The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-03-10
BUCKING BRoNCos.
Scenes at Cattlemen's Convention in Okla.
homa City.
Extracts from home letter.

Extracts from home letter.
OKLAHOMA CITY, 0. T., Feb. 25, 1904.
During the last three days l have found
plenty to interest me, and wish you
could have been here to attend the
Grand Cattlemen's Convention. 1t
was revelation to an Eastern man.
Yesterday ! saw what is claimed to
have been the greatest contest of rough
riding ever held on this continent.
There were cowboys from Canada,
Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico,
Mexico: in fact, coming from all parts
of the country, to take in the two
great events-'Roping and Riding
with prizes from $3.50 to $50, the entry
fee being 1925.
In the riding contest the cowboys
drew the horses they were to ride
by number, SO that the rider would not
know beforehand which horse would
fall to his lot. Number one was the
worlds champion rough rider from
New Mexico, and although his horse
was bad he had no difficulty in sticking
to him. The horses they had to ride
are called "Outlaws." being naturally
Of vicious and ungovernable temper
and the worst lot ever brought together.
An attendant would laSso a horse in
the corral, lead him out into the open
half-mlle enclosure, where the cowboy
would be in waiting with his saddle, the
cowboys wade mecum, as he never uses
other than his own saddle. The first
thing after getting the horse to the
cowboy would be to lasso his front
legs Then an attendant would stand
out Of reach at the end of the rope
while another at the first opportunity
would grab the horse by both ears,
holding his head down so that he could
not strike: then the cowboy would put
on bride, consisting of but rope
around the horses nose and over the
head, and another leading back for the
rider to hold on, and steer with, if such
were possible. After that on would 20
the saddle, and as quick as a flash the
cowboy would mount and the fun be-
gin. We have all heard of "bucking
broncos,'' but to see one is to realize
the amount of ugliness that can be
wrapped up in quadruped
Some of the cowboys were thrown,
and when l say thrown / do not mean
rolled off, but they went as if shot
from a catapult. One would think
these horses had their actions planned
before leaving the corral, as each SEEM
ed to have some new trick. Some would
start out at mad run, go perhaps one
hundred yards; then, with head down,
stiffen all four feet, coming to dead
stop. You can imagine what would be-
come of tenderfoot. Some would
jump into the air about five feet, COM
ing down stiff legged, bumped like
camel. repeat the trick dozen times,
and then run like a streak.
In this contest the rider was not al
lowed to touch his saddle with his
hands, being dependent entirely upon
his stirrups; and sometimes not even
those were used, as one cowboy, called
the champion of Wyoming, rode with
out them, holding his hands high above
his head While the horse was going
through some of the worst exhibitions
of bucking.
Don't think these are horses that
have never been ridden; they are out
laws, and if saddled three hundred
times year, would buck each time,
and after getting over the fit of ugli-
ness may be ridden with safety by any
one during the remainder of the day;
but the next morning it is the same
story repeated. J. E. W.