Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-19
GAY TEXAS cATTLEMEN.
The Earl of AyIesford's Ranch Party
Near Bic Spring.

The Earl of Aylesford's Ranch Party
Near Big Spring.
1.-The experiences Of members Of
the English aristocracy in the cattle
business Of the United States have left
fund Of amusing anecdotes In the
southwest" said R. L. Caplin Of
Guthrie, who was an employee Of
the Texas and Pacific Railroad COM
pany in western Texas in the early
sos, to a Guthrie correspondent Of the
Kansas City Star.
"I have a keen remembrance Of
the Earl of Aylesford, who bought
a ranch near Big Springs, Tex, about
1884 or 1885. was living at Big
Springs and saw the earl and his
companions almost daily. His fam
lily name was Finch, and with him
were his two brothers. Glenn and
Dan Finch, a rollicking blade known
as Lord Harry Gordon and an Epis-
copal clergyman known as Bishop
Bernard.
Locally, the earl was called
Judge which he did not resent. He
was reported to have an income Of
f55,000 year, and his expenditures
indicated that his means were large.
He bought frame hotel at Big
Springs, which he used exclusively
for himself and party when they
were not at his ranch. He once was
owner Of a Big Springs saloon for one
night. He paid $4,000 for the estab-
lishment and presented 1t next morn
ing to the man from whom he had
bought 1t. I never saw any members
of his party pay for anything. They
played pool and billiards frequently
in a local resort, smoking the best
cigars and taking their drinks regu-
larly. At the close Of the games the
tickets were cashed by the earl.
''The earl and his friends were
great sportsmen. In the field they
often used 20 calibre guns for birds,
shooting pinfire shells imported from
England. The earl had hunted in all
the big game countries Of the world,
and his collection Of furs, skins and
heads were Of great value. His ranch
house was filled with them. In cedar
chests he kept photographs and me-
mentos Of his life abroad. His ranch
house was burned by accident one
night and was destroyed, with all its
contents.
T was invited once to join his
party in a winter hunting trip, and
during the expedition saw surpris-
ing illustration Of the bath-loving
Englishman. The weather was cold
and had arisen early. chilled to the
marrow, and was shivering near the
cooks fire, when Gordon crawled
from his sleeping bag to dress.
About fifty feet distant was a pool
Of water covered with thin coating
Of ice. Bless my SOUL shouted Cor
don, what a jolly chawnce for
BATH and he plunged into the water,
breaking the ice as he went and fol-
lowed by the earl and his brothers.
The sight was excruciating to a
warmth loving American. but the
bodies Of the Engiishmen giowedy
pink and red in the frosty air.
Despite his youth-he was about
thirty-eight-the earl was looked
upon as an elderly man. by his COM
panions. He had gone the pace, and
soon paid the penalty. When his
physician called one morning the
earl, who had been in bed several
days, asked that his pulse be taken.
Well, judge, I should say you have
about fifteen minutes to live,' said
the physician, after making his ex-
animation. If that be your opinion
replied the earl, without a tremor,
give me a good, big farewell drink
Of American whisky He emptied his
glass, and with long sigh turned on
his side and was gone.
"The cablegram business at the lit
tie telegraph Office at Big Springs for
the next few days astonished the ope-
rators. The rate was $1.10 a word,
and the cable was used as IL the send
ers were writing letters. One Of the
first messages of coincidence from
England came from the Prince Of
Wales now King Edward. The body
Of the earl was taken home by adl his
retinue, and none Of them ever re-
turned. Incidentally, the physician
found that the earl's liver weighed
fourteen pounds"