West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-11-21
THE WEST IN THE s

has been more than a nine days
wonder and promises to last for
some time yet. Junior Brown,
while on his western trip, bought
a drove of wild horses in Montana,
about twenty-five in number, took
them out Of a herd Of about FIVE
thousand, shipped them through to
M%organtown by rail, in charge of a
couple Of %full-fedged COW boys
Howard and Alton Eaton. Col.
Brown and Lot Spurgin met them
at Morgantown and drove them on
owe here. The next day a large
pen or corral was built Of fence rails
well staked and locked, in which to
capture and break the bronchos.
They had brought along a horse,
trained to catch the others but it
got hurt on the cars and could not
be used, hence the corral. Then
the ponies were driven to the pen
and the fun commenced. The cow
boys had brought along q complete
outfit and dressed in typical western
style, with leather breeches, II big
cavalry spur on each boot, a wide
brimed, soft, white hat with a big
leather band around it, buckskin
| gloves with long gauntlets decorated
with heavy fringe and with their
big cavalry saddles, made quite a
picturesque appearance when riding
around town.
They would enter the corral and
either on foot or on horseback lasso
one of the bronchos with their lariat
made of raw hide twisted and plat
ted, and so strong hat it Is almost
impossible to break it. The pony
would kick, jump, plunge and rear
around until he would be about
worn out, when they would saddle
him and mount him and then the
best Of the performance would take
place. The horse kicking mp, Jump
ing and bucking TO try and dis
mount the rider. lie hardly ever
succeeded in this for the COWBOYS
are all skilled horsemen. General
Phil. Sheridan said that the cow
boys of the west would make the
finest light cavalry in the world.
But this is DEPRESSING. The boys
would ride them around the mead
ows awhile ard then around town
until they were completely tanned
down. This kind of performance
has been enacted daily when the
weather would permit, and there is
always a big crowd OF sight soers.
Sometimes the town seemed desert
ed, and you couldn't find a boy to
run an errand for love or money.
Men left their business and even
closed up to go down to the corral
when the performance would begin.
There is generally present about 200
men, women and children. People
come in from the country for miles
around to see the exhibition. 1t is
a he9p OF fun for the cow boys, but
it is q little rough on the ponies. 1t
is the only show Of this kind that
Klngwood has ever had, and the
circus being free, as a matter Of
course the attendance is good.
People go there and sit on the fence
for hours at o time, until they get
blue witk the cold, patiently watch
ing this horse fair. The small boy
is Of course tickled to death and
will learn nothing at school while
this fun Is going ON. 1t is said thot
Bernard Cressler has been there ev-
cry day, and has bought one Of the
bronchos to work with his bull.
Doc. Pratt is also carried away with
item, and has been helping ride
them and was carried over ones
head about forty feet and left be-
hind rather suddenly. Toby Brown
has also been riding them and while
riding one the other day, says he
heard something "drap" and when
be came to find out what it was, it
was "Toby." lie said be didn't
mind the fall but he hated to stop
90 suddenly. The Messrs. Eaton
are very gontlemaniyfellow and are
quite popular with everybody, cspc-
cially with the ladies. They break
Wild horses in the daytime and at-
tend parties at night. and are enjoy
ing their eastern trip immensely.
They sing and play the guitar and