Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-10-25
ruEPREAcHER COULD RIDE.
And He Surprised the Boys ON the ID
SPR AIMS,

And He Surprised the Boys ON the nei
Ranch.
The presence on the streets o. ..
Anaconda lately Of a reylvalist, WI.
was STYLED the Cowboy Ireachel'
reminds me Of a incident thaO oc'
cnrred in New Mexico IN 1882 III
which a .'cowboy preacher played q
prominent part. Dou
One evening the boys on the Ben
ranch. on coming in at night, were
agreeablv surprised 10 learn that d
nreacher was stopping at the rahch-
house and would probably remain loi
several days, us the river was very
high and he could not continue MS
journey.
The preachers rig was in the corrai
and consisted of dilapidated buck
board and lean, lank-looklng morse
At supper the preacher told the cow
bows that he was travelling mission
ary. and devoted his time TO preach'
ing the Gospel to cattlemen and cow,
boys. and was then making tour ol
the range.
The next morning the cowboys were
busy making preparations for the
round-up. The corral was filed with
broncos, and the boys were busy SAD
ding up. The preacher watched the
operation with apparent satlsiactioh'
and it appeared to be a novel Slght tc
flim: a. many of the broncos had been
running free on the range for several
tnonths and were so wild and spirited
that they had TO be rOped ana helu
While being saddled.
The range foreman asked the
preacher "if he could ride" and re-
marked that "if he cOu d gentle
horse would be furnished ana he could
90 along with the outfit and see cattle
rounded up, roped. and branded.
The preacher mOdestly replied that
"he could ride some" and thought
that he could ride any of the ponies
in the corral"
This reply rather vexed the range
foreman, who knew that the corral
contained some OF the worst bucking
broncos on the range, so he concluded
that he would put up job on the
preacher, and test his riding abilities.
He ordered one of the boys "to
saddle Pinta for the preacher"
"Pinta was a demure-loOking
bronco, and appeared to have no spirit
at all. But the moment rider was
in the saddle she became a holy
terror, and would buck and prance
lround until she had thrown her
rider. So the cowboys were expect
ing to see the preacher thrown almost
Is soon as he was mounted.
Pinta was brought out, saddled and
bridled, and the preacher vaulted
.ntO the saddle. Pinta began to
Duck, but, contrary To expectations,
The preacher was not thrown. He
remained firmly seated in the saddle
and seemed as composed as if he was
n the pulpit. Plnta was surprised.
TOO, as she generally threw her rider
inside of ten seconds. She began
DuckIng again and while she was do
ng her best the preacher coolly put
lis hand in his vest pocket, drew out
| cigarette, lit it, and, turning in the
saddle to the astonished COW boys, said:
"Boys, l thought you had some
spirited broncOs on this range. You
don't call this low-spirited old pony
bucker, do you?'
The range foreman was so surprised
at this unlooked-for display of horse
manship that he exclaimed: Il don't
know how good preacher you are,
but you are id good rider. There
amt two men on the range that can
ride Pinta. Where did you learn to
ride?"
'O," said the preacher, Il was a
bronco buster and range rider on the
Palo Verde ranch in the Panhandle
for six years. For the last three
years L have been a minister of the
gospel. l am out Of practice riding
now, but l think within a few DAYS
practice could ride as well as the
average cowboy. Some OF my friends
call me the Cowboy Preacher of
Texas"
The preacher went with the outfit,
and in the next few days proved that
he was at home on the range as well
as in the pulpit, and coulC ride. rope.
or brand better than any of them.
After coming back from the roundup
the preacher got out his horse and
blackboard and continued on his
journey, bearing the good
will and admiration Of everybody on
the range. 1t was the universal
Opionion Of the cowboys on the Bell
ranch that, while the church had
probably gained an efficient preacher.
the range certainly had lost the best
: bronco buster" that ever threw
his leg over saddle.
Standard.