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

!
iniscences of cowboy life. In fact,
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 n town site. One
hears on every hand expressions that
were technical IN the COWBOYS camp.
Landlord Osgood calls his quests 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:
Hay-a-a.a-a-Yo-oo-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, il a mo.
chanic; his library and appliances, if
surgeon or lawyer; his safe, desks, etc,
if n banker. So, too, is the clique he
associates with socially. lie belongs TO
poker outfit if he plays cards with
regularity, or TO a 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
over it TO stretch a canvas roof on, so
that such pershable goods as salt sugar
and flour can be protected from the
weather. At the back is cupboard.
where such thing as baking powder,
| pepper, co.lce, dishes, etc, are kent.
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 ieet-sometimes as much as 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 1t 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
reels OF the cowboy is his pony. The
Texas pony is a marvel to an Eastern
man. 1t weighs from 800 to 600 pounds
only, but it cautCrs away for forty or
fifty miles with cll-grown man, say
from $50 to 10 pounds weight, on its
back, and then rustles for ITS feed and
comes up fresh for another canter of the
same length next 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
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
DUCK ecstatlcally every time they are
mounted.
The cowman supplies the cowboy
with four blankets, saddle bride, and
laug nr~fll I. n
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 costing
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 10y human
skill, and then charging these prices for
II. The cowboy pays the price because
he is sure OF getting the best saddle
made.
The company lasso is made of raw,
hide. 1t cost SO. 1t does very well in
fine weather; in rainstorm il IS stiff
and awkward to handle. The 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 a 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 $50. 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
good II costs %2j aud a good six
shooter but little less. The cowboy must
have ivory or other fancy handles, ,Ed
the mountings must be of gold "a
silver. Bat this weapon, although fancy,
is deadly in the right hands The asst
ern man comes here expecting 10 find
every cowboy an expert with the re.
YolYer, and is somewhat astonished TO