Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-09-09
Old Tine Rocky Ford Hospitality

Old Tine Rocky Ford Hospitality
How Senator SwInk Saved His Rel I.
utatation as Host Before Melon
Day Was Thought OF.
The following article appeared in the
Rocky Mountain News on the morning
of Watermelon Day. It has some basis
in fact but we suspect that the reporter
hos exaggerated somewhat. As we have
heard the story it was two barrels Of
green apples-high priced green apples
which saved tho reputation Of Rocky
Ford for1 broad-gauge hospitality. But
we would not presume 70 attempt to
correct good story which appeared in
q Denver daily:
There is local tradition Of the town
Of Rocky Ford to the effect that when
Senator Swink came TO the valley q
young man and started general supply
store down by the river side, where the
real and only original rocky ford OF the
Arkansas river is actually situated, the
first big social gathering OF the town and
the then sparsely settlsd country was
gwen in the form Of . country dance,
followed by q supper. It took q large
area Of country in those days TO furnish
enough folk for cotillion. The ladies
were especially scarce and many time
the set had to be filed up with several
extra cowboys mssquerading as feminine
partners in the danoa.
On this occasion IL was decided to get
together enough girls to make up set
II tho invitations had 10 be sent clear
down into New Mexico. And 30 for q
long time ahead these invitations were
sent out. by everybody to everybody,
without size, age or previous condition
OF servitude. Then the embryo senator's
expectations were more than realised.
The invitations had gone farther than
anybody thought they could In 20 short q
time and with such limited means Of
communication.
When the day arrived 20 did the peo.
pie. They came from the little hamlet
Of Pueblo on the west and from the COM
mercial metropolis Of Las Animas on the
east. They came from the Huerfano on
the south and from Horse creek on the
north. They cOntinuhd TO come until
the host and his neighbors began 70 be
alarmed. There was not only q limit to
the house room OF the community in
those days but there was limit to the
food supply that had been prepared. Il
looked as II there would not be enough
to go around.
The committee on refreshments went
to Mr.. Swink and asked what was to be
done. The reputation Of the people for
hospitality was in jeopardy. Somebody
would have to 60 away hungry. There
was certainly not enough TO ill them all
up satisfactorily. G.. W. went into q
brown study; 10 crinkled his brow.
his whiskers a. he does now in the sen.
ate chamber when perplexed, Tor he waa
too young to have any; but he thought
and thought seriously. Then . bright
smile lighted mp his countenance and
without stopping to explain what ray Of
he made bolt for the "oave", which In
the original u tho '.root house" Of oul
fathers In the far easi, but .caye'' in
Colorado. In this cave .was stored the
surplus goods not kept In tho shop
Three barrels OF dried apples were broi
up, the heads knocked in and the barrels
plnccd temptingly in the line OF the
main traffic about the premises. In
those days and in this part Of the country
apples were apples, and even dried ap-
pies wero something Of . luxury. This
strategic move OF the senator's was made
an honr or more before supper was to be
served.
A half hour later the senator was seen
to dive down into the cave again and
come forth with . box Of dried salt herr.
ing. which was passed arobnd.. The
company pressed to try one, which they
generally did. The water, we'll, the
senator did not have to 60 nfter that. In
a short time everybody pretty much was
headed for the water bucket and pailful
after pailful Of diluted alkai was rapidly
absorbed. When the refreshments thai
had been expressly prepared for the 90.
casion by the ladies u the Ford were
served, little while later, there was
enough to 60 around. There was even
little 70 spare. The senator ingenuity
bad saved the reputation OF the commu.
nifty.