Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-04-06
COWBOYS WILL RACE.
From Chadron, Neb., TO the Nebraska Expo
sition Building at Chicago.


which will arrange the rules and route
for the cowboy race to the World S
Fair will meet in Chadron, Neb., to-
morrow. Only the detail arrange
ments remain to be made, as the gen.
eral plans were settled several weeks
ago.
Some objections have been raised to
the rule admitting those to enter the
race who are not "titled" cowboys.
These objections, however, have met
with little favor, and it is probable
that all who wish to will be allowed
to enter the competition. But though
"tenderfeet" may take part in the
race only the native western broncho
may be ridden.
The course will be the longest ever
fC flowed in the United States; and as
the race will demonstrate the power OF
endurance of both men and horses, it
is attracting much interest in all parts
of the world.
Who will give the word ego" it has
not been determined, but it will as
suredly be some well-known Western
character. OF course the 81 art will be
made from the shot OF pistol, other
wise the race would lose much of its
interest to the riders. 1t is expected
that not less than 800 will enter the
race, tempted by the promise OF ever
lasting fame and a purse OF $4,000.
The riders will leave Chadron May
goth, Just as the sun sends its first
rays over the Nebraska plains; the
first to dismount in front OF the Ne
| braska state headquarters at the
| Worlds Fair grounds will be declared
the winner and made the uncrowned
king of the cowboys.
City Engineer Geraldine, who has
spent many years on the plains, and
| who knows the exact number OF
notcheS marked on the barrel of each
famous s'gun" owned between the
Black Hills, of South Dakota, and the
Staked Plains, ofTexas, will probably
referee the race from the Chicago end.
Each rider will have one pony, which
will be photographed and the color,
brands, and all marks registered be
fore leaving Chadron. In order to
win the race one must reach the Ne
braska Worlds Fair building with
the same pony he had when he left
Chadron. Each cowboy will register
ever twenty-four hours, and men will
be stationed along the route to pre-
vent the success of any fraudulent
schemes. Those who wish to travel
100 or 200 miles every day or two
will find themselves disqualified as
the management will take every pre-
caution to see that the race is fairly
conducted. 1t Is thought that the
sensible ones will ride about thirty
five day till within 100 miles OF Chi
cago, when the remainder of the dis
tance will probably be madein sixteen
hours. Some of the ponies which will
be in the race have been ridden 100
miles in eleven hours.
No route has been planned, although
it Is very likely that the riders will
cross the Missouri river at Sioux City
and the Mississippi at Clinton, Iowa.
The route will be determined accord.
ing to the inducements offered by the
towns along the way. As the riders
will be kept close track OF, and their
approach to each town well adver
Ulsed, the merchants are expected tC
contribute to swell the purse. The
cowboys all dislike Omaha, and con
sequently that town will have to bic
high if it desires to have riders eros.
the Missouri at that point.
The first prize is TO be not less thar
81 900, the second $500 and the thirC
$3.50. The organization managin.
the race wishes to make the first priz
50, 600 in order that large numbe
may be induced to start. 1t is though
that sufficient money will be raised Il
make it possible to offer five prizes a
. follows: First, SO, 900; second, 81 ,OOO
third, $3.50; fourth, $500; fifth, $3.50
| The amount OF the entrance fee Wi
. probably be SO.
The organization which will hav
2 charge OF the affair was perfected i
| Chadron last fall. Its members ar
/ men all well known in the west. Th
| president, A Mckinley, owns the lars
= est range in the Black Hills district
, During the annual roundup of cattl
e he employs 600 cowboys. The vice
/ president, C. f. Coffey, is the owner c
n the famous Running Water ranch
I near Harrison, Neb. Mr.. Coffey
] himself an old range rider. He Ell
tered the Black Hills in 1853 with th
original "Wild Bill" who was killed i
d Deadwood gambling den in 1876.
L. ID. Setterlee, the treasurer OF I'll
organization, is proprietor of sever,
!. of the best hotels i'll South Dakota.
81 The secretary, w. III. McCann, is r
is ceiver of the United States land offit
- at Chadron.
N All the noted "cow-punchers" fro
10 Wyoming, South Dakota, Montan
,. Colorado and Nebraska will take pa
i, in the race. Among them are some
l. the most notorious cowboys, such |
N doc" Middleton, whose history
40 well known throughout the countr
~ DOC" declares that he will ride Wi
ra the boys and bet $500 that he wi
a the race. In this connection there
,d a bit of a story that is worth relatir
Il. Buffalo Bill' Cody has offered
i hire the winner of the race to compile
a. the season with his Wild West sho
ar guaranteeing to pay $500 per wee
a. Cody and Middleton quarreled abo
a five years ago and have pledged the
IL selves to shoot on sight. Their b
tired for each other is so strong tn
it can not be placated and what wou
be the result should Middleton "
the race no one can tell.
Among the other riders will be En-
Is Albright, the originator OF the ra
"a, and an old time cowboy, who is
sh champion rifle shot OF the northwe
ne Jim Hartzell, one OF the most not
in ious COW punchars on the range a
a the crack pistol shot of Nebraska, b
L. an cred the race PerhaDs the me