The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-01-10
RIDING A BRoNcHo.
Written by J.H. Fletcher, Jefferson,

hlulnB OTonCno is one OF the most
exhilepating exercises known to man.
tried il once AND am never likely to
outlve the remembrances of II. I
made up my mind then and there
that thai was my first and last at
tempt.
The broncho is not exactly a horse,
a cayuse a mustang or a burro. but
think is compound of all four, He
possesses none Of the good qualities
of either, but all the bad qualities of
the whole lot. The people where he
lives say he is a cross between the
mustang and the native American
horse. I would rather believe that he
is cross between the iackass and the
scorpion.
In 1881 ! was engaged in the min
ing business in one of the mountain
towns of Colorado The mine I was
working was twelve miles from the
town. One-half of that distance had
good wagon road and the other half
mere trail sometimes winding up
gulches and at others creeping round
the slippery sides of mountains.
One morning l wanted to go to the
mine to see how the men were getting
along, and determined 10 hire a sad.
die horse for the journey. Conse.
quently went to the livery stable in
the morning for that purpose, but the
proprietor said the horses were all
out and that he had nothing he could
give me but broncho. well, what's
the matter with the broncho?" ! sug.
gested 20, nothing, only that he
bucks a little occasionally" he re.
piled We'll, what of that? can
ride a whirlwind If necessary" At
that date I had not acquired the ma.
jestic corporation of which l am now
the happy possessor, and was as wiry
and active as a cat | was considered
good horseback ridep and was ac-
knowledged TO be one of the best
mountain climbers inthe county OF
Gunnson. This may not be believed
by people who know me now, but it is
fact nevertheless We'll" said the
| liveryman, III you think you can ride
him. take him right away l have
told you that he is somewhat addicted
to bucking so now if anything should
happen TO you, | must be held blame.
less" Certainly. certainly" / re.
piled; but | must confess that this
caution made me feel a little appre-
henslve. but l was not the man TO
back down, so l said; Put a heavy
saddle on him and clnch 1t good ana
tight This being done | took bron-
cho by the bride and led him out of
the town. took the precautlon 10
lead him clear out of the sight of
the people before mountedhim, lest
in case of any discussion between my.
self and the broncho no crowd of scof,
fers could come round 20 encourage
either of us.
suppose led him along two miles
when I came to a deep cut in the road.
A half grown boy was coming from an
opposite direction, so / asked him il
he would be kind enough to hold the |
animal while | climbed upon his hur.
ricane deck The boy said he would, |
II there was no danger. told him the |
animal was all right II only treated .
kindly | further said that the only
way to gain the confidence OF All.
mails was TO pet them-that a horse
was a good deal like a human being.
Il can" said l. win this broncho's
affections so that can do with him
as | please Then | stroked his head
scratched his ear and told the boy 10
rub his nose and look him square in
the eye, and he did so with splendid
results. Il declare" said the boy you
must be a regular lion tanner"
Then l led the animal to the bank ,
and sprang into the saddle. See ,
that" said /, there is only one way
10 tame an animal and that is TO treat
hiin as | have told you. Why | could
ride this broncho TO Jericho and nev.
er have a word with him" Perhaps
you can, said the boy but pom
ny word, mister don't like the look !
of his eye" His eye is all right, !
replied. Come on now old Beaure
gard and no monkey business with
ne" / shouted. Just then | noticed
hat he laid his ears back on his neck !
md began to put his four feet togeth. Z
'r, but / thought il was only a foolish
labit he had acquired. But he did :
l0t 80 ahead and I gave him a slight
alb on the side with my left spur.
ireat Heavens, No stone ever went :
kyward from a catapult any quicker 2
han / did. 1t was an awful moment !