Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-10-19

N0dAs
LaureIs for the man from Laurel.
The boys who knew horse riding
for long distances In modern times
laid bets he'd be back before he
reached Miles City, but New York
saw him as he rode Shamrock, his
Arabian horse, down its man-made
canyons after completing q trip Of
1900 miles through III states In
121 Days. EIrOy Giles, Is, is the
young man who made the trip.
Three years ago GILES began talk
ing to his family and friends about
driving a covered wagon to New York
but no one seriously believed he would
try it. Last spring, when his plans
took definite shape, he decided horse
back would be the more feasible mode.
Dressed in colorful attire known by
brown-haired, blue-eyed youth, VINO
liked high school dramatics, left
Laurel May Is. He was mounted on
Shamrock, and was leading a bay colt
as pack animal. Skeptics began plac-
ing 10 to ! bets he would never make
the 1877 miles to Miles City.
Reports soon came that GILES had
passed the North Dakota line. At
Mandan he met the first severe test
of his ability to stay with his pur-
pose. His pack horse wrenched her
foreleg and would not respond to
treatment Giles was forced to trans
fer her burden to the 950-pound Sham
rock. Sadder still to a boy who loved
his horses, was the fact that Sham
rock missed his mate so much he re-
fused TO eat for some time.
The second test came when a Man
dan car dealer offered him a new
car in trade for Shamrock. Giles had
raised the horse from a colt and he
was also highly conscious of the home
towns greeting of a gutter" June II
offer and headed toward his remain
ing 1900 miles.
Gains Attention
The rowing cowboy began attract
Ing the attention of newspaper men
and he was frequently interviewed.
In larger cities, papers noted young
sters began donning western regalia
10 meet the Montanan.
Elroy kept his Laurel relatives post
ed on his schedule by sending them
road maps marked with the date and
time of his arrival and departure IRE from rom
The various cities on his itinerary. Dis
played IN the windows of the Van
Nice studio was a map showing his
route following highway 10. That his
Trip was carefully planned was at
tested to by the fact that he con-
Sistently kept three days ahead of
MS planned route.
Through blistering July and August
days, when the thermometer scared |
over 100 degrees, through one whole |
week OF rain, Giles pushed on, aver
aging about Is miles a day.
Giles made many interesting con-
acts, among them being E. G. (Jack) |
Prouty, formerly of Wyoming, who |
April l. 1910, left Hoboken, N. j., and
rode horseback to Pasadena, Calf. I
arriving there Feb. %, 1911. History
'ecords a similar ride by Ezra Meeker,
Who in 1852 made trip from Seattle /
% Washington, D. c., taking five
In western states Giles said ranch
RS were more hospitable than city
.olKs put as he proceeded east he
loted the reverse was true. He wrote,
! can always tell when meet some
)ne from the west. It's written all |
,ver them and generosity is bred in
hem"
Sold Photos
Giles financed his trip by sale Of
autographed pictures and at times
ne going was tough. At one time he
aid he Travelled four days on Is cents.
5e never rode on Sunday, using that
lay to rest his horse and do his
aundry.
To horse lovers Of the west. sham
ocks history is interesting. He was
'orn pinto but when a yearling he
oSt his spots. He Is q beautiful white
low, showing his Arabian heritage
trongly. He has stood up well under
lis gruelling ride and only once, at
Columbia City, Ind, when his right
oreleg stiffened, did GILES have to
i've his mount additional rest.
What to do about the horse now
hat he has reached Fifth avenue still
'uzzles Elroy, but he declares things
vii work out all right. People have
aid I should sell him but I never
ould do that, not after I raised him
nd he took me all this way. I hope
can raise enough money to ship
i'm back
OF the advantages Of taking such
trip by horseback, he says: 81
,aSsed several cars on the way. You
ee get no flats, burn no gas or oil
nd when go up a steep hill my
lorse doesn't boil"
GILES is a native of Montana He
5 the son Of the late Joseph L. GILES
nd Mrs. Cora Giles. During his high
chool years he took an active part
n dramatics and was q member Of
he Future Farmers Of America He
'lans to operate his mothers cattle
anch south Of Laurel.
Peeled apples can be kept by I'M
- a.. -