Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1921-09-24

mss D0en 2tS0n0ln8 the hIle rOueOS
and this year as usual we have been
anticipating this event, marked for
September 1 and 2. and we were
all set ON the eve before when ac-
cordtng to Natures own blessings.
the flood gates and the irrigating
bitches turned loose and consider
ahly-1nterfered with the ridin'.
ropin' and broncho Dustin
After endeavoring to dig up a
little excitement of some sort out
of the general disappointment oc-
casioned by the rain. we gave 1t up
and commenced to make some OBJ
servations and also comparisons
with the old time buster and the
new fancy Dustin. This comparison
has . span OF forty years and our
earliest recollection Is OF the affairs
that were held In Alamosa. Dodg.
City. Caldwell and other COW towns
In the late 70s and early SOS.
Alamosa was the end OF the rail-
road then and after the round-ups
the boys Just had to blow off steam
and 90 to town-the mule skinner.
the bull whacker and the miner
would be there to help along with
the fun while at the same time
Senorita Baca would sing her love
songs and several New York dress
ed chickens" would of course be
at the Long Branch dance hall. The
COW punchers from all over the
San Luis valley would Of course De
on hand. the boys from the Adee
and Durkee outfit tMr. Durkee was
. son Of the famous Durkee salad
dressing manufacturer In the east
and from the Dicky Bros. outfit
were always present. We are not
naming any names or giving any
thing away. but Theo Worthinston.
Ed. Creighton. Kit Carson Jr.. Geo
Craig. Hank Hooker and several
other fellows whom we knew were
there. yes. and Wild Bilr Coleman
and Charley Shidler OF Rifle were
included.
The writer. Of course. was not an
active participant owing to his in
bora. modest disposition. besides we
never had as much money to blow
In ~ those other rich fellows who
thought they were millionaires.
temporarily. maybe: II was discov-
cred that We could play the piano
. little hack east where 1t was toll
Grated and one night the boys urged
us to play . little Gallop or some
thiag at the Long Branch. hap
pened to be close to the piano and
glanced up and saw suspended
over the piano 4 good sized sign
printed In large letters with the fol-
lowing. DO not shoot the pianist.
As b doing his best" declined
playing ~ always had = hunch
that would not like to be shot In
The hack.
Ny one vivid recollection Of my
early days working on 4 COW ranch
brings to my mind when I hired +.
Vol Dicky Of the Dicky Bros. on
The Medano. Ny profession at tha.
time was - cook and ~ such was
hired. They asked me one day to
90 70 the corral and help brand
calves. I did 10 and my duty after
the calf was roped and thrown was
70 Dst NY foot behind the caif's un-
der leg and then hold the upper
leg with my hands and all my
might. The roper brought out .
BIG frtsky calf and We got into posi-
tIoa. Vol was doing the branding
an1 coatrary to the rules he strad-
died the calf and commenced TO
barn hin with the iron. Immed.
lately the calf gave . below. pull
ID away from me and got on his
feet With Vol and his Iron on his
hack. He commenced to buck and
earelsA the corral. Vol doing his
best 70 get off. The calf finally
gave . big buck and Vol cleared the
hurricane deck. When Vol 1T. II
was unfortunately close BY and
What he said 10 me was quite awful
as1 for ~ years have been on.
dsevoeing 10 forget his harsh and
uaeocoming mode OF address. II
sltnksd Oft TO the cook camp aud
put % . pot Of frijoles-I was not
hired 70 brand calves anyway.
Of eosrse the old fashioned COW
town was always painted In tints
Of ~ aad was always ready and
wiliias for any rough stuff and .
little sccsdsntsi shooting that might
take Dlacs. This 10 where the real
cooDasisoa ID noticeable. Why.
tAeoe ssv hoys couldn't eat. sage
6ruao and cook with . COW chip firs
like every old rough punch" Ia tho