Document text
Itungc-lorc
c_kuLy
rAvoriel:, Tacos
RANGE LORE
J. S. Buohannan wee born at Vdpoo, Texas, January 2,
1872. He came to Coke County to 7ake a permanent home
with his brother in 1890.
r. Luohannan says: "I got my first ranch job from
my brother when I was sixteen goers old. iy work was
nostly herdin, horses. L..y brother had a horse and (Kittle
ranch, to. c had to pen the horses everynight, ond we
had to break 'eLl, tJo. y• brother sold them for the
sad6le or for carriage and work stuff.
"I learned something about punohin' cattle, too. Of
course, there was no more open range, but there were some.
very large pastures and large herds. I sometimes helped
with the round -ups and driving to market.
roundup one pasture or section of pasture one
-2..
day end then the next day another section until all were
brought in. Then we'd out the stuff we wanted to market,
brand the calves, and turn 'em all loose, except the
marketing stuff.
"I remember a stampede we had one night. Ve were on
our way to the railroad with 1500 steers. It was foggy and
cold. The steers were restless; they kept standing up and
pushing each other. I was helping guard on the first shift.
Along about eleven o'clock they let loose and then those
steers just got up and left the country. We ran, too, call-
ing the others to come help. Vie finally got 'em to oiroling,
but we had to keep it up nearly all night. Yext morning we
were closer home than when we made camp.
"1 worked awhile for the Littlefield Cattle Company, on
the L. F. D. ranch. Joe Phelps was manager, Lud Wilson,
range boss, and Charlie talker, trail boss. Ye made a lot
of drives from loswell to Amarillo while I was there. I
don't remember that we had any sericms trouble except one
time. Ve was trying to cross a swollen stream, Goose Creek,
think it tos. e tried to rush tho cattle across the
creek. It wasn't wide but pretty swift. One fellow -c)t in
the lead and others on the side. 40 lost several cows and
almost lost u rider, he Lad to let his horse co. We roped
him in and pulled him ashore. I never after that ranted to
take a buncL of cattle across a stream that was up.
They used to razz the new hands something ridiculous,
especially if they'd never punched cattle before. It was
kinda 111'e the boys do in college except a heap worse*
They'd whip 'em with boots or legging', hide their clothes
and boots, put pepper ir their coffee or anything they
might think of. Of course, they'd try to work off all the
tour7h troncs on 'em just to see 'ern get throwed.
"1 renenber one kid went to work for the L. 7. D. out...
fit while I was there. A bunch made it up not to pose him
any biscuits at the table. And for two or three meals he
diLn't (,et any bread. Lut finally a big plateful came near
°nowt and he reached out and pot tem, lie stuffed one in
his mouth end what he couldn't hold in his hands he poked
in his pockets. Nobody said a word. But pretty soon they
all started laughing. After that he was one of the buneh."
4411x**M.c**41$4**
RaLTENCLI J. L. Buehennang Robert Lee, Texas* Interviewed
July 19, 1936*