Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-01-21

cione. "uho IL WOuIu nave uccn III
worst kind of punishment for me to b
compelled to walk along and keep pac
with the oxen, it was my delight t
scout over the country in quest of game
probably walking two miles to thei
one, while on the other hand Whit. no
Johnny never left the team and woul,
occasionally rest their legs by a shor
ride down hill or on smooth ground. s.
they naturally took the driving as thei
task, and as far as I remember, Harr,
or / never offered any protest.
When we pulled into camp Harry anl
I had invariablyesecured enough woot
to cook meal. We also. secured wate
and would sometimes be compelled t.
60 long way for 1t. On going into camI
at night Whit. would start fire as 'soor
as possible and proceed to get supper
Whit. was good cook and he invaria.
bly, make the bread; which by the way
was baked in an iron pot called Dutct
oven. Johnny would unyoke the oxer
and see that they had water and pu
them out with the herd, while Harry
and would provide wood and wateI
and put up the tent. Everything in tn,
mess went regular as clock work after {
little while and our work was generally
completed before that of any othel
mess, although most of the messes fol
lowed our method. Some were inclined
to wait and let someone else 20 ahead
as is quite often the case. This, o
course, made these messes behind il
their work and did not produce cheer
full buoyant feeling that should ant
would exist if all responded with will
or tried to do a little more than hil
partners.
After a drive of about IL miles VIC
went into camp and according to pre-
arranged plan elected John Gordon, 6
resident of Sioux City, as train boss,
or in other words, Captain of the expe
dition. He was a man of experience in
handling cox teams on the frontier"
with an untiring energy, fearless ant
resourceful, and commanded the conf
dence of the party throughout the en-
tire trip, with but few exceptions. A fac1
that speaks volumes for his good judg
ment in most cases.
Here also, we were enrolled for "guarG
duty" two being required to herd ant
guard the stock. The guard took the
stock as soon as they had been turned
out and was relieved at IL o'clock-the
other guard to continue until the oxer
were brought in for moving in the
morning. At this season of the year il
was very disagreeabe work on account
of the dews and the stock, unused tc
such handling, was inclined to roam
around great deal more than they did
after we were on the road short time
1t was my good luck or misfortune tc
come on guard the after part of this, oul
first night out.
My partner was German from St
Louis, and unlike the Germans, he was
tall, rawboned and angular. His
name was Thomas; he was cigar maker
by profession. He owned donkey, OF
burro, and judging from my knowledge
of the patient, docile little beasts, it was
a good one. Thomas wore a pair oi
boots, the tops of which came above his
knees. On each heel he wore large
Mexican bell spur, the wheels of which
were at least two inches in diameter.
These spurs kept constant tinkling
when the animal was in motion and was
ever forcible reminder that kept the
little animal on the alert. The saddle
was large Mexican, or cowboy pattern,
the first had ever seen and quite COW
cred the little animal. He wore broad
brimmed hat, and when mounted pre-
sented very grotesque appearance, be-
ing long of leg he could almost walk and
ride at the same time.
There was one peculiar trait in this
little animal that I observed with con-
siderable amusement and which after.
ward was the cause of many a hearty
laugh at Thomas expense. AS the grass
was very wet, Thomas insisted on doing
most of the herding from the back Of
the donkey. l stopped at point near
the herd and Thomas rode around to see
that none we're straying away. As be
rode away the little animal moved with
short, nervous steps as If In constant
fear of those huge spurs and the harsh
bit in his mouth. He soon made the
round of the herd and came up to where
l was standing and pulled up. After
the donkey had stopped its forward
movement, it made quick step to one
side with its front feet. The movement
was 80 quick that it completely unhorsed
Thomas and he measured his more than
six feet in length in the wet grass at my
feet. He was very passionate man
and threatened the little beast with
complete annihilation, should 1t ever
repeat the trick. The stock soon be-
came used to such work and one seldom
attempted to wander away from the
herd, but the vigilance of the guard wal
never absted in the least, at any time.
ITO be Continued.]
Five prominent physicians of Pitts
h.,=c. asHostad for moi raraorti1af