The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-02-08
TITLED CATTLEMEN.
MEMBERS OF BRITISH ARIsToc-
RAcY IN TEXAS.
Some "reminiscences of Twenty Years
Ago When the Nabobs Owned
the Southwestern
Ranges.

"The experiences of members of the
English aristocracy In the cattle busl-
ness in the United States have left q
fund Of amusing anecdotes in the
southwest" said II. l.. Carlin of Guth-
rie, who was an employe OF the Texas
4 Pacific Railroad company In western
Texas in the early sos to a Guthrie
correspondent of the Kansas City Star.
| Il have keen remembrance of the
earl of Aylesford, who bought a ranch
near Big Springs, Tex, abotu 1884 or
1885. was living at Big Springs and
saw the earl and his companions al
most daily. His family name was
Finch. and with'h m were his two bro
theirs, Glen and Dan Finch. a rollick-
ing blade known as Lord Harry Cor
don and an Episcopal clergyman
known as Bishop Bernard.
Locally, the earl was called Judge,
which he did not resent He was re-
ported TO have an income of G55 900 q
year, and his expenditures indicated
that his means were large. He bought
frame hotel at Zig Springs, which ne
used exclusively for himself and party
when they were net at his ranch He
once was owner of a Big Springs sa.
loon for one night. He paid $4,000 for
the establishment and presented ii next
morning to the man from whom he
bought It, | 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 regularly. Az
the close of their games the tickets
were cashed by the earl.
The earl and his friends we're greas
sportsmen. In the field they often
used 20-caliber 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 % furs. skins and heads was
OF great value. His ranch house was
filled with them In cedar chests he
kept photographs and mementos OF his
life abroad. His ranch house was
burned by accident one night and was
destroyed, with all its contents.
81 was invited once to join his party
In winter hunting trip. and during
the expedition saw n surprising illus
tration 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 crawied from his sleeping bag
to dress. About so feet distant was a
pool of water covered with thin coai-
ing OF ice. Bless me SOUL shouted
Gordon, what a jolly chawnce for
bath aud he plunged into the water,
breaking the ice as he went and fol-
lowed Ivy the earl and his brothers
The sight was excruciating to
warmth loving American, but the bod
les OF The Englishmen glowed pink and
red in the frosty air.
Despite his youth---he was about 3S
the carl was looked upon as an eld
erly man by his companions. He had
gone the pace, and soon paid the peu-
atty. When his physician called ono
morning the earl. who had. been in bel
several days. asked that his pulse be
taken. Well. judge. should say that
you have about Is minutes to live.
said the physician after making his
examination. II that be your opinion
replied the earl. without tremor, give
me good, big farewell drink Of Amer
lean whisky He emptied his glass. |
and with long sigh turned on his side
and was gone.
"The cablegram business at the little
telegraph Office OF Big Springs for the
next few days astonished the operators.
The rate was $1.l0 word, and the ca
BILE was used az II the sendsrs were
writing letters. One Of the nrst mes
sages Of coincidence from England
came from the prince Of Wales. now
King Edward. The body Of the earl
was taken home by all his retinue. and
none OF them ever returned. Incident
ally. the physician found that the 0aTI's |