The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-02-02

were free spenders and they had bought
everything the cowboys had recon-
mended. Such outfits" as the cow
boys had persuaded them to buy, I
fancy we're never seen before or since.
The good-natured English boys were
the butt of all sorts of jokes perpetrat-
ed by the fun-loving cowboys. The jokes
were fun for all but the Englishmen.
Finally one of them, after being buck
ed off-the result of a "job"-in the
Blacktail, which was running full, said
it was a bit too thick, and quit the
roundup.
After shutdown the group would
gather around the campfires or in a
large log clubhouse and entertain one
another by telling stories, singing, and
the like.
Some of the boys sang the usual
cowboy songs. Of course, somebody
had to wall the lugubrious Cowboys
Lament" Captain Williams had a good
voice, and liked to sing when the sur
roundingS were to his liking. Upon this
occasion he sang "by request" Tim
Finnigan's Wake. It ran like this:
Tim Finnigan lived in Walker
Street
n SllIleLIldIl 1llSllIlldll, IlLSIIIy OOO,
He had a beautiful brogue that was
rich and sweet
And to rise in the wurruld he car
ried the hod."
There were a number of verses to
this ditty, each followed by a chorus
beginning:
Hip hur rah ra! your souls to biazes!
Welt the floor, your trotters shake!"
But the next inspiring lines I am
unable to remember.
He also sang a doleful ditty, REM
iniscent of the early days of Pennsyl-
vania, concerning Amanda, who was
the pride of her village and home"
After the local cattle were cut out,
the great drive began. It was difficult
to start the huge herd, but after it was
strung out the cattle pursued the usual
course: the beef steers and other strong
stock, took the lead, while far back the
older cattle and the cows with calves
constituted the drag. It was necessary
to restrain the lead and to keep it from
spreading; so several experienced COW
boys were assigned to that pleasant
service. Two OF three men rode ahead
to restrain the leaders and others rode
along on either side to keep the cattle
from straying. Between the lead and
the drag two or three thousand NOV
ed along at an ordinary gait, with
COW boys alongside. The dust increased
as the herd proceeded. One who has
not experienced it will never appreciate
the hardship Of punching the drag"
The pace is very slow, and the dust
insufferable. AS the cattle tire, they
attempt to break away. Cows turn
around looking after their calves, the
calves run every which way, and some
recent arrivals play out" and have to
be carried in the wagon.
OF course, the boys were ordered to
work on the drag. Those with the lead
rode along easily, telling stories and
singing songs. After riding with the drag
for several hours, I tired of it; it did
not seem good sense to me to stay with
the drag if I could ride with the lead.
P~ercetving a yearling that seemed lively
and about to break out of the herd, I
kept close to her until she broke, and
then instead Of driving her back into
the drag I pursued her up to the lead
bunch, where I stayed.
The Ruby riders went with the great
herd until it crossed the ridge between
the Blacktail and the Centennial. Re-
turning to the P%oindexter & Orr ranch,
on the next day we took cattle and
drove home.
Within a year or two after Williams
& Galloway formed their partnership,
they entered upon a plan to extend the
scope of their ranching operations.
Cattle were increasing upon the range
and it was clear that it would be neces-
sary to feed more or less extensively to
bring the herds through the winter; the
preceding hard winter, l880-8l, had