Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
BY JAMES B. MORROW.

7oHN BENJAMIN KENDRICK. cow
puncher, a slim, black-haired
Ill young fellow of twenty-one,
" climbed on his pony. in the high
grass and wild flowers embroidering the
edge of the Gulf of Mexico and rode
off to the northward. No one who saw
him set out for Wyoming. which was
to be his destination. would have be-
Neved. least of all John Benjamin him
/se1f. that when he put his foot in the
stirrup he had taken his first step
upward toward the United States
Senate.
1t may be interesting and stimulating
to accompany him on the journey. Born
In Texas, say fifty miles west Of the
Louisiana border. he was orphaned
eoon after-by his father, when he was
two, and by his mother. when he was
four-and grew up among strangers
and long-horned cattle
A stump eulogist, pleading for John
B.. who was candidate for governor,
said. in describing his friendless child
hood. that he was like puppy that no
one wanted around. but that no one
had the heart TO kill.
But now. on his pony and travelling
northward. he was a man at last, and
was earning the first money that ne
could call his own. 4 great herd of
cattle was in front of him, and many
other things that he could not see-one
OF the largest ranches in the west, for
example. and one of the finest dwellings
in Wyoming. which, then unguessed by
himself, was thereafter to be his home
1t should be said at the start, how
ever. as a matter of truth and Justice
that John r. kendrick made his own
fortune personal and political. without
help, and that he began 10 put away
ms earnings on his first and romantic
Journey out of Cherokee county the
place Of his birth.
Il went onto the trail in March 1873"
ne SAID to the writer of this article. At
sixty. almost, he is as slim as he was a;
t"en'F-one. and seemingly. as physi
ca!iy capable of riding Il horse. His
features are delicate and his voice is
low HIS eyes are brown and more than
once have looked into the barrel of a
gun and over the sights at the other
end, as well. But on his adventures
dramatic he will not dwell. Nor of his
own achievements as d cowboy, rancher
or "a man Of business. AN that he does
say is that he has come a longer way
20 the Senate than has any one else"
The tran of 1873 led out of Texas to
indian territory: Kansas. western
Nebraska. Colorado. Wyoming. North
and South Dakota and Montana Cattle
OF Spanish blood with horns like sap
Iings, coming into the United States
from Mexico, began moving over the
trail soon after the close of the civil
war. Herds grew until 1884 when
100000 head of cows and steers were
driven north. Thence onward settlers
having appeared and taken up home
steads, the movement dwindled until it
was no more and the trail, plowed I'M
der, was planted in hay and grain.
Il went onto the trail in March. 1879"
u
weeks near the Gulf of Mexico collect
ing and branding our herd of 1000
steers that were from one to five years
old. RopinG was then done on foot to
save the horses. Cattle, wild and fierce
would fight the horses, and horses were
scarce and dear. White men, negroes
and MeXicans were cheap: besides, they
could sidcSteD charging steer.
We were on the trail for five months
and Travelled 1,510 miles to a point near
che present town of Lusk. in Wyoming
Herds ordinarily contained from $500
20 $500 cattle and occasionally 1000.
x K
with a herd went ten or twelve men
a foreman. cook, horse-wrangler and
seven or eight cowboys. The r
wagon was drawn by four horses. In
addition, there would be from forty to
sixty saddle horses for the use of the
COW -punchers. The horses belonged to
the owner of the herd. Cowboys had to
supply their own saddles, brides and
bedding. Foremen were paid 500 d
month. cooks $40 and cow-punchers and
wranglers $50.
when cows were going over the
trail and calves We're born. the cal> es
were given to farmers. if any were
found the way. Many "A profitable
herd in the west was started in that
humble fashion. On my first trip, how
ever. we did not see settlers house
from the time we left the boundary of
Texas until We reached the southern
line OF Kansas. a distance of 400 miles.
Driving began each morning at o'clock
or little later. The foreman, cook and
horse-wrangler went ahead to find
water and suitable place to stop at