The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-10

cars on the sidings were covered with men and boys as thick as heads on a string.
 The crowd on horseback and in prai- Tie schoonerS were ranged around the roping ground in a circle about one half mile in diameter Marshal Jo A. F. Dickson and his aids were kept fly ing back and forth on their horses to keep the crowd in order and far enough back to give plenty of room for the wild and woolly "bronks" and the equally as wild and woolly "bronk busters
 This circle, seen from the crest of the hill half a mile back of the grand stand, presented such a scene as could only be produced in this part of the world and such as none of the oldest cattlemen had ever seen before.
 The line of schooners with their white canvas covers extended nearly all the way round and the remaining arc of the circle was filled in, horsemen standing 8our or five deep in places Up and down and back and forth were galloping singly and in squads the best and toughest riders of the west. From every part of the vast crowd came con- tinually the shrill whoop of the cow boys. As much part of stock in trade as his saddle or his spurs is this Whoop. There is no way to put it in print, that will give even a remote idea Of it's peculiar characteristic sound as 1t rings out on the cloudless western air with it's accompanying roll of horses hoofs cn the turf.
 To see a squad of these cowboys sweep by at full speed, with their broad hats Tapping, their spurs jing- ing and their whoop ringing out and mingling with; the indescribable rush. ing sound of hoofs on the grass puts a thrill in the slowest blood and creates a wild desire to mount a broncho. swing your hat and join them.
 The "bronks' providing for riding contests were, as cowboy expressed 1t, the worst kind" They were in ranch vernacular outlaws" That is. horses that couldn't be broken, and the horse that can't be broken by a panhandle cowboy is surely tough customer. They have been ridden enough to know all the tricks of throw ing rider. They are always strong and swift and combine with it degree of viciousness, treachery and cunning which makes 1t dangerous for the most expert horseman to have anything to do with them. When a horse is found to be of this description he is 'out- lawed" and "set free" Such were the ones the boys had to ride for the suit of clothes which was put up for prize. The rules read: To be ridden with a slick saddle" That is, the saddle to be free from the roll usually tied across the horn and the stirrups were not to be tied together under him nor was the rider to wear any spurs.
 When the conditions were made known many of the boys who had been anxious to ride shook their heads doubtfully and said they wouldn't take any of it in theirs.'' But finally the entries were made and J. H. Props, J. F. Fritz and Billy Barnes, all old cattlemen, were selected as judges, and John Lasater of Seymour called out a couple of boys to help herd the bucking "bronks" out of the crowd Will Golf of Throckmorton county was the first to ride. He was long, slender boy with very high heels on his boots.
 A rope was thrown on quiet look ing bay pony and he was led out for Willie's benefit. Willie begged for his spurs, but Lasater was firm and said the pony had to be ridden without spurs or not at all, so Willie pulled off his coat, threw off his suspenders, took a cinch in his belt and crawled on him, and slapped him across the face with his hat. The pony was in nowise slow with his part of the program, but pro- ceeded to business at once, and pitched for about fifty yards about three hum dred revolutions to the minute, and then started to run. This brought a whoop of derision from the crowd with remarks such as:
 Why I can ride him bareback"
 "Take the bridle off"
 That horse don't know how to pitch" and so on.
 (Conttp1ta1 o-r,oyrouy