Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-29
THE COWBOY IN REALITY.
One OF the Number Gives His Esti-
mate of the Class,

mate of the Glass.
ECKLEY, COL, Feb. A.-To the Editor
of the BEE: I notice in the BEE of
Cowboy of Reality" l have no doubt
that the author of this very interesting
sketch was sincere in all his assertions,
yet it must be said that his experie nee
with the class of which he writes has
certainly been limited.
The statement OF the cost of cow
boys outfit is erroneous. Instead of a
saddle costing 1925, the best can be pur-
chased for $40 Or $50; Navajo Indian
blanket costs about SO; the best sixteen
for 81 per yard, long measure; a steel
bit for $3.50.
The writer states ranch is
made of hewn hogs. In all
my experience have never seen one
mode of log. They are made of sod in
all parts of this country and of '''dobys"
In Texas and Mexico. "Dobys" are a
kind Of brick not burned. The writer
was correct in his estimate of the "dime
museum cowboy" OF course there are
some who come from the east, who are
of no value in effete society, and of con-
siderable less worth on the plain, who
come out here and after short resi-
dence consider themselves "bad men,"
shoot hole in the air and hasten east
to tell of it. In regard to shooting u
steer for running at horse, no man
but 'tender foot" will do it, A good
foreman would discharge such man at
once. "A man must be made of wood
who is mounted on good "cow horse" !"
with two good spurs and one shot-lOaded
squirt, who will let his horse stand
while he pulls his six shooter and kills
the steer. No! They make that horse
''hit the road" in II hurry if spurs and
quirt can do it. The only time siXshOot-
er is needed is when they want beef
to eat or sometimes if IA man is thrown
from the saddle and his foot catches in
the stirrup, and his companions can not
catch the horse, then the animal is shot
in order to prevent the fallen rider from
being dragged to death. In regard to
the revolver of course if there were
hostile Indians in the country the cow
boy cleans up the six shooter he bought
when he was tender foot" and carries
it for little while. BY the way there
are more pistols under the coat tails of
city men, if | dare say ten to one than
among cowboys, and as to a cowboy hav-
ing string of horses of from eight to tif-
teen in this country and in Texas they
have from five to eight (never over
eight and branding calves! Why
they have no mercy on a calf!!
have known eight to be killed in
two hours. They run after the little
elbow at full speed throw a rope (gen-
orally over his head) but draw it up on
his heels and bring him to dead stop,
then drag him according to how mad
the cowbay is) as to speed. Let me as
sure you if acowboy is through his sum-
mer work and doesn't need the horse
any more, he will grease" his back with
the end of the bride and say: "See you
again next spring." pound up q little
wood, "gO in ranch, cook his shins,'
and watch those range cattle roam up
and down the river hunting for u drink
and not even cut hole in the ice for
them nor skin the dead one
for his hide except when he
wants little to make rawhide rope or
q quirt. 1 have seen nine head of cattle
stick in miro, in sight of a ranch, where
ten or twelve cowboys were toasting
their shins and all of the number were
blind to the animals sad plight. After
summing up all his failings and giving
him credit for all his virtues it remains
as an established fact that.''the cowboy
in reality" has no love for work and will
perform his allotted task and no more.
l have been among them for the past
five years and know whereof I speak.
JAMES A. PORTE.