The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-22

the same time Uses his best efforts
70 protect himself II most frequently
happens that nothing results from this
first passage and then the riders come
together again at close range, using
both hands In the wrestling. guiding
their horses by pressure of the knees.
sometimes hanging on by their heels
and always pulling and showing and
Juggling and putting forth every ounce
If power. whether sitting upright in
the saddle or hanging far over the
side--aImost, but never quite, touch :
ing the ground. fer 10 do 30 would be
10 lose the contest Ia this manner 1t
liz kept UP uutil finally aue Of the con-
testants lis endorsed and the other ia
declared the victor aud II Was In these
contests as well as those for fancy
/ riding that Tommy" won more first
prizes (Which consist Of purses con-
| tributed by the commissioned officers
OF the regiment than any other man
! In the regiment for the same length
/ II time and made him the most popu-
lar member OF Troop a during his
/ term of service.
| THE majority Of recruits become
| good cagalrynen within a year, says
! Tommy. hut some newer do We re-
/ ceiVed "A young fellow at Fort Sam
! Houston one day Wh6 In build and APP
pearance should have made an ideal
/ cayalryman He was put through the
regular course and Ii Was soan discoV-
/ cred that there was very little chance
! for him. He couldn't learn To mount
and lie couldn't learn 10 dismount. He
didn't have to be taught 10 fall off, but
: he couldn't do that gracefully.
"One day the hydrant WAS out Of
order and We had t. ride the horses
/ 10 Il. creek several miles away TO water
i them Returning, thus rookie" twisted
about so much that he got his saddle
| blanket out OF place and one man was
detailed TO fall out with him and
| gsra!gtten him out the troop rode
| GA a,9d was probably half a mjle ahead
! when rookie" again got mounted,
/ Without considering rookie" AZ all,
F., the horse started in run to overtake
! the troop. He not only overlook us
/ but passed us Nhen he went by we
noticed ne had dropped the bridal
reins ami was holding with both
| hands 4. his. mounts name. His face
I was as white as Chair ana aaatffiy fear
/ was depicted in his expression, How
he managed to keep his seat no one
knows. bat he did and was safe when
+ We got to the fort.
THAT night that rookie disappeared
and we never heard ~ him again
don't think he was as badly wanted
I as some others, who tired Of the ser
i vice. and took ffEnch leave.
+ Notwithstanding the apparent dan
gers they undergo, troopers insist that
cavalry trick riding Is the least dan
/ serous Of them all. -'pou't be afraid ot
I the horse" Is the maxim and they de-
clare that no dismounted cavairyman
/ Ia ever injured by L harse following
I III the TROOPER is thrown so that he
can't get lp the horse following sees
him and jumps over him The dis
mounted trooper. II able to get up. has
only to rise. the following horses Will
+ swerVe out and avoid him ffor no mat =
ter how thick the dust rises the horse
I can see through 1t when the rider cam
I noD and In a few minutes the troopers
own horse. having made a circuit viii
/ jog up stop and wait to he mounted
/ Its a fine life" says Tommy. and
/ wish now | could go out at my
leisure and indulge my spare time IN
the old games. But that enlistment
of three years steady-well You don't
want 70 be too constant at anything
You know. A little change now and
/ then"
| The enunciatore behind the clerk
| desk IN Giiberts hotel rang and Tom
my reached for the cali bell. "Clang,
I ciang. Cling chang"
"Boy Ice water tn Ga