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

In the Indian Territory is Dave Geber,
half breed living with the Peorias. He
can hit a target the size of a mans head
SIX times in rapid succession while riding
his pony at full speed at distance of
200 yards. Having learned TO shoot
while riding on horseback, he cannot
shoot so well standing on foot aud aim
ing deliberately, and that is one of the
pecularities Of the cowboy marksman.
To return to the pony tiappings, the
spurs OF a cowboy are worth mentioning.
A cheap pr made of maleable cast iron
can be BE- for twenty-five cents.
The fancy ost from 81 to 50 pair.
They are p. with silver, and en-
graved in fancy designs, sometimes, but
the part TO which the cowboy directs his
attention when buying is the rowel or
wheel, and the bell The wheel must
have long and substantial spokes. The
bell is a little piece of steel shaped like
the clapper Of bell. 1t is secured to
the fork that holds the rowel. For
business purpo es it is dropped in be
tween two spokes of the rowel and thus
prevents the rowel turning. Having
done this, the cowboy can drop down
over the side of his pony, catching the
IOhNl III his tbNhlC " huDDOIb OlG Gnu
of his body, hanging to the pommel with
one hand to support the other, and work
ing the trigger OF his siX-shooter under
the neck of his pony to make things in
teresting for the enemy. In the days
when Indians were in the habit of
stampcdiug herds at every opportunity
the rowel and bell were of great impor-
tance in a running fight.
Tho article OF wearing apparel which
is the pride of the cowboys heart is his
hat. A good broad bsimmed hat cannot
be bought for less than So. The very
best cost $50. That is for the hat. The
hat band is bought extra. A leather
-buud with a clinking brass chain at
tached may be had for. a dollar. A cord
of braided gold lace, such as cowboy
would wear in society, costs from $3.50
to $40. City Recorder George A. Blake,
o Beaver City, No Mans Land wears a
head outfit that cost $3.50, of which
the braided gold cord cost $3.50. Rube
Chilcott, who runs the Beaver livery
stable, has another hat and band of the
same sort. Both men were once cow
boys.
But it Is not altogether as a matter of
/ fancy that expensive hats are bought.
The broad brim is great protection to
| the back Of the neck and the face when
riding In a storm across the range. A
storm on the range is like gale at sea-
/ The wind sweeps unimpedcd over the
lie cl prairie, and drives the rain or snow
/ against the cowboy almost with the
/ force of charge of birdshot. The best
/ hat-the one that is at once warm and
| watcrproof-is good enough on such
/ occasions, but none too good.
/ Next to his hat the cowboy is proud
of his boots. They must be hand made,
/ of the best and softcst of leather and
they must have long legs, and heels that
will throw the French heel OF a lady's
boot entirely in the shade. Heels from
an inch to an inch and quarter high are
/ the proper thing for cowboys who wish
| to attend dance in this country. Boots
/ of this sort cost from Sl2to SIS.
| Singular enough, the cowboy cares as
little for the quality of his suit of Clothes
rs he does about the cost Of his pony. A
/ Sl2 suit Of store clothes, such as would
cost say 80 in New York, are good
enough for him, while his suit of hannels
will not cost above 81. in some parts of
the country, leather trousers that are
laced, instead of sewed up, on the outer
seams, arc in use. They cost from SIS to
% pair, and are valued because they
wear well, and because snakes cannot
bite through them. Then, too, the
cowboy usually has pair of slickers.
Slickcrs are called uilsSinS by seafaring
men. They are made of duck, and are
made waterproof by soaking in oil.
As might be inferred from what has
been written, the bill of fare of the cow
boy consists chiefly of bread and bacon
and beef and coffee. Butter and milk
are almost unknown, although there are
thcusa IDS of cows on the range. George
Blake told the reporter, however, that
on range where he was in charge he
fitted up milk house over a spring near
where the outfit had its head quarters,
and having bought a churn and some
pans, kept the outfit supplied with but
ter and sweet milk. Every outfit might
be supplied but for the dislike of milk
ing which every cowboy evinres.
The diet Of beef aud pork is always
varied with game, too. There is gen
orally one shot gun with the outfit for
prairie chickens, while deer, antelope,
and jack rabbits are shot in numbers
with rifles and SiX-shooters. Out Of ten
men in the Saginaw outfit, Dave Geber
said ut least two went hunting every
Sunday.
The daily experience of the cowboy is
monotonous in most respects, but not
uufrequently he has enough excitement
in fifteen minutes to last most men a
lifetime. by day he must keep the cat
tic moving slowly about so that they
will have some exercise. One herd of
500 in the Peoria reservation, which the
reporter saw, had a range Of ten miles.
They were driven over the most of
this and acl once n day. At night
when the cattle lie down to sleep
small bunch like the 500 will he left to
care for itself With a herd like the
Saginaw Company's, $500 strong two
men rode constantly around the herd all
night singing in monotonous chant
Hay-a a-a lo-o-o-o o, Hay-a-a-a-Yo-o-
600. TO stop for a minute was eX-
tremely dangerous, for the cattle, miss
ing the song 10 which they were accus
toned, would become uneasy. The
cowboys stand watches of two hours
length at night.
Sometimes through carelessness, but
often in spite Of care, the cattle will
become alarmed. 1t is as if they saw u
ghost, the cowboys say. In an instant
there are thousands on their feet, and
away they go in mad gallop, straight