The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-17

days.
They were the first Rough Riders. At
least it was the trying experiences of
these men that suggested the term to
my mind.
That was way back in the fifties years
before the days of the pony express,
which was organized in 1889.
1t was no easy matter to get messages
across the great tracklcss plains and be-
wildering mountains from one fort to
another in those early days. 1t was
rough work, and that is putting it
mildly.
Five hundred, eight hundred, even
more than thousand miles these long
distance messengers used to ride, often
arriving at their destination more dead
than alive; not infrequently dying on the
way, in fact, from exhaustion or from
wounds inflicted by Indian arrows.
From Fort Leavenworth on the Mis-
souri, they used to start by scores, but
usually each with a separate objective
point, for the couriers nearly always
travelled alone. Into Mexico they went,
to Fort Lyon, to Fort Bridger, to old
Fort Laramie, the most notable fort on
the plains in those days, and to the
scores of other army posts.
Those dispatches meant much to the
recipients. They were intrusted to the
toughest riders obtainable, and deliver
them they would or die gamely in the
attempt.
Those human telegraph lines OF the
early ffties feared nothing. No men
more faithful to duty ever lived With
cmptied canteens they thirsted over the
hot sand and pitiless plains; over noun
tain trails and through deep ravines they
went banging; if they slept at all it was
where night overlook them.
Sometimes they made the whole dis
lance, even the thousand-mile stretches,
on one horse. The value OF the relay
was not learned until later.
The term Rough Rider comes from
the expression, you've had a rough
ride" The arrival OF messenger at the
far-otf army post was an event, and the
first thing we would say to him was
something like: well, you've had a
pretty rough ride, haven't you?"
have been told that the popular
conception OF Rough Rider is one
who is able to stick onto any piece Of
live horseflcsf in existence, one to whom
bronchos have no terror. This is not
the correct conception. A man who
could do that would be a mighty
Smooth" rider.
coined the term Trough Riders" for
show purposes when we incorporated in
the exhibition representatives Of the best
riders OF many nations, calling them a
Congress OF the Rough Riders OF the
World" l have thought many times
since that l might have more properly
designated them the Smooth Riders OF
the World" But it was these frontier
messengers who had trough rides of it"
whom had in mind when 1 first used
the expression.
| Alter the army messengers came the
pony express, the relay riders who
risked breaking their nccks for the gov
crnment every time they mounted a
horse. They became known as Rough
Riders. So did many tenderfect who
took long jaunts over bad lands. So
did the scouts OF that time-brave men
who made the opening OF the great
West possible.
No one could have been more pleased
than / at the organization OF regiments
Of Rough Riders to fight in the war
against Spain. I commended the idea
from the beginning and was glad to see
Colonel Roosevelt at the head OF such
an organization and to sec him carry
out its mission so admirably. His rcgi-
mcnt was not only the picturesque fca-
turc OF the late war, but it was de-
cisivc feature.
The "roughncss' OF those men was
what counted. Colonel Roosevelt had
a broad conception OF the term Rough
Riders. BY it he meant hardy men, used
to all kinds OF "roughing it," men fully
able to care not only for themselves but
for their horses under every circun-
stance; men who could stand any hard
ship in the field, who could go without
food or wafer for days il necessary and
not complain. He got them. They
fought. They helped materially to con-
qucr They have been and are justly
honorcd.
1t was natural for Rooscvclt's men to
call themselves Rough Riders That was
a good trademark for them. 1t dis
tinguishcd them from the rest OF the
army, but they deserved the distinction.
Not to say that they fought better, for
the United States regulars as fighters
cannot be beaten, but they fought and
appeared different.
would like to see few good regi
mcnts OF Rough Riders go to the Phil
ppincs, together with enough regular
army men to be OF use over there. Then
let some great commander like General
Miles manipulate them, and hostilities