West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-04-11

''@NtN. Wv Va AnC Dtol ItNOlNcT knOlS
In the Indian Territory is Dave Geber.
half breed living with the Peorias. He
can hit a target the size OF mans head
SIX times in rapid succession while rid no
his pony at full speed at a distance OF
200 yards. Having learned TO shoot
while riding on horseback, he cannot
shoot so wei 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 cowboy are worth mentioning.
A cheap pair made of maleable cast iron
can be bought for twenty-five cents.
The fancy spurs cost from 81 TO 50 pair
They are plated with silver, and en-.
grayed 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 a bell. IL is secured to
the fork that holds the rowel. For
business purpo es it is dropped in be
tween two spokes of the rowel aud thus
prevents the rowell turning. Having
done this, the cowboy can drop down
over the side of his pony, catch NJ the
rowcl In his saddle to support one end
of his body, hanging to the pomnel with
one hand TO support the other, and work
ing the trigger os his six-shooter under
the neck of his pony TO make things in p
teresting for the enemy. In the days
when Indians were in the habit OF
stampediug herds at every opportunity
the rowel aud bell were of great impor-
tance in a running fight.
The article OF wearing apparel which
i fc fhn rartna IF Tho z. II
hat. A good broad brimmed hat cannot
be bought for less than $d. The very
best cost $50. That is for the hat. The
hat band is bought extra. A leather
band with a clinking brass chain at
tached may be had for dollar A cord
OF braided gold lace, such as cowboy
would wear in society, costs from $3.50
TO $40. City Rec )rder George A. Blake,
o. Beaver City, No Mans Land, wears a
head outfit that cost $27. so, of which
the braided gold cord cost $3.50. Rube
| Chllcott, who runs the Beaver livery
stable, has another hat aud 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
I riding in storm across the range. A
storm on the range is like a gale mt sea,
! The wind sweeps unimpeded over the
lie ell 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 softest 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 $12 to SIS.
Singular enough, the cowboy cares as
/ little for the quality of his suit of othes
as he does about the cost OF his pony. A
Sle suit of store clothes, such as would
cost say 50 in New York, are good
enough for him, while his suit OF 6annels
will not cost above 81. In some parts of
the country. leather trousers that are
laced, instead Of sewed up, on the outer
seams, are in u.e. They cost from S6 TO
/ 81 pair, and are valued because they
D
bite through them. Then, too. the
cowboy usually has a pair of sickers.
r Slickers are called Oilskins by seafarinp
men. They are made of duck, and are
IN de 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 aud coffee. Butter and milk
are almost unknown, although there are
tn usa DIS Of COWS on the rang5. George
Blake told the reporter, however, that
on range where he was in charge he
lifted 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 aud sweet milk. Every outfit m Rht
be supplied but for the dislike Of milk
ing which every cowboy oyin ses.
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 aud six-shooters. Out OF ten
men in the Saginaw outfit, Dave Geber
said at least two went hunting every
sunday.
The daily experience Of the cowboy is
mOnOtonous in most respects, but not
unfrequently he has enough excitement
in fifteen minutes to last most men
lifetime. BY day he must keep the cat
tie moving slowly about so that they
will have some exercise One herd OF
800 in the Peoria reservation, which the
reporter saw, had a range Of ten miles.
They were driven over the most of
this and ack once q day. At night
when the cattle lie down TO sleep a
small bunch like the 800 will be left 90
care for itself With a herd like the
Saginaw Company's, $500 strong, two
men rode constantly around the herd all
night singing in a monotOnous chant
Hay.a a.a Yo 90 o o, Hay-a-a-a-1 s 90
600. To stop FOR minute was ox-
tremely dangerous, for the cattle, miss
ing the song 60 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. 10 is as II they saw a
ghost, the cowboys say. In an instant
there are thousands on their feet, and
away they 60 in a mad gallop, Straight
60 destruction IN they cannot be turned.
This is the moment that tries the nerve
uf fhr oorrf.rw 10 s.4saf