later.The acquaintance resulted in several letters passing between us thatautumn, and finally an appointment was made to meet in Kansas City andgo down to Texas together. I had written home to have the buckboardmeet us at Fort Worth on October 1, and a few days later we wereriding the range on the Brazos and Clear Fork. In the past there neverhad been any market for this class of drones, old age and death beingthe only relief, and from the great number of brands that I hadpurchased during my ranching and trail operations, my range was simplycluttered with these old cumberers. Their hides would not have paidfreighting and transportation to a market, and they had become anactual drawback to a ranch, when the opportunity occurred and I soldtwelve hundred head to the Illinois distillery. The buyer informedme that they fattened well; that there was a special demand for thisquality in the export trade of dressed beef, and that owing to theircheapness and consequent profit they were in demand for distilleryfeeding.Fifteen dollars a head was agreed on as the price, and we earned it asecond time in delivering that herd at Fort Worth. Many of the animalswere ten years old, surly when irritated, and ready for a fight whentheir day-dreams were disturbed. There was no treating them humanely,for every effort in that direction was resented by the old rascals,individually and collectively. The first day we gathered two hundred,and the attempt to hold them under herd was a constant fight,resulting in every hoof arising on the bed-ground at midnight andescaping to their old haunts. I worked as good a ranch outfit of menas the State ever bred, I was right there in the saddle with them,yet, in spite of every effort, to say nothing of the profanity wasted,we lost the herd. The next morning every lad armed himself with aprod-pole long as a lance and tipped with a sharp steel brad, and wecommenced regathering. Thereafter we corralled them at night, whichalways called for a free use of ropes, as a number usually broke awayon approaching the pens. Often we hog-tied as many as a dozen, lettingthem lie outside all night and freeing them back into the herd in themorning. Even the day-herding was a constant fight, as scarcely anhour passed but some old resident would scorn the restraint imposedupon his liberties and deliberately make a break for freedom. A pairof horsemen would double on the deserter, and with a prod-pole to hisear and the pressure of a man and horse bearing their weight onthe same, a circle would be covered and Toro always reëntered theday-herd. One such lesson was usually sufficient, and by reachingcorrals every night and penning them, we managed, after two weeks'hard work, to land them in the stockyards at Fort Worth. The buyerremained with and accompanied us during the gathering and en route tothe railroad, evidently enjoying the continuous performance. Heproved a good mixer, too, and returned annually thereafter. For yearsfollowing I contracted with him, and finally shipped on consignment,our business relations always pleasant and increasing in volume untilhis death.Returning with the outfit, I continued on west to the new ranch, whilethe men began the fall branding at home. On arriving on the DoubleMountain range, I found the outfit in the saddle, ironing up a bigcalf crop, while the improved herd was the joy and pride of myforeman. An altitude of about four thousand feet above sea-level hadproved congenial to the thoroughbreds, who had acclimated nicely, theonly loss being one from lightning. Two men were easily holding theisolated herd in their cañon home, the sheltering bluffs affordingthem ample protection from wintry weather, and there was nothinghenceforth to fear in regard to the experiment. I spent a week withthe outfit; my ranch foreman assured me that the brand could turnout a trail herd of three-year-old steers the following spring and asecond one of twos, if it was my wish to send them to market. But itwas too soon to anticipate the coming summer; and then it seemed ashame to move young steers to a northern climate to be matured, yet itwas an economic necessity. Ranch headquarters looked like a trapper'scave with wolf-skins and buffalo-robes taken the winter before, and itwas with reluctance that I took my leave of the cosy dugouts on theDouble Mountain Fork.On returning home I found a statement for the year and a pressinginvitation awaiting me to come on to the national capital at once. Theprofits of the summer had exceeded the previous one, but some billsfor demurrage remained to be adjusted with the War and Interiordepartments, and my active partner and George Edwards had alreadystarted for Washington. It was urged on me that the firm should makethemselves known at the different departments, and the invitationwas supplemented by a special request from our silent partner, theSenator, to spend at least a month at the capital. For years I hadbeen promising my wife to take her on a visit to Virginia, and nowwhen the opportunity offered, womanlike, she pleaded her nakedness inthe midst of plenty. I never had but one suit at a time in my life,and often I had seen my wife dressed in the best the frontier of Texasafforded, which was all that ought to be expected. A day's notice wasgiven her, the eldest children were sent to their grandparents, andtaking the two youngest with us, we started for Fort Worth. I wasanxious that my wife should make a favorable impression on my people,and in turn she was fretting about my general appearance. Out of asaddle a cowman never looks well, and every effort to improve hispersonal appearance only makes him the more ridiculous. Thus with eachtrying to make the other presentable, we started. We stopped a week atmy brother's in Missouri, and finally reached the Shenandoah Valleyduring the last week in November. Leaving my wife to speak for herselfand the remainder of the family, I hurried on to Washington and foundthe others quartered at a prominent hotel. A less pretentiousone would have suited me, but then a United States senator mustbefittingly entertain his friends. New men had succeeded to the Warand Interior departments, and I was properly introduced to each asthe Texas partner of the firm of Hunter, Anthony & Co. Within a week,several little dinners were given at the hotel, at which from a dozento twenty men sat down, all feverish to hear about the West and thecattle business in particular. Already several companies hadbeen organized to engage in ranching, and the capital had beenover-subscribed in every instance; and actually one would havesupposed from the chat that we were holding a cattle convention inthe West instead of dining with a few representatives and governmentofficials at Washington.I soon became the object of marked attention. Possibly it was myvocabulary, which was consistent with my vocation, together with myungainly appearance, that differentiated me from my partners. GeorgeEdwards was neat in appearance, had a great fund of Western storiesand experiences, and the two of us were constantly being importunedfor incidents of a frontier nature. Both my partners, especially theSenator, were constantly introducing me and referring to me as a manwho, in the course of ten years, had accumulated fifty thousand cattleand acquired title to three quarters of a million acres of land. I waswilling to be a sociable fellow among my friends, but notoriety ofthis character was offensive, and in a private lecture I took mypartners to task for unnecessary laudation. The matter was smoothedover, our estimates for the coming year were submitted, and afterspending the holidays with my parents in Virginia, I returned to thecapital to await the allotments for future delivery of cattle to theArmy and Indian service. Pending the date of the opening of the bidsa dinner was given by a senator from one of the Southern States, towhich all members of our firm were invited, when the project waslaunched of organizing a cattle company with one million dollarscapital. The many advantages that would accrue where governmentinfluence could be counted on were dwelt upon at length, the rapidoccupation of the West was cited, the concentration of all Indiantribes on reservations, and the necessary requirements of beef infeeding the same was openly commented on as the opportunity of thehour. I took no hand in the general discussion, except to answerquestions, but when the management of such a company was tendered me,I emphatically declined. My partners professed surprise at my refusal,but when the privacy of our rooms was reached I unburdened myself onthe proposition. We had begun at the foot of the hill, and now havingestablished ourselves in a profitable business, I was loath to give itup or share it with others. I argued that our trade was as valuable asrealty or cattle in hand; that no blandishments of salary as managercould induce me to forsake legitimate channels for possibilitiesin other fields. "Go slow and learn to peddle," was the motto ofsuccessful merchants; I had got out on a limb before and met withfailure, and had no desire to rush in where angels fear for theirfooting. Let others organize companies and we would sell them thenecessary cattle; the more money seeking investment the better themarket.Major Hunter was Western in his sympathies and coincided with myviews, the Senator was won over from the enterprise, and the projectfailed to materialize. The friendly relations of our firm wereslightly strained over the outcome, but on the announcement of theawards we pulled together again like brothers. In the allotment fordelivery during the summer and fall of 1879, some eighteen contractsfell to us,--six in the Indian Bureau and the remainder to the Army,four of the latter requiring northern wintered beeves. A single awardfor Fort Buford in Dakota called for five million pounds on foot andcould be filled with Southern cattle. Others in the same departmentran from one and a half to three million pounds, varying, as wantedfor future or present use, to through or wintered beeves. The latterfattened even on the trail and were ready for the shambles on theirarrival, while Southern stock required a winter and time to acclimateto reach the pink of condition. The government maintained severaldistributing points in the new Northwest, one of which was FortBuford, where for many succeeding years ten thousand cattle wereannually received and assigned to lesser posts. This was the marketthat I knew. I had felt every throb of its pulse ever since I hadworked as a common hand in driving beef to Fort Sumner in 1866. Theintervening years had been active ones, and I had learned the lessonsof the trail, knew to a fraction the cost of delivering a herd, andcould figure on a contract with any other cowman.Leaving the arrangement of the bonds to our silent partner, thenext day after the awards were announced we turned our faces to theSouthwest. February 1 was agreed on for the meeting at Fort Worth, sopicking up the wife and babies in Virginia, we embarked for ourTexas home. My better half was disappointed in my not joining in theproposed cattle company, with its officers, its directorate, annualmeeting, and other high-sounding functions. I could have turned intothe company my two ranches at fifty cents an acre, could have sold mybrand outright at a fancy figure, taking stock in lieu for the same,but I preferred to keep them private property. I have since knownother cowmen who put their lands and cattle into companies, andafter a few years' manipulation all they owned was some handsomecertificates, possibly having drawn a dividend or two and held anhonorary office. I did not then have even the experience of others toguide my feet, but some silent monitor warned me to stick to my trade,cows.Leaving the family at the Edwards ranch, I returned to Fort Worthin ample time for the appointed meeting. My active partner and oursegundo had become as thick as thieves, the two being inseparable atidle times, and on their arrival we got down to business at once. Theremudas were the first consideration. Besides my personal holdingsof saddle stock, we had sent the fall before one thousand horsesbelonging to the firm back to the Clear Fork to winter. Thus equippedwith eighteen remudas for the trail, we were fairly independent inthat line. Among the five herds driven the year before to our beefranch in the Outlet, the books showed not over ten thousand comingfour years old that spring, leaving a deficiency of northern winteredbeeves to be purchased. It was decided to restock the range withstraight threes, and we again divided the buying into departments,each taking the same division as the year before. The purchase ofeight herds of heavy beeves would thus fall to Major Hunter. Austinand San Antonio were decided on as headquarters and banking points,and we started out on a preliminary skirmish. George Edwards had anidea that the Indian awards could again be relet to advantage, andstarted for the capital, while the major and I journeyed on south.Some former sellers whom we accidentally met in San Antonio complainedthat we had forsaken them and assured us that their county, Medina,had not less than fifty thousand mature beeves. They offered to meetany one's prices, and Major Hunter urged that I see a sample of thecattle while en route to the Uvalde country. If they came up torequirements, I was further authorized to buy in sufficient to fillour contract at Fort Buford, which would require three herds, or tenthousand head. It was an advantage to have this delivery startfrom the same section, hold together en route, and arrive at theirdestination as a unit. I was surprised at both the quality and thequantity of the beeves along the tributaries of the Frio River, andreadily let a contract to a few leading cowmen for the full allotment.My active partner was notified, and I went on to the headwaters of theNueces River. I knew the cattle of this section so well that there wasno occasion even to look at them, and in a few days contracted forfive herds of straight threes. While in the latter section, wordreached me that Edwards had sublet four of our Indian contacts, orthose intended for delivery at agencies in the Indian Territory. Theremaining two were for tribes in Colorado, and notifying our segundoto hold the others open until we met, I took stage back to SanAntonio. My return was awaited by both Major Hunter and Edwards, andcasting up our purchases on through cattle, we found we lacked onlytwo herds of cows and the same of beeves. I offered to make up theIndian awards from my ranches, the major had unlimited offerings fromwhich to pick, and we turned our attention to securing young steersfor the open market. Our segundo was fully relieved and ordered backto his old stamping-ground on the Colorado River to contract for sixherds of young cattle. It was my intention to bring remudas down fromthe Clear Fork to handle the cattle from Uvalde and Medina counties,but my active partner would have to look out for his own saddle stockfor the other beef herds. Hurrying home, I started eight hundredsaddle horses belonging to the firm to the lower country, assignedtwo remudas to leave for the Double Mountain ranch, detailed the samenumber for the Clear Fork, and authorized the remaining six to reportto Edwards on the Colorado River.This completed the main details for moving the herds. There was anincrease in prices over the preceding spring throughout the State,amounting on a general average to fully one dollar a head. We hadanticipated the advance in making our contracts, there was anabundance of water everywhere, and everything promised well for anauspicious start. Only a single incident occurred to mar the otherwisepleasant relations with our ranchmen friends. In contracting for thestraight threes from Uvalde County, I had stipulated that every animaltendered must be full-aged at the date of receiving; we were payingan extra price and the cattle must come up to specifications. MajorHunter had moved his herds out in time to join me in receiving thelast one of the younger cattle, and I had pressed him into use as atally clerk while receiving. Every one had been invited to turn instock in making up the herd, but at the last moment we fell shortof threes, when I offered to fill out with twos at the customarydifference in price. The sellers were satisfied. We called them byages as they were cut out, when a row threatened over a white steer.The foreman who was assisting me cut the animal in question for atwo-year-old, Major Hunter repeated the age in tallying the steer,when the owner of the brand, a small ranchman, galloped up andcontended that the steer was a three-year-old, though he lacked fullytwo months of that age. The owner swore the steer had been raised amilk calf; that he knew his age to a day; but Major Hunter firmly yetkindly told the man that he must observe the letter of the contractand that the steer must go as a two-year-old or not at all. In reply asix-shooter was thrown in the major's face, when a number of us rushedin on our horses and the pistol was struck from the man's hand. Anexplanation was demanded, but the only intelligent reply that could beelicited from the owner of the white steer was, "No G---- d----Yankee can classify my cattle." One of the ranchmen with whom wewere contracting took the insult off my hands and gave the man hischoice,--to fight or apologize. The seller cooled down, apologiesfollowed, and the unfortunate incident passed and was forgotten withthe day's work.A week later the herds on the Colorado River moved out. Major Hunterand I looked them over before they got away, after which he continuedon north to buy in the deficiency of three thousand wintered beeves,while I returned home to start my individual cattle. The ranch outfithad been at work for ten days previous to my arrival gathering thethree-year-old steers and all dry and barren cows. On my return theyhad about eight thousand head of mixed stock under herd and two trailoutfits were in readiness, so cutting them separate and culling themdown, we started them, the cows for Dodge and the steers for Ogalalla,each thirty-five hundred strong. Two outfits had left for the DoubleMountain range ten days before, and driving night and day, I reachedthe ranch to find both herds shaped up and ready for orders. Bothforemen were anxious to strike due north, several herds having crossedRed River as far west as Doan's Store the year before; but I wasafraid of Indian troubles and routed them northeast for the old fordon the Chisholm trail. They would follow down the Brazos, cross overto the Wichita River, and pass about sixty miles to the north of thehome ranch on the Clear Fork. I joined them for the first few daysout, destinations were the same as the other private herds, andpromising to meet them in Dodge, I turned homeward. The starting ofthese last two gave the firm and me personally twenty-three herds,numbering seventy-six thousand one hundred cattle on the trail.An active summer followed. Each one was busy in his department. I metMajor Hunter once for an hour during the spring months, and we neversaw each other again until late fall. Our segundo again renderedvaluable assistance in meeting outfits on their arrival at the beefranch, as it was deemed advisable to hold the through and winteredcattle separate for fear of Texas fever. All beef herds were routedto touch at headquarters in the Outlet, and thence going north, theyskirted the borders of settlement in crossing Kansas and Nebraska.Where possible, all correspondence was conducted by wire, and with thearrival of the herds at Dodge I was kept in the saddle thenceforth.The demand for cattle was growing with each succeeding year, priceswere firmer, and a general advance was maintained in all grades oftrail stock. On the arrival of the cattle from the Colorado River, Ihad them reclassed, sending three herds of threes on to Ogalalla. Theupper country wanted older stock, believing that it withstood therigors of winter better, and I trimmed my sail to catch the wind. Thecows came in early and were started west for their destination, therear herds arrived and were located, while Dodge and Ogalallahowled their advantages as rival trail towns. The three herds oftwo-year-olds were sold and started for the Cherokee Strip, and I tooktrain for the west and reached the Platte River, to find our cattlesafely arrived at Ogalalla. Near the middle of July a Wyoming cattlecompany bought all the central Texas steers for delivery a month laterat Cheyenne, and we grazed them up the South Platte and counted themout to the buyers, ten thousand strong. My individual herds classed asPan-Handle cattle, exempt from quarantine, netted one dollar a headabove the others, and were sold to speculators from the corn regionson the western borders of Nebraska. One herd of cows was intended forthe Southern and the other for the Uncompahgre Utes, and they had beenpicking their way through and across the mountains to those agenciesduring the summer mouths. Late in August both deliveries were madewholesale to the agents of the different tribes, and my work was at anend. All unsold remudas returned to Dodge, the outfits were sent home,and the saddle stock to our beef ranch, there to await the close ofthe summer's drive.