Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-09-06
COWBOY STORIES
ABOUT ROOSEVELT
Rough Rider Had the Friendship
of the Cattlemen.
Quaint Orders Given to the Cow Punch.
:rs II His Experience with a
BrOnchO- Colonel Won
Test of Friendship.

In most interesting letter in the Chi
cago Record, dated at Medora, y. d.,
William Il. Curtis repeats many of the
stories told him by the ranchmen and
cowboys of North Dakota and eastern
Montana relative to GOV. Roosevelt He
says they remember him most kindly and
consider him one of themselves. Among
others Mr.. Curtis relates the following:
A. Il. Packard. now of Chicago, was
editor of the Bad Lands Cowboy when
Roosevelt was ranching up on the Little
Missouri, and has many pleasant recol-
lections of those days. Said he: you
cannot pay higher compliment to Theo-
dore Roosevelt than to say that he won
the friendship of every cowboy in the
Bad Lands. There isn't on earth a more
Independent. self thinking lot of men than
these same cow-punchers. they have the
faculty of shocking a man out of his
crust and looking his real character
squarely in the face. If they like him it
Us a pretty safe guess that the man will
pass muster anywhere for his sterling
worth, and it is just as safe for any one
who differs from such a conclusion about
Roosevelt to keep his opinion to himself
in the Bad Lands. The cowboy is per-
fectly willing at all times to back up in
any way his friendship for Roosevelt l
wonder what would have happened to
Altgeld if he had delivered his Toledo
speech at a Bad Lands roundup?
Roosevelt had just established his
Chimney Butte ranch and was driving
in some cattle when l landed at Medora,
so that | was contemporary with him.
His name was a little too much for the
average cowboy, and at first he was gem
orally known as Roosenfelder. That he
was destined to popularity was shown
by an almost immediate change to nick
names, chief of which were old -Four
Eyes because he wore spectacles with
enormous glasses, and Skin Tooth,
which has been sufficiently explained by
the cartoonist.
"Nothing amused the cowboys more
than Roosevelt's choice Of words and
manner of speech. He was the purist in
language, and at first was unable to
tackle the cow-punchers' slang. While
driving the first bunch of cattle to his
Chimney Butte ranch a number of them
started up coulec. An experienced fore
man would have shouted: Get git on
you there and head them steers or Hit
the high places and turn EN- Roose
velt's order, while equally sharp, nearly
paralyzed the flying cOw-puncher. 1t has
been treasured and told and retold where
ever two or more cow-punchers have
gathered together. Standing in his stir
rups, he opened his steel-trap mouth and
yelled: Hasten quickly forward yonder.'
The wonder was it didn't stampede the
herd.
I'm the Chimney Butte horse herd"
continued Mr.. Packard, was broncho
named Devil. When you find a horse in
the West with such a name you can be
sure he has earned it. Devil had. One
after another the cowboys had tried their
hest to stay with the leather on him.
and none had succeeded, even with the
aid of a 'life-preservcr' and hobbled stir
rups. He had been given up as spoil
ed horse, especially after he had acquir-
ed the playful habit of trying to bite and
Jump on the rider after he had thrown
him.
Roosevelt decided to ride Devil and
tame him for a saddle horse. 1t took
three men to rope and tie him down while
the blind and saddle were being put on,
and he was then led to the edge of the
Little Missouri and headed for a quick
sand. Roosevelt mounted, jerked off the
blind, and then began what was called
at the time the gaul durndest panoram-
mer the Bad Lands has ever saw The
first jump took Devil into the middle Of
the Quicksand and Macmonnies' fountain
BECAME squirt gun by comparison
O. water, Roosevelt and Devil seem
Merged into solid body. Finally there
separation and Roosevelt ascend
TO take a look at Wyoming as Bill
es facetiously remarked. The next
and the next and the next there was
same 'panorammer,' but finally came
lay when Roosevelt stayed with the
ther' and brought Devil, thoroughly
aed, back to the ranch. 1t may not
nd like much in the telling, but man
o can tame horse with Devils repu-
ion can divide the last chew of tobac-
with a cow-puncher. And that is a
al test of friendship. He at once be-
me Teddy to every cowboy in the Bad
Lands.