davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

bride aud leading COW pony. The event
is for two miles. and at the end OF each
haIf-mile lap the rider has to change
mounts and do all by herself. II is one
OF the highly exciting events of the ear
niyal, as you never know who is going to
win. The girl who led at the end of the
first lap by a good hundred yards lost so
much time getting her fresh bronco sad
died that she was third TO leave. At the
end OF the third lap a broad -shouldered
and G SUPPOSE pw-legged girl took the
lead, but she hadn't gone more than ten
yards until her bronco rendered his
objections I'm the form Of a bucking pro-
test, and being unprepared, the fair
demoselle went over his head, which IS
when our suppositions about her anat-
omy were arrived at Nothing daunted
she was up and on him amid some cheer
ing, Just as the nearest competitor caught
up with her and was similarly dis
mounted. The second girl was just as
game. and I'm a momenti she was pound
ing her spurs into her pOnys sides. and,
II was stated bv casual observer.
"cussin' to beat the devil" Personally, |
don't blame her, as the dust upon the
track was frightfully dirty, as / had pre-
viously learned from a similar experience.
Anyhow her pony seemed TO take her
remarks and spurring to heart. as he
caught the leader In tho homestretch ard
In a whrwind finish won by nose. or
a tongue or a hair, or whatever II is that
horses win close races by.
Not during the three days did the crowd
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

rarely done, and there ensues constant
rude arislngs and goings down OF each or
the twenty horses, the puncher who event
uaIly gets his mare around that track is
very poorly paid for the effort At times
a mare will run around the track right at
the start, but they have always gone pro-
clockwise. which is against the rules and
has never been rewarded. Occasionally
the prize is won, but the recipient general
" has to buy the mare and take her home
to break and train her first.
BY way OF consolation there is another
and second prize to the puncher who rides
the hardest bucking and 'meanest mare
Of the twenty, and the fight for this
money is extremely strenuous. For this
coin the punchers spur, quirt and beat
the mares with their sombreros and yell
madly and wildly. and those close by state
they swear at them In their attempts 10
excite them to more frenzied efforts, all
of which seems entirely unnecessary il
YOU have ever been seated temporarily
upon a pIunging bronco. Some day Some
one will show this scene throughout the
country in the moving picture palaces,
and then prize fighting. cock fighting aud
mass plays in football Will be permitted.
At which time 1t Will be understood by
all that a written description OF the event
is impossible.
It's a relief TO watch Captain So-and.So
do some rifle and revolver shooting, and
TO know that the Judges are deciding
upon the winner OF the beauty show. 1t
is quieting for your nerves 10 observe all
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

become so electrified as it was during this
race. for it was really wonderful to view
these strenuous suffragettes in action.
But to show they 0he deadly species)
were the masters in all matters pertain
ing 10 the horse at least, another girl got
on 10 A real bronco within the next five
minutes. and, 10 use the parlance Of the
range. she sure scratched him some
Each day there was a wild horse race,
with twenty punchers competing. II
wild Biz Hickok or Big Nose George
or any other former Wyoming citizen of
the pre-railroad days ever got mixed up
In more excitement than this furnished
wherein there was no gun play, the man
who set 1t down upon paper belongs upon
page / of the Anauias Club records,
heading the list Of honorary life men,
bers For here Is the real Wild West;
here you behold the grandest mingling or
buckng. riding, swearing, snorting and
dust raising that is ever given man to Wit
ness and survive. 1t is the one event that
demands the ambulance \ mass play in
football. with "Pudge" Heffelhnger at the
apex. is mild and tame In comparison.
Fact is, there isn't any comparison.
Twenty mares. fresh from the broad
plains Of Wyoming. where they have
roamcd without let and hindrancc, are
led forth. well roped, 20 the track. Twenty
punchers with twenty assistants, take.
or attempt TO take. possession OF them by
the application OF more ropes and lariats,
and then the judge gives the signal for
the start Whereupon each puncher, any
assisted by one man, saddles his horse
and gets on her II Il is in any way posi-
BILE This is often accomplished. but never
to music, as the band stops playing TO see
tho fun once mounted upon Wild and,
therefore. an unbroken horse, the puncher
prays or. to be exact. hopes that the mare
will run her fool head off. going around
/ the track anti-clockwise. II this is done
he earns S7J, which is a whole lot Of
money for five minutes riding, but as 1t IS
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

over this event Wyoming punchers and
citizens want It to be won by Wyoming's
sons. and one recalls the day when Il
seemed likely to fall 10 the prowoss Of
one pete" Dickson, from 'Arizony,"
whose time trials had been featured cor
siderably by Pete" and To such an eN-
tent that the crowd was really embttered
over the affair. Pete" stayed through
the competition for the three days Of
trial, and was riding in the finals when
he actually missed his cast with the rope
one glad cheer broke from the crowd,
and as the crestfallen Southwestern
puncher rode back they went after him
to the best of their ability.
Them amt sun-busted Texas long
horns, Pete" they yelped in sheer d.
light. Them comes from Nebrasky and
is chuck full Of life!"
OF recent years, at divers ,imes. they
have been staging the Great and Only
Bulldogger." none other than a large
Texas negro punchcr, which expression
should not be interpreted to mean Jack
Johnson. as this puncher IL Of the COW
type. not OF the face Furnishing profes-
sion. This hero is u regular Houdini with
his stunt. a sure rival OF the large gen
tleman who was the hero of the amphI-
theatre in QUO Vadis." for he up and
grabs steer by the both horns" as "A
puncher described It TO me, bites the
critter on the side OF the countenanee
and sure twists its neck soma
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

from New York
Within toe inclosurc al. are mounted,
and cowboys with their girls are on hand
from every scctlon Of the cattle producing
West. II is q gay scene and a highly 'N-
citing one. Here is your punchcr. never
afoot. riding tho best stock in Wyomine
seated i'm a heavy Mexican saddle. His
legs are the most Of him. covered in yell
low and white Angora chaps, from which
protrIIdc high heeled boots clamped with
silver mounted spurs, ana his shirts are
the part OF him which lend color and IN"
10 a gay scene. They are brilliant reds
and blues and greens and yellows, topped
with loose flowing bandannas that wave
and play in the constantly stirring breeze
HIS hands arc incased in leather gaunt-
lets. upon the cuffs Of which are embrold-
cred horseshoes and other significant em-
bIcms. while his sleeves are held In place
by my lady's garter-the colors OF his
sweetheart. highly priced, TO be sure AMI
a custom Of ancient origin. At the top IS
the big sombrero. distinctive and hand
some. setting off bronZed and weather
beaten countenances that are fun OF
smiles. These are bound with leather or
snake skin bands, and here and there one
sees one whose hatband is gayly dotted
with poker chips. as is the bride of his
bronco. Their girls are with them, riding
upon two sides of their mounts at once,
wearing short skirts, in this alone differ
ing from their escorts in costume. And
they are able to hold their own, as you
shall see.
Here all are riding and laughing, con-
stantly at play with rolls of the Tong
green" tucked carefully away, to be
"blowed" ere the sun sets upon the scene
the final day. one. an old friend or
mine. whom / had not seen for two years.
came galloping toward Inc with half
DOZEN pals.
Hello :" he called.
"uello, Johnny" I called, more than
clad TO see him. What are you doing
now
I'm pleasure ridin',' he laughed.
And I chuckled to myself as | appre-
ciated how cleverly he expressed the fact
Of being out Of Job. Sometimes horse
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
buck Jumping Competition Ia CheyGrinI

corld ride Steamboat bareback, but
there never was a man who hedgcd
quicker than this one. His utterance
brought a stampede OF puuChcrs In his
direction, and all OF them Calculated
he could not ride Steamboat to the cX-
tent of their entire rolls, which is sufi-
cient proof that the spirit OF play
credited TO the plainsman of old by his
chroniclers has by no means suffered In
the lapse Of time.
The riding We had seen before was
childs play compared 10 this. sun fish
ing "swopping ends" rearing, piunging,
bucking and sno-ting were all developed
TO the highest degree by Steamboat, and
he assorted them and switched them
back and forth with such unfalling rap
idity that once a rider became unbal-
anced he was accounted tor. And for
sheer ioting when he struck ground
Steamboat could only be compared TO
pile driver. Blocker dug his spurs into
his toughened sides and clung 10 him in
sheer desperation for some twenty-five
yards before Steamboat hurled him
through space and then settled down to
rid his back Of the poSky saddle, which
difficult feat he seemed well able TO ac-
complish had he not been roped and sub
dued.
1t was all over. Thad Sauttcr was the
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
Indian War Dance

would give his master struggle, and
I use master adyisedly, for each ono was
subdued. though the conquest afforded
amusement for many onlookcrs who gal
ioped up to watch the fun and offer sug-
gcstions There were stolid Indians
dressed I'm red and yellow paJama-llko
outfits that were covered with beads ana
feathers and all sorts OF impossible para
phcrnalla that looked somewhat out OF
place except upon a magazine cover, and
their squaws. duh looking and clumsy.
Ike beasts OF burden. There were SOL
diers from Fort Russell and some mighty
pretty girls Of the late teens, riding Side
saddle and astride, daughters OF the cat
tie barons II YESTERDAY escorted by
Young dandes who resembied Harvard
graduates. clean cut. clear eyed, all
burned brilliant crimson. 1t is certainly a
holiday scene. But let US 10 the pro-
sramme.
\ buster leaps upon the back OF steer.
pulls rs tail over his shoulder. aud by
clutching that wieldy member. hangs TO
the back of the frightened believing
beast a. il plupges aHd runs about the
racetrack This starts the sport. which
is continuous They hold thoroughbred
races. entirely out Of place at such Il
carnival, and then the scene shifts TO a
"spud" race. I'm which a dozen pLnchers,
carrying sharp pointed sticks, attempt TO
spear potatoes out of one box and carry
them down the track twenty-five yards 10
another. with all those returning at
tempting 10 knock off the "spuds.' Then
they do some trick riding and have
hilarious competition running races OF
several hundred yards around barrels
placed at ten-yard intervals. The band
in response to signal takes 4 hand by
playing an Indian selection and Big CHIEF
At-Peace- with the White-Father leads his
braves TO the track, where they give
war dance. an excellent imitation Of the
prototype OF the bunny hug and the
grizzly bear" done solitaire. And then
the crowd does all the wow-wow-wow
business I'm accompaniment. Then it's
case OF everybody out" and every
mounted man and woman in the big in
closure takes spin around the track
as a sort Of relief for their playful horses.
Cow pony races are next and every
ranchman in Wyoming and Nebraska has
his favorite entered and isn't one bit
afraid to bet a nice little pile on the
result. They whoop things up bit dur
ing these events so that by the time the
track Is cleared and the ladies' relay race
is ready every one is prepared TO have
his share OF fun.
This is "a two-mile affair. and II you arc
al all doubtful OF the reason why Wyo-
ming women vote you can remove said
Doubt by watching this event. Some
husky-looking maidens Of the plains APP
near rpon the track carrying saddle and
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

ohar,-ion. All over-except for one dis
eatisfed puncher. who had been eiimin-
ated in the trials aud who no" "sserteu
he could outrido any man who had guam
fed that day He was former charn-
pion. one who had ridden with bufaIo
BiU. and who felt grieyed. after appearing
before the crowned heads OF Europe De-
cause he had not won again. In some
mysterious way his wants became known
throughout the stands. and they set up
a cry to the judges Make him Iide
Steamboat" And the judges nol'ihs
10th to disappoint any one anhouHceu
that If he rode Steamboat they "oulu
give him third money.
IL was drawing near the end ot ciouuS
and foreboding August day but a.
prelude TO the dark night the clouds b"rSt
apart and golden ray OF suhheht
streamed across the field from over the
high. silyered peaks Of the Rockies, when
arose i'm deep blues and puppies far 10 INC
west. and faded into long sinherihs
yistas of prairie land at their base. lhere
was a certain quiet tenseness teIt py '''
crowd. as though a scene OF thlrE Nc'i'
before was being repeated Wheh '"o "''
ter quietly took his place upon steam
boat, and then it was Steamboat against
man. and Steamboat conquered. Al that
il was the finest ride Of the carnival anu
had not the determined puncher pre-
pared for il by a months carousing ABOUT
Cheyenne. the Boardway of cattieiaiu'
there may nave been a different story !"
tell. For one hundred and fifty yardS hc
mastered Steamboat-thc famous steam
boat-giving blow for blow, and when 'ho
honor of subduing that crafty VICIOUS
fighter seemed about his he threw MN
self from the saddle and fell eNhausteu
In the grass, unable TO endure any longer
the punishment steamboat was inhictlhe
upon him. one week later met tni'
punchcr and in reply to my query h'
said he would never again ride an OUT
law. Such is the career oi puhche'
Sooner or later lie loses his nerve II ne
has been fortunate enough TO escape seTl-
GUS or fatal injury. And at the best the
strain OF the work cripples and wrecKi
many a noble specimen OF MANHOOD
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

For Four Days of This Week
the Wyoming Metropolis
VIII Be Thrilled by
Frontier Days" Feats.

this, though you cannot help having
sympathetic feeling for the judges at this
time. But you do not get much rest. Be
hold the cattle roping contests.
There is a pen toward one end OF the
grounds, and from its gate stretches two
lines OF mounted spectators in wide V,
with the apex at the gate. From 1t are
turned loose. rangy, swift steers, capable
of outrunning some broncos, and as each
one comes out he raises mis- head. draws
deeply of the scent of humans, bawls
loudly and then breaks into hard run.
One at a time the steers are led forth, ana
a roper awaits each one at the gate WITH
rope in hand. the Moose hanging freely at
the side. When the beast passes fifteen
yards from him into the open judge
drops q flag. and the chase IS on. Hear
ing the laundering footsteps. the steer
puts forth his best effort to escape, while
the COW boy, perfectly poised, comes tear
ing along at a great rate, gracefully
swinging the lariat over his head, its big
moose widened into a perfect ellipse.
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
THE PLUCkY LITTLE PONY.

Suddenly, when within twenty feet of
the steer he makes his cast, always ur-
errlngly, and as the moose grows smaller
as IL approaches the steer and settles over
its big horns he gives a quick twist 10
the rope with his right hand. thereby
tossing Il to the right side of the steer
and as he presses his trained mount with
his left knee, that animal, keyed TO "A
high point Of excitement, swerves 10 the
left and tears along at full speed. ON
speeds the steer, shaking its shaggy head
20 rid itself Of the moose that has tight
ened about the horns, and TO its left ana
at right angles runs the pony and rider
each aiding in quickly taking up the
slack Of the rope that coils and Kisses
over the earth. Suddenly the rope reaches
It's full length, one end looped over tie
steers horns, the other tied firmly TO the
saddle horn (Which is the sole purpose or
this horn, though. as stated. some punch
ers about to be thrown. will grab It 1s
the last straw. Then you understand
why the larlat was twirled over the riSAt
side of the steer, for as the rope sud
denly tlghtens It Jerks its way under tho
steer. knocking his legs from under HIM
high into the air. while the horns and tho
head of the COW shoot down and back
and after the fleeing horse. Then ne
comes down upon his back with tre-
rnendous thump. while the puncheF
springs from his pony's back and runs
toward the PROSTATE steer with short
rope in his hands And the pony? one
cannot help loving a horse. This bronco
Is no exception lie Is schooled 70 his
work. and though he cannot pull the
steer. almost his equal I'm weight. az fui,
speed over the turf. he does not swerye
one way or the other, but with head
down. he tugs along, dragging that big
carcass along upon its back so II canru-
recover and get UP.
Upon the steer plunges the puncher AMI
in less than tiffy he completes the h's-
tie and springs into the all Wavin
sombrero as a signal 10 the timers. Then
the horse, and only then, ceases his la
bors. This is the roping contest, and it is
done under the watch, the prize going to
the cowboy who makes the hos-tie In the
shortest space Of time. The hos-ue Is
simple slip knot that binds together the
two hind and one fore leg Of the steer
binds them so he is helpless and cannot
arise. Thus does i puncher single hahu-
ad conduer the famous longhorn OF the
plains. The record is down close 70 p
seconds. One saw it all done in q sec
onds some years ago, but the judges
would not allow it because poor tie
had been made.
There is a great deal Of Local sentlmen
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

Thus closed the buckins contest and I
place 1t first on the schedule because It
IS the great event of the carnival, though
IL is interspcrsed with every event on that
programme Of four afternoons. during
which one gets a splendid glimpse ot
what must have been the impressive parts
OF a COW boys life on the frontier. And
the programme which We will now 70
through will prove 10 you, reader, That
here is 10 be- found the greatest WIG
Wost show on old Mother Earth, not oven
barring tho annual last appearance oi
enc William Z. Cody. for here II Is held
in its own land. where men compete and
enter it with all their might and strength,
so that you sec ii in all its native set
ting. with ranchmen and cowboys and
indians and soldiers mingling everywhere
about the grounds and iu the streets ~
wyoming. just as you can see them on
the 18th. 18th. 18th and 18th Of this Au-
gust If YOU will ride three days journey
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
The INvINcIeLe STEAMBOAT.

Ihefe ensucd a lull in the excitement
sHu play, az though some important nap
p.hihg were impending. and out came
S"amooat-the famous old Steamboat
softh just 81 900 in gold coin of the realm
'seause he had never suffered man TO
,~e MN. The tense crowd felt blood
~Nsly when the judges unanimously
.eeed that Blocker should be given his
,vars TO ride this horse. Charley Irwin
lne famous old Steamboat by the
'4'us' and they cheered that conquerins
70 the echo. lie WAS qule''
e'eiul looking beast. closely resembling
nag with long haired hooks and OF
80, awkward lines. and Inc took nus
NVh quite as a matter Of course. For
s.s years he had been through tins
a-a s preliminary, so that he had become
s'as. and no longer snorted and
Hped and threw back his head, as less
y,, '%heed and more excitable horses
v.. No. lie was the apothcosis Of the
mined. ''
wa, was puncher, carried away by fire-
aho the excitement "reckoned he
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
SOME EoUEsTRIANISM.

aEel she sure kin buck" he yells In
. shrill. penetrating voice. and again,
Ten thousand years Of this cowboy life
for mine
Nv dint Of his effort and the fact that
health and life and strength are radiatinG
from that bronzcd countenancc, he looks
we'll able To live that length Of time and
10 put old Methusaleh down and out as
the holder Of the long distance Twins
record. His mount, rebuffed time after
ZINE. varies her tactics, but as she feels
her strength cbbing she settles down into
a consistent and rhythmatic buck. plung-
ins first TO the right and then TO the left,
until she admits being mastered. Comes
z great cheer from the crowds, and the
nuncher leaps from the horse and runs
back 10 his comrades, waving his SOM
brero In answer TO the applause.
That's ridin' her some, Bake they
yelp al him when he reaches them, where
fhey are anxiously awaiting their turn.
For this is Frontier Days at Cheyenne,
where each year in the month of August
are held the championships Of the world
in bronco busting and wild horse racing
and steer roping, with dozen other hllers
that are just as typical Of that Old West
in whose honor they are held as is the
above scene. and these men to whom
Bake has returned are his competitors IN
the bronco busting competition each
waiting his turn 70 mount and break the
outlaw that is chosen by lot FOR them 10
ride For three davs the sport lasts, and
il brings all cowland in gala attire 10
participate and TO view. SO now let US
tell its story, one 30 full of the color ana
life Of that earlier period of the prairie
country which will ever hold its place IN
the memory and heart of the American
New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
CLAIMING LEATHER A CRIME.

Eor three afternoons II has continued
,nI NOW VIC are at the finals. Many
rreat rider has been forced by this most
s,ronuous and eXacting competition 10
.i,o way 10 the cream Of the West; some
because they were thrown Uhough l
counted but four men who we're Pieu
or busted" as they call 1t IN co"ldHu'
which is the same as taking cropper
when riding to hounds others because
they had grabbed leather, "hIcH -
distinctly bad form in competition as "cH
As when riding in the presence OF otHei
punclers at any time Of the year. LUIS
local term signifies that the rider' Uc''7
IN dir. straits, scizes the saddle norm
IA aid him in maintaining his seat but as
The saddle horn is meant for other pGT-
49, bcreinafter shown such a use Of
lis the highest form Of faux pas. Ana
suA others because they had iosl sun
rup or. suddenly scentinS the extreme
lannoss Of the ground, lad momentafliy
Ssyered between grabbing leather or
taking tho fall ere they had regained con-
troll of their balance. There are me
points 10 bronco busting that escape the
ninitiated, and one cannot follow better
advice than to remain unlnitiated' es-.
pscally as it is such an easy matter 10
follow advice Of this nature.
Il is the finals now, and riders like Clay
ton Danks. Thad Sautter. kirt Acor, sam
scoyille, George Stanley and Johnny
Winters arc among the survivors. LN-
element IS at fever heat as each man
takes his seat. They call: 'Kirt Acor
Oh Garry Nation" or George Stanley
upon Archbisop," or Clayton Danks
upon Hot Scotch much 70 your amuse-
ment. for in Wyoming one does not seek
the commonplace In naming his outlaws.
These riders are the cream OF the cattle
punching world, and they set a standard
in their work that calls 70 mind the old
days Of The Trail" when similar men
drove cattle from Texas to Dakota and
conquered their mounts by sheer might
Il ;s fascinating 10 watch them, splendid
to hear them. "All spurs of to-day
call the judges. "Jist TO make you cusses
rde some" one Of them expresses 1t.
With grim smiles they remove their
ehhkers and nervOusly await their turns,
Tor COW punchers are human and they
ieel the strain Of waiting as does any
man that long period before a big ath-
'etic contest. And they ride like demons.
small wonder T. II. got up San Juan Hin,
ior he chose wisely when he picked men
OF this type to compose his regiment.
Ihey are men Of strength and nerve and
'lA Of the love OF battle.
There we're eight in the finals, and
seven OF them rode without mishap when
blocker was called
johnny Blocker on Steamboat