The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
AUTO BUSTING BY COWBOYS.
UnwrItten Rules which Are RiEidIy
Enforced in TeKaa.

Brady. Tex. July I0-There are certain
unv-ritteu rules that must be rigidly OBJ
served by autonObilists IN the ranch re-
eion OF Western Texas The JOY rider
soon comes TO grief IN this part Of The
country.
The automobile is in general use IN the
range territory. but the cowboys do not
permit any undue liberties 10 be taken in
running the machines. Tie shooting Up
of automobiles by cowboys is a common
practice. This method Of bringing an au-
tomobne 70 a stop is not used unless the
cowboy thinks thar he has not been
treated with proper consideration
An instance occurred near Brady few
days ago. Dick Davis started from here
on a thirty-mile trip 10 mis- ranch in Con-
cho county He was driving his automo-
bile himself and had no passengers. He
was in a hurry 20 reach the ranch and
did not observe the rules Of the road as
laid down IN this part OF the country
He was spinning along al a high speed
when he came upon a drove Of mules in
charge Of a man on horseback who car
rieF a rife in a scabbard- Instead Ct
bringing the automobile 10 a stop when
he came upon the mules. Mr.. Davis sped
right pastNhem. causing a stampede A
moment later three quick reports OF a
rife were heard and the automobiles two
rear tires collapsed
The bullets knocked the machine COM
pietely out Of commission. Mr. Davis
/ said in telling Of the affair The man
with the mules got his stray animals to-
| gether and continued with them down the
/ road. I knew that he was right, so ]
didn't try 10 round him up.
A man from Ohio opened real estate
Office at Sweetwater recently and bought
| a big automobile in which 10 convey Gus
! toners over the country. He had an eX-
! perieuce on his first trip that taught him
la lesson.
/ He had four Missouri land prOspectOrs
In HIS automobile and was on his way %
1 look at some land about forty miles south
Of Sweetwater. In order 10 make short
cut TO the property he was crossing bis
pasture In the distance could be seer
/ large numbers OF cattle which were being
driven by cowboys
None OF you men ever saw a cattle
roundup. did your inquired the real es-
tate dealer
There was chorus Of answers in Tho
negative.
'ewen. that's what's gong on Over
| there. I'll just run you over 70 the place
and we'll watch 'em a while.
/ The automobile was headed in the direc-
tion Of the gathering heard Of cattle anc
soon attracted the attention Of the cow
boys. They gesticulated at the auto. but
the signs were not understood by those al
whom they were directed. The cattle
were beginning 10 snort and were on the
verge Of stampede when two Of th'
icOwbOys pulled their six-shOOters and be
gan 20 fire at the automobile The bullets
whizzed around the wheels.
Here yelled one OF the land prospect
ors to the real estate dealer, get US on
OF here quickr'
The real estate man wanted 10 set ava,
from the scene as badly as his compan
ions and he lost no time IN turning IN
automobile around and spinning away a
? fast as the machine could go
Many OF the ranch brOnchos are no
used 70 automobiles. and when one o
these animals is being ridden S5y COW
boy and comes upon an automobile in IN
road the chauffeur who knows the Gus
! toms Of the region stops and keeps th
machine quiet until the horse and ride
have gone by and are a safe distance o.
J the other sidA