Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-01
FUN FOR COWBOYS.
GAMES IN WHICH MEN AND PONIES
ENGAGE ON PUNCHERS' DAYS.

| It-Joy UnalIoyed.
In meeting of Texas and Oklahoma
| COW punchors last season after the work
was done 1t was proposed to have Cow
| punchers' day.
Lets stretch a few ropes" said one Of
| them
Tho men were lying idly about in camp
when this announcement was made, but
in twinkling they were on their feet sad
ding horses, tightening girths and pre-
pairing for action in general. Before an
sasterner could have bridled his horse tho
men had divided into two opposing sides.
One man from each side had uDslung his
rope, one end of which was firmly secured
to the horn of his saddle. The loose ends
of the two yopes were then tied together,
thus leaving the two riders Joined to each
other by about 100 feet of rope fastened to
their saddle horns They took their stand
facing the same way and only few feet
apart, leaving the rope slack between
them. Suddenly, rs if at signal, they
put spurs to their ponies and dashed off
at full speed. For awhile the rope trailcd
in a double curve, but gradually frightened
as the two riders began to turn each TO tho
outside and away from each other. Final
ly the motion ceased, each horse pulling
against the other in such way that
neither had the advantage.
The strain on the ropes was tremendous,
but the ropes, constructed to stand the
pulling of q maddened steer stood this
test also. The plucky little ponies painted
and tugged and strained their nerves
against each other. Their riders had all
they could do to encourage their animals
and to keep them in such q position as to
retain their own seats. Had either pony
turned his back squarely for a fair pull
the rider would have been brushed off by
the ropo Immediately. 1t was test that
required fine craftsmanship, steady hand
and practiced eye. 1t was well fought
battle, and the spectators cheered 1t lusti-
ly. For some minutes neither pony seemed
able to pull the other, but gradually the
Texas pony seemed to gain the advantage.
Stop by step he backed away, pulling his
opponent with him.
Seeing he was beaten If he relied on
brute force, the Oklahoma man determined
to see what strategy would do Keeping
the rope always taut, he galloped around
the circumference of u circle of which his
antagonist was the center and tho rope
radius. First he galloped In one direction
and then in the opposite. Then he stopped
altogether and slackenod the rope. His
only hope was to brush his antagonist out
of his saddle with the rope, and as long as
his opponent faced him squarely he could
not do this.
Once more the Oklahoma punchcr Stacks
the rope, his opponents pony turns slight
ly, and quick as u flash the ropo has
swung around, and the Texan is lifted
clear of his saddle and thrown violently to
the ground.
Hurt, Bill?" asks one of his own men
as the defeated puncher remounts and
joins his sido.
\ Nav
well, you oughter be. You oughter
have your neck broke for gettin trick.d
that way"
For over an hour such contests went on,
with fortune favoring sometimes one side
and sometimes tho other.
The last thing of tho day as well as
the last of all punchcrs days was what
might bo called tug of war contest, a
general conflict, answering unintention.
ally enough, to the melee of ancient tour
namonts 1t was held in tho evening
Three ropes were twisted together into
one thick cable, as tho occasion required
or ten single ropes were fastened to each
side of the cable, the other ends being at
tachcd to the saddle horns of the riders,
the Texan crowd on one sido and tho
Oklahoma crowd on the other Tho battle
began with a straight tug one side against
tho other. Ponies and men, every nerve
quivoring, were pulling as If life and death
depended on the struggle. Some wero
hcaving against the ropes as they would
in pulling heavy load in harness 9th
ers were pulling backward, with the long
ropo stretching away in front of thom.
The threefold cable held firm.
Now one sido gave way few feet and
now the other. Soon, however, 1t became
evident that the Texans were being out
pulled. Then the scene changed Tho
Texans swung round and round to entan-
gle their opponents and brush them from
their saddles. This movement was met
by a counter movement. Whichever can
get outside in this contest has the advnn-
tage; hence it is evident long rope Is a
boon. Shorty Wilkus is doing his best to
push a big Texan back. He is doing
nobly, but now two Texans get together
and swing around at full speed squarely
against him. He and his horse go down
together. He gets on his feet again amid
the hurry buyly of horses and men and
lodges outside unframed to safety. His
riderless horse regains its feet and rushcs
on in the melee, adding to the confusio2
and cntanglements Now all system van
ishes; ropes sweep men from tho saddle;
horses become entangled and 90 down;
yells, cheers, shouting, swearing, shoot
Ing, are fearful Finally it Is discovered
that two Texans still retain their places,
while all the Oklahoma saddles are empty.
This settles 1t, Tho Texans have won.
Bloody noses, black eyes, bruised faoes
and tattcred garments were visible every
where after the fun, and the pSnies were
as badly used up as the men. Yot none
was killed, and no one was seriously hurt
The best of good feeling and fellowship
prevailed. The men sat around the big
campfire, over which newly killed cow
was roasting on hugo spit, and laughed
and joked over the incidents of the day.
Their JOY was unalloyed.
(Tex.) Cor. Now York Sun.