Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-30
ROOSEVELT SHOWN
A FEW TRICKS BY
WILD WEST BOYS
The Colonel Saw Many of the
Familiar Sights of Twenty
Years Ago at Cheyenne
Yesterday

the hurricane deck of q broncho,' Theo-
dore Roosevelt said today as a group of
cowboys, the hardest riders in the west.
gathered about him. mounted on their
horses. Colonel Roosevelt saw all that
the wild west Of today had to show him
in the way of deeds of skill and daring
and said the spirit of the west was still
alive.
AS Colonel Roosevelt watched the
cowboys at their work, heard the Indian
yell and saw the familiar sights of more
than 30 years ago, when he was plains
man, the spirit of IT all came over him
again. and he climbed down from the
fiag-draped reviewing stand and mounted
a big white horse. He galloped around
the half-mile track at Frontier park and
past the crowded grandstand, while cow
boys yelled, Indians gave their war
whoop and the rest Of the crowd Joined
In tremendous shout. He dismounted
after one lap, smiling his delight, and
went back to his place to see the rest of
the fun.
NO FORMALITY IN GREETING.
There was no formality about Roose-
welt today at Cheyenne. Every cowboy
who had drawn a years pay and could
get here came. There were thousands
Of them, with a good many girls.
They came on horseback from scores
OF miles around, some of them from
points hundreds of miles away. The
streets were thronged with men and
women on horseback in picturesque at
tire Of many colors. There were a good
many thousands of other persons, too,
eastern tourists and the tradesmen and
plain farmers Of the region, but they got
little attention. 1t was the day OF the
old wild west.
By the time Colonel Roosevelt arrived
here shortly after 9 o'clock this morning
the celebration was we'll under way.
They met him at the station with a band
and escort Of cavalry and then there was
a parade. The exhibition at the park
followed and then there came a dinner
which Governor Brooks gave to the
former president. A smoker at the In
dustrial club and a theater party, both
Of which Colonel Roosevelt attended,
wound up the day.
o. SEES DARING RIDING.
The celebration at the park, which is
set In the midst Of the brown plains OF
wyoming, mile and a half north of
the city, was the star attraction, and the
park and Sand Creek came next Sand
Creek is said to be the wickedest horse
In the world and after a long combat he
bested Al Whitney, one of the most skill
full horsemen in the west. Colonel
Roosevelt watched the struggle and
after 1T was over he shook the hand of
whitney and complimented him.
The sun was baking the plains with its
nerce heat when Colonel Roosevelt ap-
peared. He rode IN an automobile from
cheyenne although some OF the cowboys
were expecting he would appear in chaps
and sombrero on a horse. The Indians
were the first to spy him as he rounded
the turn Of the half-mile track and set
up wild yell. The crowd that filled
grand H.
overlooked into the field Joined in and
gave the colonel the noisiest welcome
he has had since he left New York.
captain Hardy, who, according to the
megaphone man, is the champion Marks
man OF the world, was Just drawing
picture of Colonel Roosevelt by firing
bullets at a white target when/ In
colonel appeared. The colonel took his
place In a reviewing stand just across
the track from the grandstand and
watched the champions fancy shooting.
-Four cow-girls had a half-mile race
on horseback next. Joella Irwin, who Is
10 years old, appeared in short white
trousers on the back OF Brownie. and
she caught the coloners fancy. Before
the race began he beckoned to her and
shook her hand. She had two bad falls
from her mount and was badly shaken
up. but refused to withdraw. She won
the race today and Colonel Roosevelt
called her back to him to tell her how
glad he was.
PICKED UP STAND.
Then a dozen cowboys picked I'D the
reviewing stand after Colonel Roosevelt
had descended from II and carried II
across the track, so that the crowd might
hear the colonel's speech, which came
next.
Governor Brooks introduced him and
Tor half an hour he talked to the crowd.
He spoke OF the old west, now fast pass
ing away, and the men 1t developed He
told the people Of the new west they
must preserve those same characteristics
II the nation is to endure. He urged them
TO be progressive and to remember that
whether II be in the east or in the west
every man must be a true American.
IT will be bad day for America, the
end of America, If the average American
loses the quality of being a dead game
man, he said. That caught the fancy
or the cowboys, who cheered him wildly.
After Colonel Roosevelt had finished
his speech there was a potato race Two
boxes filled with potatoes were set on
the track 80 yards apart with opposing
teams Of horsemen about each one. Each
horseman had long stick with a point
ed end with which he speared a potato.
The team which succeeded In putting the
greater number OF potatoes in the box
Of the opposing team won.
The potato equestrians sailed forth
toward each other, and met with a
crash. Sticks few in the air and every
body knocked the potato from somebody
else's stock. Then they started back for
the boxes again to get more potatoes
After Is minutes of rush it was ANNOUNCE
ed that the Durstevenson team won.
BRoNCHO BUSTING.
The broncho busting was the most in
teresting Of all to Colonel Roosevelt
While AL. Whitney was having his tussle
with Sand Creek, the colonel arose from
his seat i'm his excitement and watched
every move made by man and horse.
Sand Creek is a small brown, graceful
horse Of demure appearance, but the
cowpunchers say he has bad eyes. He
allowed a cowboy to lead him down the
track without a struggle, but when an
attempt was made to get the saddle on
him there was trouble. Two COWBOYS
held him by the hackamore as the
bride without bit was called, and tried
to blindfold him. Sand Creek reared and
struck out with his front feet. The cow
boys lodged, but held on. For 10 min
utes they tried in vain to blindfold the
horse. which is the preliminary step to
saddling him.
The crowd grew impatient and shouted
to the cowboys to get to work"
Come down and do II yourself, you
tenderfeet." the cowboys yelled back.