Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-29
THE COWBOYS AT REST.
A Sunday Visit to the alternating Wild
West Show

west snow.
BUYEALoKs, ROCKY MOUNTAIN COACH MULES AND
BUcKrNo BRoNcHos VARY A MAINLAND LAND
scAPr-A PIcrUREsoE SCENE NEAR THIS CITY
MAJOR BURKE AND ''BUcK' TAYLOR.
ASrAR reporter invaded the muddy precincts
OF Gen. Beale's stock farm yesterday for the
purpose of getting glimpse at the remains OF
Buffalo Bills Wild West show. The farm lies
about miles north of the city, and is about
mile south of the Maryland Agricultural Col
lege. The reporter, through the misdirection
of some ill-informed guide, drove out by way
Of the Bladensburg pike, which led into tpyi-
cal country by-road, deep with mud, and across
q semi-mountainous region that made the pro-
gress both slow and disagreeable. The drizzle
that had threatened all the morning
developed into a steady rain just before the
farm was reached. At the gate the reporter
encountered three horsemen whom he at first
mistook for cowboys, but a nearer view showed
that their trowsers were worn outside Of their
boots. and their heads were covered by dark
hats Of a moderate size. These evidences Of
civilization treasured the scribe, who asked if
Buck Taylor, 1.-The king of the cowboys" was at
the house. Upon receiving a negative reply
he asked who tods there, and was told that Mr..
Laderty, the superintendent of the farm, was
somewhere around. Thereupon he turned into
the road leading up to
THE GREAT oLD-FAsHIoNED MANSION,
between a double row of apple trees that
scraped the buggy top and flung down their
rain drops. Mr.. Lafferty was found at the
door Of one of the stables. He let down the
bar and babe the reporter to drive in out of
the rain. Upon the Standardization Of the
scribe the superintendent said that Buck
Taylor was expected back from town during
the afternoon, but that Major John Burke,
Buffalo Bills manager, was visiting at the
house, to which he led the way. The major
was found in the office, sitting with his hat on
and wrapped in his macintosh to keep warm.
The air grew so chilly that fire was started in
the hearth and soon was blazing merrily up
the chimney.
''Yes," said the major, 1--WE are getting COM
fortably settled Our stock is out there in the
meadow for pasturage, and we have settled
down for q rest. 1t seems strange to rest; 1t
seems like a dream. We have been so busy
for so many years, without break, that do
not feel right when l am not at work. sleep
80 soundly that am tired when / wake up.
Buck has gone to Alexandria to see some OF his
old friends"
well. we can take look at his room," said
Mr.. Lafferty, leading the way up the broad
stairway. Il want to show you the carpet on
the floor. Just think of Buck Taylor sleeping
in a room with a carpet on the floor"
The door was locked, but key was found to
NJ IL, anu the party entereu
SEEN FROM BUCKS WINDOW.
The south window overlooked the meadow in
which the show-cattle were roaming. string
Of little horses was winding across the field,
headed for the shelterof a clump of trees at the
foot of a hill sloping down from the house.
Away over in one corner a number of large
black spots appeared. These were the buffa-
loes, which are kept in the same meadow with
the horses. This field is over two miles long
~ IL Las - H.. HOrv.
Beyond the trees bordering the meadow the
roof Of the house ON the Riggs farm could easily
be seen; beyond was the turret of the Soldiers
Home, and farther still, little to the left the
Monument doomed up above the trees, barely
visible through the driving rain.
WATCHING THE BUFFALoEs.
The horses and buffaloes will be kept in the
meadow until about the latter part of Novem-
Der. when they will be driven up into a large
shed, now being constructed behind the stables.
There are fully two hundred of Buffalo Bills
horses. besides about one hundred of Gen.
Beale's and Mr. Lafferty's ON the place. The
buffaloes require constant watching to prevent
them from jumping the fences, and so a man
stays with them all day. They have great de-
sire to jump any fence through which they can
see, and if they cannot see through it they
will proceed to try to butt hole in il through
which they can see, and then they will jump
it. Barbed wires are nothing to them; so that
it has been deemed prudent to furnish them
with attendant. The buffaloes and the
horses. while they do not affiliate are on easy
terds with each other, and have as yet had no
trouble.
HAPPY FAMILY.
1t is the intention of the cowboys to keep the
horses out in the pastures long enough to re-
duce them to frames as an animal not blessed
with a superabundance of flesh is called. Then,
toward the Spring, when things are being put
In readiness for the Paris season, these frames
will be built upon Just enough to give them an
air of existence. They will be scrupulously
dietsd. the luxury Of grain being reserved for
the fattening process These are almost all
Texas horses, mustangs, and among them are
some Of the famous FUCKERS" At present they
look like ordinary, peaceable, rideable nags,
that would bring about $50 apiece in an open
market. But they are full of good stuff, and
have got the show business down fine.
THE COWBOY KINGS ABODE
The rain swirling across the window
panes as the reporter turned from the horses
and buffaloes to examine the mysteries of the
cowboy kings abode. The bed was an old
fashioned four-poster that nearly touched the
roof. Under one end were about half a dozen
great boots, tumbled into a confused pile At
the other protruded the end of a wooden box,
filed with guns and pistols. Bucks armory,"
Major Burke said. On the chimney-piece was
variegated collection. The center was occu-
pied by frame containing Bucks ally
Sloper London testimonial. The 'Ally
Sloper' is a comic illustrated journal that
gives jokes to the millions of Lon
doners, and this testimonial, presented
by the publishers, sets forth the fact (sur-
rounded by colored drawings illustrating scenes
in the life of Mr.. Ally Sloper), that whereas
Buck Taylor is the acknowledged king of the
cowboys, any person calling him by any other
title, or bestowing that title upon any other
person, shall be treated in some horrible man
ner which the finite mind of the scribe failed
to grasp. Below all is hieroglyphic supposed
to be Mr.. Sloper's signature. BY the side of
the testimonial lie Taylors silver spurs, and
beyond them a great pile of photographs.
souvenirs Of his wide travelling. Among these
il q portrait Of Dude" Baker, one of the crack
shots Of the Wild West. This name explained
the major, was given to Baker long, long ago,
before the term became generally used be-
cause he insisted on wearing black clothes and
other emblems of .'dudery" when not engaged
in the pursuit of the cowboy profession.
While the others were looking at the photo
graphs the major had prospected about until
he unsarthed, In the closet. peculiar looking
vessel covered with wicker work, which he
took over to the window for examination. He
soon satisfied his curiosity and returned the
vessel in the closet, saying, as he shut the door
and threw back his macintosh that he felt
better. Finally the unlimited guests tread
their way out of the room gently over the
wonderful carpet and locked the door behind
them.