The state chronicle., 1893-06-18
The Great Cowboy Race.
Sheffield Republican.

The Great Cowboy Race.
Sheffield Republican.
When the German and Austrian
military couriers raced between
Viena and Berlin, about q year ago,
Buffalo Bill was in London. he
told the public over there that the
cowboys on the American plains
were the best and fastest long-dis-
tance riders in the world, and
that tough Western broncho was
incompatible as q mount in long
distance riding. This cowboy race
of some thousand miles from Chad
ron, Neb., to Buffalo Bills show
ground in Chicago which began
Tuesday, is intended to demonstrate
to the world the surprising quail
ties of the American broncho and
his mate the cowboy. The Ameri.
can riders will make a tremendous
race if they are not stopped by the
agents of the long-named society.
A Chadron dispatch to the Sun
day Omaha Bee gave some interest
ing details concerning this re-
markable horse race. Cowboys,
Indians, half-breeds, professional
Jockeys and women are all allowed
to compete. Fo: many days the
riders have been training their
mounts around Chadron, sending
them 80 or 40 miles very fsst for
exercise. The race will be a test of
ones ability TO keep horse in con-
| dition for so long journey, no re-
lays being permitted, as we'll as OF
endurance on the part of riders and
beast. Among the riders are some
of the best-known frontier charec-
ters in the far West many Of them
having had experience in racing for
their lives with hostile Indians al
their backs.
The most noted Of these riders is
"Doc" Middleton, who is described
as "tall, straight as an arrow, with
I'll eye that seems to pierce One
through and through" "Doc" does
not wear his hair long, but his beard
is long and is streaked with silver
He used to be pretty "bad," but
since the sheriff stopped trying te
corner him, "Doc" Middleton has
quieted down and become good
again. "Jim" Stephens, who repre-
sents Ness City, Kan, in the race, il
said to possess in the flyer, Gen
Grant, a remarkable horse. Ths
general was captured wild only two
years ago, and it took Stephens I
whole week to run the brute down
He is accounted q fine specimen o
the very few wild horses still to b.
found in the Indian Territory. Th,
distance from Ness City to Chadro1
is 900 miles, and Gen. Grant, witt
Stephens on his back, did it il
| eleven days, finishing as fresh as
daisy.
The one woman rider, who is sur
to attract much attention in cas
she lasts 1000 miles, is Emm
Hutchinson, who began breathin
the pure Montana air when she wa
10 years old. Miss Hutchinson ha
been in the stock business and hs
ridden nearly all her life. It is rt
8 lated of her that she once rode As
! miles on a stretch. In town, Mis-
Hutchinson rides as all women d.
t but when she is on the prairie sh
I straddles man fashion. Among tt
remaining contestants may be me,
4 toned "Highpocket Kid" Of Chat
Q ron, "Jack" Hale, of South DaLot
q "Bill" Lessig. of Colorado, "Snab
y Creek Tom" of Wyoming, "Rattl'
Q snake Pete" of Creade, Col, sCoc]
l. eyed Bill" of Wyoming, and &
:: Dog and Spotted Wolf, full bloode
d Sioux Indians. The first prize wi
" be $1,000 in gold.
II One of the cowboys in the ra,
q was SO incensed by the protest
r the humane societies against cor
o. petition that seemed to involve or
y city to animals, that he has pu
% licly threatened to shoot with b
is big six-snooter any person who m.
is attempt to cut short his flight
10 ward the "White City" Wheth
is the horses will be pushed much b
< yond their powers remains to
ls | seen. The western brOnchos q
r capable of extraordinary exertion
to long-distance travelling, for viii
g. they have been trained for countle
OF generations on the plains. The wi
oe ming horse will probably reach C]
es cago in surprisingly short ii,
u unless the race should be stopp