East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-09-20

Two familiar figures at the 1915
Roundup are missing from the gal
axy of picturesque cowboys who are
dashing about in tine arena and on
the track this year. Floyd Irwin and
Hugh Clark. both of Cheyenne and
both cowboys of renown. have cross
ed the great divide during the year.
the one IA victim of the dangerous
sports of the cowboy and the other
victim of pneumonia.
Floyd Irwin viii. be remembered
by the 1915 Roundup audience as
tn trick rider who won such an ova-
ton by daring feats performed as
he dashed past the grandstand. His
death occurred last July just a few
days before the annual frontier
show of Cheyenne and while he was
practicing for the steer-rOping event.
The accident which cost him his
life was a most peculiar one and 1t
seems almost a trek of fate that, aft
er the daring life he led, he should
have been victim to such a simple
mishap.
He had been roping steers one aft
ernoon at Cheyenne in order to be
in good trip for the show events He
had thrown his loop over a number OF
steers and was about to quit for the
day Guess III just tie down one
more before | quit" he said to his
companions. Previously he had not
been tying the animals down after
throwing them.
He started in pursuit of steer
and threw his rope as he drew along
side. The loop circled over the head
of the racing steer nut, before il was
drawn. the steer went on through II.
Irwin thought the steer had passed
clear through and mad checked his
horse as he began gathering in the
rope. Instead one of the hind feet OF
the animal caught in the loop. Irwin
had turned his horse away from the
steer and. when the rope was sud
denly drawn taut with a sharp jerk.
his horse, surprised and nearly
thrown off its balance threw It's head
sharply and struck Irwin on the tenn
pc. The rider had been leaning for
ward and his head and that Of his
mount came together with terrific
force
Irwin was knocked unconscious and
was taken to the hospital. There 1t
was found that "A serious conclusion
OF the brain had resulted from the
blow and he died the following day.
Irwin. who was 21 years old. was
the son Of Charley Irwin, once direc-
tor of the Cheyenne show and still
one Of the most prominent OF wild
west showmen. The father was grief
stricken at the death of his son, but
with characteristic rortitude, put
aside his suffering and went on next
week with his part in the annual
show
Floyd Irwin was unquestionably
one of the best all-around cowboys
the west has produced. There was no
trek or skill in cowboy sport in
which ne was not adept In trick rid
ink he had few peers, as a rider Of
bucking horses and n roper OF steers
he had championship form, he was
a fearless bulldogger and fast man
in the relay and pony express races.
Though defeated in the relay race
here last year by Allen Drumheller.
he succeeded in wrestling the title
from Drumheller in the pony express
by his wonderful mounting with his
horse going at full speed.
The young cowboy had hardly been
buried DelOTe move nau ueen SldI u |
ed in Cheyenne to erect monument
to his memory. Though he will new
er thrill crowds more with his dar-
ing feats the name OF Irwin will
still be familitr in the wild west
world for he has IA younger brother
who is followig in his footsteps.
Hugh Clark made his first appear
ance at the Roundup last yea
though he had been riding and rop-
ing for years He vas a brother Of
Dan Clark livestock agent of the
o w r. & N. who is always a CON
testant in the Roundup roping con-
tests. The rivalry between these
two brothers in the roping contest
last year was one OF the features OF
that event Though powerful OF
physique. he contracted a bad cold
last winter, developed pneumonia
and passed on. His death occurred in
Arizona and was a sad blow to his |
brother and his many friends of the |
ranGeland.
The death Of Irwin recalls the |
death Of Otto Kline. the only other