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

find that not one in ten can be so classed.
The reputation of the few clings to the
whole. One of the best revolver shots
In the Indian Territory is Dave Geber,
half breed living with the Peorias. He
can hit a target the size of q mans head
six times in rapid succession while riding
his pony at full speed at a 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
peCuliarities of the cowboy marksman.
To return to the pony tIappings, the
spurs OF a 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 $5 pair.
They are plated 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 aud thus
prevents the rowell turning. Having
done this, the cowboy can drop down
over the side of his pony, catching the
rowcl in his saddle to support one end
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
tuhon Indians in fha hol,if Of
stampeding 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 brimmed hat cannot
be bought for less than $6. The very
best cost $50. That is for the hat. The
hat band is bought extra A leather
-bund with clinking brass chain at
tached may be had for. q 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,
/ 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 a great protection to
the back of the neck and the face when
riding In storm across the range. A
storm on the range is like gale at sea.
The wind sweeps unimpeded over the
lie cl prairie, aud drives the rain or snow
against the cowboy almost with the
force of a charge of blrdshot 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 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 Sl2-to SIS.
Singular enough, the cowboy cares as
little for the quality of his suit of Clothes
as he does about the cost of his pony. A
| S12 suit Of store clothes, such as would
cost say 50 in New York, are good
enough for him, while his suit of lannels
will not cost above $4. 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 $8 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.
Slickers are called oilsSins 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
/ thousa IDS of cows on the range. George
Blake told the reporter, however, that
on q 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 evinces.
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 arc shot in numbers
with rifles and 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 a
lifetime. by day he must keep the cat
tie moving slowly about so that they
will have some exercise. One herd Of
500 in the Peoria reservation, which the
reporter saw, had range of ten miles.
They were driven over the most of
this and ! acS once a day. At night
when the cattle lie down to sleep a
small bunch like the 500 will he left to
care for itself. With herd like the
l Saginaw Company's, p, 500 strong, two
men rode constantly around the herd all
night singing iu monotonous chant
Hay-a a-a Yo-o-o-o o, IIay-a-a-a-Y 90
600. TO stop for a minute was eX-
tremely dangerous, for the cattle, miss
ing the song to 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