The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-20
High State Officials Are
Ruled BY Cowboys on
Park Trip

After escaping a near drowning IN
the flooded current Of the Little
Missouri river. Joseph NJ. Devlne,
state commi ssioner of immigration,
has returned bronzed and thrilled
from a jaunt with other officials
through the North Dakota Badlands.
The party crossed the Missouri
river three times and in one OF the
crossings, during drenching rain,
the notables were almost swamped
by the swollen waters.
Officials Drenched
The cowboys who acted as guides
to the party waded in ahead Of the
train Of 25 buckboards and officials
on horseback and had their lariats
ready to throw out if anyone was
in danger. The wagons collected a
considerable amount Of water and
the dignified officials became still
more drenched. but fortunately no
one had to swim.
Several drivers were cautious
about making the plunge and were
on the point of refusing, but they
were encouraged by the members of
the party who, however, took off
their raincoats in order not to be
hampered if they had to swim for
their lives. Down a steep bank
went horses and wagons, into 100
yards of swirling current, 5 feet
deep, up another sharply sloping
bank-and all was we'll.
But the officials, among them
four governors, will never forget
that plunge.
And the only witnesses to the mad
dive were the barren, colored cliffs
of the Badlands.
Commissioner Devine said the trip
gave him thrill that comes
only once in a lifetime. To be with
the cowboys in their natural habitat
and in the country which still re-
mains primitive is something he had
never experienced before, he said.
Cowboy Customs
Cowboy etiquette and customs pre-
vailed during the trek. At the end
of day the guide would call halt
and the party would alight. Within
a few minutes the cow punchers had
started a fire and meal was siz.
zling over the flames from the dead
leaves and branches.
"Come and get it,"
Governors, legislators and officials
of state, responded to the curt cal
and stood in line as the meal was
handed out in tin plates and cups
Tired and hungry from days trav'
!, ell, the men would eat with q relish.
After supner the party gathered
around the camp fire and the cow
boys entertained with stories of pi
oneer days and sang songs Of the
early days of the west before civil.
ization encroached on its domain
Many Of these songs were origina
and guide named Mccarthy wor
the hearts of his auditors as he re-
cited the story Of herd-drive from
Texas to North Dakota in sing-sonl
style.
An hour or two of ballads and the
party was ready to retire. Tents
had been set up and beds made o.
straw which the cowboys ha(
BROUGHT in after ranging the coun
tryside.
Muslin sheets were spread ove1
the straw and the SO or more mer
were soon fast asleep under thei1
blankets.
Meanwhile the cowboys stooe
guard in turns and prevented The
horses from wandering far afield.
Rain Cuts Down Crowd
Rain kept expected thousand
away from the rodeo which wa
staged at Roosevelt's old Elkhor,
ranch Tuesday. There were but SOL
who thrilled at the prowess of tn
cowboys as they bulldogged wil'
steers and rode bucking broncho
over the two-acre corral.
Governor Sorlie and Commission
er Devine were made to don i'm
mense hats and to mount horses an
ride out into the corral. When tn
notables of the party were intro
duced to the crowd, COMMISSIONS
Devine was in an automobile seek
ing shelter from the downpour. H
was found after q search. however
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