The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-11-04
Cowboys Make Statement
In Rochester, MINI.
SHOW AT ELks CLUB
They Carry Recommendation
From Mayor L. c. Hodgson
Of St. Paul

Rochester, Mimi. October IS
'The further east COWBOY gets un0
tougher they think ne is, but I would
like the public to know that we are
gentlemen" was the Statement made
by B. +. Mears, one of the three
cowboys who arrived here yesterday
enroute on horseback from the Jack
New York City. The boys who also
include d. M. Steele and H. e. Les
lie with Curly" Ward as the advance
man, are making the trip on a wager
and are due in New York January /.
Some folks have gained the wrong
impression" continued Mr.. Mears.
They are few and far between, how
ever, as we have left nearly 1,400
miles of friends along the Black and
Yellow trail from Wyoming to Roch-
ester. While it is not our policy to
present recommendations, the fol-
lowing was sent to me unsolicited by
Mayor Hodgson of st. Paul, express
es at least his opinion:
To Whom 1t May Concern: /
have the highest regard for Messrs.
Mears, Steele, and Leslie, and be-
lieve them to be clean, American
boys OF excellent character engag-
ed in q legitimate enterprise. Two
OF them were soldiers in France
and all Of them are genuine Amer
leans in spirit. believe them en-
tirely worthy Of confidence and
support.Sincerely L. c. Hodgson,
Not Roughnecks, They Say
We are not roughnecks, term In
vented In the effete east, ! believe.
While we don't wear starched collars
and have creases in our trousers, nor
our hair slicked back or parted In
the exact center or our craniums 1--WE
don't need that kind of a balance for
our heads), we are men under the
skin and some criticism which has
been directed at us, and which has
preceded us in the local papers Is, in
my opinion, entirely undeserved. (
don't talk like roughneck, do /? I
have as good an education as the av-
erage man and can turn a phrase or
two il the occasion presents, but 1
like the open air the hills and life In
the open, and is that any reason why
SO called cultured people should frowh
on US?
"As matter of fact they don't. AS
have stated, we have left 1,400 miles
Of friends behind us. We have been
treated royalty nearly every place we
have been and this is particularly true
of Rochester. We arrived late yes
terday afternoon and have been
SuEAIS OF the EIkS Wn1l0 In your pro-
gressive city. They have treated rs
fine and no words of mine can ex-
press my appreciation nor that Of my
companions. We shall always have,
pleasant memories of Rochester, and
you can tell the world so, but maybe
that Is slang and should not have
used it, / thank you, sir, for your
consideration and trust you will at
least give our side of the case in your
columns"
The boys left the town of Jackson,
in the Jackson Hole county. August
25, and will win their wager II they
reach New York City by January LIST.
They left here this morning for st.
Charles where the- expected to spend
tonight and will be in Winona tomor-
row night. They then go to Lacrosse,
Madison, and Kenosha, in Wisconsin,
and thence to Chicago, and on east.
They have travelled 1,400 miles and
have 1910 miles to go, Rochester be-
ing very nearly the half way point.
The boys gave a fine exhibition of
fancy rope throwing in the Eiks' hall
last night before large crowd and
general appreciation was exhibited as
a result of their efforts as well as on
behalf of the boys themselves.