Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-07-29
Bv ID. ]. OdAL.LEY
THE N-Rar-N Kid


cowboys of Montana, one who was
widely known and respected and
who was the most beloved old
time cowboy in Montana, E. c.
Abott-Teddy Blue. had known
Teddy Blue for SIS years. The first
time / met him he saved my life.
In the latter part of the summer
of 1884 / was with trail herd OF
Texas cattle owned by the Home Land
Co, whose brand was N-Bar-N. We
were camped near the Yellowstone
river two miles south Of Fort Keogh
and were to put the herd across the
river at that point early the next
morning A number Of cowboys who
were in Miles City rode TO our camp
iuSt as we were moving the cattle
from the bed ground TO the river. They
had ridden up to watch the crossing
OF the herd. The Yellowstone at this
point is quite wide and for most Of
the way across it was deep but 1t was
the best place on the river for miles
either way to drive herd in and also
q good place for them to come out Of
Lead Cattle BaIk
The herd was strung out and worked
to the river and there the lead cattle
baked We had quite lot of trouble
getting them to take the water. We
finally got bunch started toward the
other shore and the crew with the
help Of the visiting cowboys began to
crowd the balance so they would fol-
low. One of the N-Bar-N men named
George Redd went with the lead
bunch.
The main bunch was finally started
and very soon Redd was In swimming
water. / was riding well up on the
line of the moving cattle and before
I knew IL the horse I was riding went
completely out of sight, as did I. When
we came to the surface again could
see swimming cattle ahead of me and
behind me. My horse was swimming
in the same direction as the cattle.
was frightened for 1t seemed to me
to be fully five miles across the river.
Suddenly heard someone snout 70
fellow, and don't try to guide your
horse with the bit. Keep him going
as he is and keep him from the cattle
by splashtng water in his face"
I had sense enough to do Just as
I was told and finally reached shallow
water on the north shore and rode 70
where Redd was holding back the Lead.
Shortly the man VINO mao snou1eo ~
me rode I'D. He was a stranger, one
of those who had ridden up from Miles
CITY to see the herd crossed. He told
lis his name was Abbott and that he
was riding for the FUF. He had seen
q man was needed with the cattle
behind where was and just put IN
and came across himself. He held out
his hand to me and said: you sure
did well, kid. Stayed with them IN
good shape. was afraid for a little
while that you might try to turn your
horse and get back. If you had, the
chances were mighty good that you
would have pulled him over and you
sure would have been goner."
He didn't mention that I was trying
to do that very thing when ne shouted
at me. He told me afterward that ne
was trying his utmost to reach me
when he shouted at me.
Stands Up for Kid
Our wagon boss came up and began
to give me a going over for putting !
into deep water without his orders. He |
said he had no intentions OF letting |
me go in with the cattle and didn't /
know I had done so till he. saw me |
halfway across. I was to have crossed |
in a skiff with some of the crew who /
could not swim.
Abott interrupted the boss and said:
IT don't really think that kid deserves
such a roasting He put In with the
cattle where a man was needed and
he stayed with them clear across and
to my notion he should be given credit
instead of being roasted. There wasn't
any of your crew in the place behind
him where I came across"
Abbott didn't give the wagon boss
even an intimation that it was because
he saw my danger that he came In,
nor that 1t was his warning to me
that brought me safely through.
Thus began my acquaintance with
Teddy Blue and friendship sprang
up between us that lasted for SIS
years and now is only broken by death.
Led by the COIOrs
That night In Miles City some of the
cowboys were talking of the crossing
and mentioned how well the herd took
to the water when they had gotten
strung out Blue, who was present,
said: "Well how in the world could
they help but cross in good shape when
the American colors went across with
When asked what he meant, he
"The man who went in the lead is
named Redd. The kid who was next !
across is Kid White and was the
,hird one over. There's your colors.
Redd, White and Blue" {
went by the name Of White then,
t being the name Of my stepfather.
}. Abbott Of Gilt Edge, telling me
hat her husband, my old-time friend, /
lad crossed the high divide and gone
% a new range, it was hard for me {
o realize that Teddy had gone from I
he wagon where so few OF us old
lime cowhands are left. /
Only q few weeks before he and / ;
we're writing to each other, living over J
gain the days on the range SIS years
go. And we were also laying plans TO c
meet each other again In Miles City Z
{ the old cowboys reunion there next i
uly.
Up the Trail In 1883 +
Teddy Blue came TO Montana In a
883 from Texas with a herd Of 1900 I
ows owned by the Green Mountain b
livestock Co., and known as the FUF.
he herd was turned loose ON the q
range on Exnmels creek a
outh Of Forsyth. He saw the Yellow b
tone river for the first time tn Sep s.
smber. 1883. In 1884 be came up the Il
-aN from Nebraska with trail herd
el0ngng 10 the Running Water Cattle y