The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-05-01
THE COWBOYS OUTFIT.

lnlscences OF cowboy life. In fact, q
plenty of the citizens of these Western
villages served as cowboys at one time
and another before they became mer-
chants, professional men, etc, in some
favorite location for town site. One
hears on every hand expressions that
were technical IN the cowboys camp.
Landlord Osgood calls his guests to
baeakfast in the morning with the song
that the cowboy sings while riding
around his cattle at night to keep them
from getting frightened and stamped
ing, thus
ay-a-a-a-a-Yo-o-o-o- Hay.a.a-a-Yo-o
o-o-Breakfast
When anything is tied up it is said to
be roped, from the term which the cow
boy applied to the use of the lasso. A
mans household goods arc termed an
outfit. So is his kit of tools, if mo-
chanic; his library and appliances, il
surgeon or lawyer; his safe, desks, etc,
II banker. So, too, is the clique he
associates with socially. He belongs to
q poker outfit if he plays cards with
regularity, or to pious outfit if he goes
to church.
People in the East have often read of
the cowboy when on a spree shooting
up in the town" or lynching a horse
thief, but not very many know anything
about the real life of the cowboy, and
Of what his outfit is composed or what
it costs.
The most important article in the cow
boys outfit is the chuck wagon, or the
wagon over which the cook presides. 1t
is common prairie schooner, with hoops
II etrofrh n
that such perishable goods as salt, sugar
and flour can be protected from the
weather. At the back is cupboard,
where such thing as baking powder,
pepper, colce dishes, ETC., are kept.
There are pots and frying pans a plenty,
and the larder is always well supplied.
Bacon is generally preferred to salt pork,
and fresh beef is kept constantly on hand
by killing steer from the herd as oc-
casion requires. The owners of the herd
supply the food, and sach tools as
shovels, axes, etc.
The shovel, it is interesting to know,
is generally of much more use than the
axe. When taking wagon across the
streams it is very often necessary to cut
down the banks on either side to form
an inclined plane, for perpendicular
banks three and four fee, high are com
mon. Then, too, the streams very often
run under ground. The bed of a creek
may be covered with sand and gravel
burning hot, but by digging two or
three feet-sometimes as much rs six or
elght-pure, sweet water may be had in
abundance.
Timber for fuel may be had in some
parts of range and not in others, but
when it is abundant the cowboys cook
generally prefers the ancient buffalo
chips, which he calls Kansas or prairie
coal.
Next to the chuck wagon among the
reeds OF the cowboy is his pony. The
Texas pony is marvel to an Eastern
man. 1t weighs from 500 to 600 pounds
only, but it cantCrs away for forty or
fifty miles with a well grown man, say
from 150 to 10 pounds weight, on its
back, and then rustles for ITS feed and
comes up fresh for another canter of the
same length neSr day. The cowboys
tell of much greater feats of strength
and endurance than this, but the Sun
reporter saw this much done.
Each cowboy, however is supplied
with six ponies by the owner because
while pony can stand several days of
hard riding in succession, it is more
economical to have several on hand and
give each chance to rest between rides.
The ponies are worth only from $50 TO
$50 each. They are a vicious lot and
buck ecstatically every time they are
mounted.
The cowman supplies the cowboy
with four blankets, saddle, bridlo and
lasso, as well as ponies, but the cowboy
who has any style about him scorns both
the Saddle and the lasso furnished by
the company. The company's saddle
is simply substantial skeleton eostinn
not more than $40. The cowboy buys
his own, and it costs $50 at least. 1t is
made Of stamped and embroidered
leather, and everything about it is of
the very best quality. One firm in
Wichita, Kansas, has made great
fortune by first making the very best
saddle that can be made by human
skill, and then charging these prices for
it. The cowboy pays the price because
he is sure OF getting tho best saddle
made.
The company lasso is made of raw.
hide 1t cost Sl0 1t does very well in
fine weather; IN a rainstorm il IS stiff
NNAWNAO " 4 ne COWBOY
leaves it with the outfit, aud takes his
own. This is made of horsehair and is
always as flexible as a bit OF cotton
twine and strong enough to hold an
elephant. 1t has range in the hands
of man OF skill of sixty feet-the
moose can be dropped over a steers horns
at that distance. lis costs the cowboy
from $50 to $i5. To learn to use the
lasso requires constant practice Tor from
four weeks TO six months, according to
the individual. OF course some men
never become experts, while Others seem
to be 'born with ropes in their hands. "
Other essentials OF the cowboy outfit
are therepeating rifle and the SIX shooter
A good ri costs S2j and a good six
shooter but little less. The cowboy must
have ivory or other fancy handles, and
the mountings must be of gold AID
silver. Bat this weapon, although fancy,
is deadly in the right hands The asst
ern man comes here expecting to find
every cowboy an expert with the re.
yolver and is somewhat astonished TO