Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-05-22
A TEXAS BRONCHO
How a Preacher Bought Him and
Then Broke Him.
A STRUGGLE FOR MASTERY.

cult Rider, but He Didn't.
My first appointment, writes Rev.
Henry Il. Wing, was to a big circuit
in southeastern Town, with headquar-
tiers In a small hamlet. As l had left
my family temporarily in the east /
took room IN the village tavern. An
Immediate practical need was a horse
to ride the circuit"
Learning that a Mr.. Williams had
brought in n string Of horses from the
southwest, | strolled out to his ranch
TO take a look Mt them. One OF them
was, to me, an entirely new specimen
"a Texas bronch0. lie was certainly
not at all like the mount Of the typi-
cal pioneer Methodist preacher and
was the homeliest creature on four
legs that / ever saw, with no form
10 speak Of and of color that the
cleaner he was the dirtier he looked
But no was "all horse" and took
quite a fancy for him.
AS soon as his owner saw that was
interested In him ne was discovered
to be very choice animal that MIR.
Williams Ind purchased as gift for
his little daughter But | persuaded
him to put a price on the colt and he
named $75. met this W. an offer
of rs cents. with .inssa "dicker' be
gan, participated In by about hun
drei Interested spectators and ending
about dusk with Il deal at $l65O SO
made n partial payment to bind the
bargain and sent for my old army out
1T
About fortnight afterward. early
in the morning, before many were like
ly to be about. with my good bride
on my arm and my trusty saddle on
my shoulder, slipped quietly out to
the Williams ranch. He backed my
broncho into the border OF a grove of
young nipples. He then strapped his
(the brOnchO'sl hind fetlocks to two sap
lings about sixteen inches apart and
tied his head with short halter to
tree In front. Thus secured the fran
tic creature could neither rear nor lie
down. and without much difficulty
got the bride and saddle on.
My attention had been SO engrOssed
in these preparations that ! had not
noticed the crowd that had gathered
10 see the Yankee preacher give-or.
rather. make-An exhibition at "bron-
cho busting" This was what ! had
tried to avoid. for. while had perfect
confidence In my ability to mount and
ride tho animal. did not care to make
a "swaggcr" of my horsCmanship. But
their presence now stirred my nmbl-
ton to make something of a show of
my proficiency,
Mr. Williams suggested that ! mount
and get Il firm seat before he released
the colt, but l declined, and as the
freed horse sprang forward | leaped
to his back ard found the stirrups
The crowd gave little exclamation of
surprise. and then rewarded the feat
with Il rousing cheer. l was elated
now and full OF confidence. had had
oil sorts Of performances under me In
that same saddle and knew all the
tricks and capers of the species.
All2 All but one Leaplng out from
among the trees. he lit with his four
feet close together and his back In a
hump. with me pcrched on the pima
Gle Then with series Of marvellous
contortions he kept me humping. every
blow producing n concussiOn nt the
base OF the brain. l kept my balance
with my feet firm In the straight stir
rups and my knees pressed tight
against hts sides. But that repeated
YAA4tp4ffptr 80 "a NFe- ..
TO swim, and l realized that few
more such jolts would unhorse me.
And then l prayed-just gasp.
With the breath In which that prayer
was uttered the colt took notion to
run away. Apparently seized with a
sudden fit of Inconsistencies, he started
for Texas 1890 miles away. Through
the open gate and down the south road
he flew. while l leaned forward on his
neck and relaxed my strained muscles
and rcgained my wind ana nerve.
At last We descended, over the rim
OF the prairie TO stream horiered
with trees, and 1 turned him ont into
thick clump Of bushes Then / prac.
ticed method suggested to me years
before, the same rule as for handling n
boy first teach him that you are his
master, and then show him that YOU
arc his best friend. but do not let him
ever forget for Il single minute that
you are his master"
dismounted and spent an hour pet
ting and caring for the hot and diScour
aged creature. lilo was too used up NJ
first TO resent my advances had he
been inclined 10. and he soon seemed
To realize that my intentions were
friendly. patted him and talked Ia
him IN kindly tones and led him about
TO browse. Finally watcred him.
mounted him and rode back home.
And l have always accounted this ms
my real debut into the "traYesing con.
nection New York Mail
Girl of the Period.
We'll Is your bride a GOOD hous,-