Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-03-22
Cowboys Can't Ride Wen.

II have lived among the COWBOYS
for many years, said Mr.. Gosnold, Of
Laredo. Tex, who has lived on the
frontier since 1858, land think know
them thoroughly. | find that gem
eral impression prevails throughout
the country that they are phenomenal
horsemen, miraculous shots. Neither
OF these opinions is correct, although
all have foundation in fact First, as
to their horaemans mp, as far as stick
ing on and understanding uh hat can
be done in the saddle goes. they Ger
talaiy are second to no riders in the
world. For q Texas cowboy to pick
upa hat or silver dollar from the
ground when at full speed, to mount
bis horse at tic gallop, or to stop him
in full-career, and turn him on a sad
die blanket, arc everyday feats. The
best of the riders can stand on the sad
die Of a galloping horse, or pick up a
coin lying on the ground on the left
side Of the horse with the right nand,
n most difficult feat, and one and all
can ride bucking horses. But here
their horsemanship ends, and beyond
tyro, because the cowboys have faults
from which the most ordinary park
rider Of the east is free. | viii ven
ture to say that if 1000 Texans start
on a long march, where speed is nec-
essary, side by side with a United
States cavalry regiment, the latter
Viii reach It's destination long before
the former. and have its stock in sery-
iceable condition, while the Texas
HORSES will be lit only for the bone
yard. Men understanding less about
horses and less able to keep their
mounts in good condition il would be
hard to find. Accustomed to having a
superabundance of horses, they never
undertake either to train or spare
them, and would break down tie best
morse in America in a week. Although
thcir horses are small, a saddle weigh
ing from so to 10 pounds is used, { e
most of this weight being useless leath-
cr. When one bears in mind the old
racing saving that the weight of q
stable key viii win or lose race. the
absurdjty OF this style of saddle IS APP
parent During the war the value Of
Texans as cayalrymen was well
proved They were greatly relied
upon and much dreaded, but when
they came before the enemy after Il
march OF 200 or 800 miles not one
horse in five was in serYiccable condj-
tiou, ana the entire force was worse
than useless. Then they thought they
knew everything about riding, and re-
fused to receive Instructions, it being
impossible to make them into as good
cavalrymen as the rawcst recruits be-
came after a few months training. 1t
was practically impossible for a horse
to throw them, but outside of this they
were and are the most destructive and
worst riders in the world.
AS to their shooting continued
Mr., Gosnold, because every man
used 10 carry revolver and was ready
to use it, people supposed they were
fine shots. One thing they did under
stand, and that was quick shooting,
but as to any accuracy, not one in a
hundred possessed it. PISTOL combats
in Texas were nearly always Of the
shoulder to shoulder kind, where speed
was of far more Importance than aim,
and a Texan could fire great number
of shots In Il given time. But when il
came To fine craftsmanship, they were
nowhere, and in an eastern shooting
gallery would not begin to be able to
hold their own. As rifle shots they
are even worse. and could not hold
any position at all nc Crcedmoor or
any regular rifle range. sd LoUiS
P0st-DtsPatch