The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-28

They came on horseback from scores c
miles around, some of them from point
hundreds of miles away. The street
were thronged with men and women o
horseback in picturesque attire OF man
colors. There were a good many thou
sand of other persons, too, eastern tour
lists and the tradesmen and plain farmer
ton. It was the day of the old will
west.
Met Him at the Station
BY the time Colonel Roosevelt arrive
here, shortly after 9 o'clock this morn
ing, the celebration was well under way
They met him at the station with
band and escorts of cavalry and the
there was a parade. The exhibition a
the park followed, and then there cam
a dinner, which Governor Brooks gave t
the former president. A smoker at tn
Industrial club and theatre party, bot
of which Colonel Roosevelt attended
wound up the day.
The celebration az the park, which i
set in the midst of the brown plains o
wyoming, a mile and half north o
the city, was the star attraction, and tn
park and Sand Creek came next.
Sand Creek is said to be the wickedes
horse In the world and after a long com
bat he bested AL whitney, one of tn
most skillful horsemen ins the west. Cole
mel Roosevelt watched the struggle, an
Al
Whitney and complimented him.
The sun was barking the plains wit
its fierce heat when Colonel Roosevelt
appeared. He rode in an automobile fror
Cheyenne, although SOME of the cowboy
were expecting that he would appear /
dams were the first to spy him as h
rounded the turn of the half-mile trac
and set up a wild yell. The crowd tina
filled the grandstand and the bleacher
and overfiowed into yne field Joined /
and gave the colonel the noisest WELDON
he has had since he left New York.
Captain Hardy, who, according to tn
mega phone man, is the champion marks
man of the world, was Just drawing
picture of Colonel Roosevelt by firm
bullets at a white large. when the colo
mel appeared. The colonel took his plac
In reviewing stand just across tn
track from the grandstand and watche
the champions fancy shooting.
Race of Cowgirls
Four cowgirls had a half-mile race o
horseback next. Joella Irwin, who is
years old, appeared in short white trous
ers on the back of brownie, and sh
caught the coloneps fancy. Before tn
race began he beckonec TO her, and shoe
her hand She had two bad falls fror
her mount, and was baGiy shaken VI
but refused to withdraw. She won tn
race today, and Colonel Roosevelt Gale
her back to him to tell her how glad h
was.
Then a dozen cowboys picked up tn
reviewing stand after Colonel Roosevelt
had descended from II, and carried
across the track SO that the crow
might hear the colonel's speech, whic
came next.
Governor Brooks introduced him, an
for half an hour he talked to the crowo
He spoke of the old west, now fast pass
ing away, and the men 1t developed. II
told the people of the new west the
must preserve those same characteristic
If the nation is to endure.
He urged them to be progressive an
TO remember that whether he be In tn
east or in the west, every man mus
be true American.
"It will be a bad day for America
the end of America, If the averag
American loses the quality of being
dead game man." he said. That caugh
the fancy OF the cowboys, who cheere
him wildly.
The Potato Race
After Colonel Roosevelt had finishe
his speech there was potato race. Tw
boxes filled with potatoes were set O.
the track 80 yards apart with oppos
ing teams of horsemen about each one
Each horseman had long stick wit
pointed end with which he speare
q potato. The team which succeeded !
putting tho greatest number of pc
tatoes in the box of the opposing tear
won.
The potato ,cquestrians sailed fort
toward each other and met with
crash. Sticks flew in the air an
everybody knocked the potato froi
somebody elses stick. Then they start
ed back for the boxes again to Sc
more potatoes. After 10 minutes c
rush 1t was announced that Dur Ste
vensons team won.
BronchO Busting
The broncho busting was the mos
Interesting of all to Colonel Roose
welt While AL Whitney was havin
his ,tussle with Sand Creek the colont
arose from his seat in bis excitemer
and watched every move by man an
horse. Sand Creek is a small BROW
graceful horse of demure appearance
but the COW punchers say he has ba
eyes. He allowed a cowboy to lea
him down the track without a struggl
but when an attempt was made to &c
the saddle on him there was trouble
Two cowboys held him by the heck
amore as the bibles without are Gale