Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-03
PUNCH COWS MUSIC.
A WESTERN CATTLE KING HAS
ORGANIZED A BRASS BAND.
HOW THE IDEA CsME TO HIM.
He Was Hunting for Some Means of
Amusing the Men on His Ranch
During the Long Winter Evenings.
Arrival Of a COrnet To0ter.
written for the Dlspatch.)

written for the Dspatch.)
The only genuine cowboy orchestra in
existence has been discovered. Its i'm
| promptu concerts can be heard on the
ranch of G. G. Gillett, in Dickinson coun-
| ty, Kan, by any one who is interested
| enough in musical curiosities to travel to
that out-of-the-way section. 1t Is a
genuine cowboy band. in that the players
earn their living solely by cow punching,
| and amuse themselves only in their lei
sure hours by playing classical music for
| the especial delectation of the ranch
owner and his household. The idea Of
forming his cattle hands into a band Of
musicians originated with Mr.. Gillett, the
ranch-owner, who writes especially for
this newspaper the following description
of the unique musical organization:
WOODBINE. KAN. January 2O.-My
cowboy band is composed Of men who
are employed on my ranch. and who spend
their leisure hours in the practice Of
music They are much above the average
cowboy in intelligence. / purchased
the instruments for them and employed
a man to lead them, who now works on
the ranch. He is an experienced musi-
cian The boys have developed Into ex-
ceptlonally good players, and have re-
| ceived high compliments from professional
musicians.
| The cowboys are uniformed. and their
! appearance is in keeping with their fine
playing. We are very proud of them In
this part of the country, as we claim
that they comprise the only real cow
boy band on earth. The so-called cow
boy bands of the circus troups are COM
posed, for the most part, of men whose
acquaintance with cows has been limited.
Every member Of this cowboy band is an
expert with the lariat or the branding
iron as with the trombone or a clarinet.
The idea Of forming the ranch hands
into brass band came to me coincidsntly
with the advent on the scene of cow
puncher wb3 could toot a little on the
cornet. His repertoire was limited to
two tunes-"The Star Spangled Banner"
and Marching Through Georgia." He
could just struggle through them with
painful effort. We gave him and his two
tunes a rousing welcome, however, for
the possibilities Of obtaining wholesom e
diversion during the long winter months
are not many on cattle ranch.
1t became rather trying after awhile
to listen to our cornetist footing the same
old tunes and so 1 determined. IN the
interest of harmony, to give him the ad-
vantage of a teacher.
When the teacher arrived. there wasn't
a man on the place who didn't want to
become a musician under his tutorage.
and from their clamor was evolved the
idea of starting brass band 1t has
since become the fad of the county. No
local celebration is complete without the
cowboy band, and If / had any Of the
circus instinct in me l have no doubt l
could MAKE money by taking the cow
boys on tour.
We do everything to music around the
ranch now. Ii has almost become re-
ligion with us The boys breakfast to
music. leave for their rounds to the ac-
compartment of classical compositions,
and have a source of amusement when
through with their work. that they never
tire Of. The band plays almost any piece
at sight AS there are fifteen players the
music is inspiring and well worth listen
ing to.
| decided very recently TO give the boys
an outing, and at the same time show
them off TO my neighbors. The opportunity
came the other day when l had to go TO
Forth Worth to receive fifteen train-loads
OF cattle for the ranch. The band went
with me on a special car The whole
county turned out 10 see the boys or
At Forth Worth the news Of their coming
had preceded them, and when the train
pulled into the station a large and en-
thusiastic Reception Committee greeted
our arrival. The band owned Forth
Worth from that moment.
The boys were called upon TO give con-
certs at the houses of leading citizens,
and every one who wasn't invited. in
yited himself. They serenaded the Mayor.
were entertained at lunch, dined, wined.
and thanked I'm flattering speeches. They
nearly blew themselves down the mouth
pieces of their Instruments in their efforts
TO show appreciation OF the hearty recep-
ton.
a local musical critic had this to say
about them: "Mr. Gillett wanted the cow
boys TO have an outing just as II the
average cowboys life was not continual
outing. But they are here, and are
excellent musicians. too. They gave a
concert all morning. In their COWBOY
outfits they presented unique appear
ance. They are a fine lot or young men,
and their music will win applause from
All critics. The band spent most of the
afternoon entertaining our people, and
then took the train for our Woodpine
home.
The popular idea is that cowboys
only diversion is to ride at break-neck
pace into the nearest town, drive all
the citizens indoors at the point or the
revolver, fill up with bad whiskey, and
shoot out all the lights In the Dar-room'
ending up by killing a few innocent by
ISLANDERS. or perhaps getting killed them
selves. The cowboy of reality. In this
vicinity az least. is a lover OF fine music
and gentleman.
The experiment with the band has
been an unqualified success. and has done
much TO make life on my ranch pleasant
for both the boys and myself.
G.. G. GILLETT.
Florists shop Interview.