Document text
Range -lore
Annie McAuley
Maverick, Texas.
RANGE -LORE
Page one
Carl Wilson was born in Trenton, Tennessee, Maroh
le, 1872. 1:e moved to Texas with his parents at the age
of five years, who settled first in Dallas County.
Mr. Wilson says, "I came to Runnels County with my
parents in 1883, and stopped at Old Runnels, where we
lived for a good many years. I began riding when quite
young. Everybody rode in the West. I remember my first
impression of this country as a boy, was that all the men
nearly were oowboys and that there weren't many trees.
Of course I wanted a job when I grew up and the West need-
ed lots of cowhands, so when I was about sixteen I got my
first job. I worked for first one and then another. Like
many other young fellows I was restless and wanted to see
what was on the other side of the hill.
"I believe the toughest job I ever had was during a
drouth once. It had been very dry for several months in
these parts. I don't remember the year for certiin, but
Page two
I think it was in ninety eight or nine. The pastures had
dried up; water was scarcer than hair on a bald head. Cat-
tle were dying for the want of grass and water. We had
two or three thousand heed of steers and were moving them
to Ford County and it seemed like the further we went the
drier and hotter it got. Al]. the streams were dry as a
bone. Two men in our outfit rode ahead up and down the streams
and draws looking for water, but in vain. Our horses as well
as the cattle did without water three days. The cook allowed
the men only one cupful each of water per day. Finally we
came to the belt Fork of the Brazos River only to find it was
too salty to drink. The cattle would stick their noses in it
but come up with a snort end a shake of their head. It was
pathetic sight to watch 'em. The water was so salty that we
had to grease our boots we'd gotten wet in it, or we couldn't
have pulled them on next morning. We found water soon after
crossing the salt river. But that was sure same experience.
"I knew Booger Red and a few other good broncho busters.
Booger Red broke. some stuff for the Parramore outfit while I
was working for them. I believe the best buster I ever knew,
outside of old Booger was a negro named Tom Fired. He could
sure ride 'em and knew all their tricks. I remember the N
Bar outfit had a spoiled horse that nobody could ride. He'd
pitch awhile and if he didn't throw the rider he would fall
down and then turn over on him. He tried this three times
with Tom. The first time he almost got Tam but he finally
Page three
sorembled up and got on hi :T1 again, After the third time he
lost his patience. The last time he climbed on the horse
ho began using his quirt before he'd hardly gotten in the
saddle. he'd hit him on the head between the ears and at
the same time spurring for all he was vdarth, and rode that
horse 'til he rode him down, then climbed down and said,
'Mister, here's your horse, he's cured.' And sure enough he
was gentled. He never pitched another time."
Ronge-lore
Annie acAulay
Maverick, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
earl ivilson, 'Ballinger, Texas, interviewed February 3, 1938.
Ocae.41410,47r4-•-e
Annie VbAulay
Yaveriqk T xas
Runnels Co nty
COBITINIIIIT
COWBOY LORE
Page One"
CARL WILSON was born in Trenton Tennesee March 18, 1872.
Be m ved tO Texas with his parents at Le age of five yea',
ettled -first in Dallas County*
Mr. Wilson says,"I came to Runnelsepuntywith miy, pa-
rents in 1883, and stopped at Old Runnels, where we lived
for a good many years. I began riding when quite young. Ev-
erybody rode in the st. I rememboOSOy first impression of
this country as a boy, was that all the men nearly were
cowboys and that there weren't many trees.Of course I wanted
a job when I grew up and the West needed lots of cowhands,
epo, when I was about sixteen I got thy first job. MO-14.14e4r-,
rni.414...at riding texanLt_lialial.34.4Q_Lawr. I worked for fiAlt
one and thsn another..444-gelrt/ret-via-irbrying-ta-ons-ptsicw
o an
Like many
other young fellows I was restless and wanted to see what wss
on Ve other side of the hill.
4(
ode for Lucia Woods, an old time cowman, for a e.
He recently is old home at Old Runnels was work-
ing for Sam Padgett when I ma
drive a herd from Runnels to
very long drive and
lye. I helped to
ichefP,coun wasn't a
't have no trouble to speak o
but I tho en we bad done a big job.
Mrs. Annie McAulay
Maverick Texas
Runnels County
el/
46-emoittra-ntlffber-trf-ttrotres% I believe the toughest job I ever
had was during a drouth once.=
CIt had been very dry for several months in these parts.
I don't remember the year for certain, but I think,it was
in ninety eight or nine...614min The pastures had dried pp
water was scarcer than hai1 on a bald head. Cattle were
dying fer-grows-aail-water..paCs for the want of -thor-
3.41000,144triRtr4M1MerifIreeirseretelli -41..
410216 We had two or three thyu -n head of steers and were
moving them to Ford County
.44showitterm"Trill7grmtc./eemetike the further we went the
drier and hotter it got. All the streams were dry as a bone.
Two men in our outfit rode ahead 4aaakniap-ferittrer..66•54.aQda...
A Our hor4
up and dawn the stre and drams es as
Well as the cattle did without water three days. 44.--ladtbow-
Page Two
tAikellotr112161t7-10Nalrloving dUrtMr7tffle-ctre*-Tay1464101mm4Alfwg
The cook allowed the men only one cupful each of water per
day.
Finp'ally we came to theilialtgrk of the Brazos ever
only to find it was too salty to drink. The cattle waild
stick their noses in it but come up with a snort and a shake
to heir head. It was 4 pathetic sight to watch 'em. The
Mrs. Annie MtAulay
Maverick Texas
Runnels County.
Page Three
gObRowater toulrwwas so sity that we4gookowebad to grea e
4
X41/6.
our boots we'd gotten wet in it, or we couldn'Upull44 AND on
next morning.
We found water soon after crossing
the salt river. But that was
some experience.
Lo....ts.pmstiter...graggi. I knew Booger Red and a few other good
BromA iousters. Booger Red broke some stuff for the Parramore
outfit while I was working for them.
I believe the best buster I ever knew, outside of old
Booger was a negro named Tom Pi*ed. He couldatie/ride 'em
and knew all_tpAir trickee
ttgwerr,--,
C:TaLeelber the N tar 444.04..outfit had a spoiled
horse that nobodytpuld ride. MirommoreiWpatem.„--41m.,-77!!!'
He'd pitch awhile and if he didn't throw the rider 1249:r..0"
down and then turn over on him. He tried ttis three, times
with tom. The first time he almost go
finnally scrambled up and got on him again. After the third
timerlo at his patience. The last time he ctitbed on afrtiaL144.11-.
ie began using his quirt before he'd bardly gotten in the
Mrs. Annie McAulay
Maverick Wexas
Runnels County
Page sour
saddle. Held hit him on the head between the ear and at
the same time spurring for all he was wort ode that
..idedisImmed horse 'til he rode him down, *ten climbed down
said, tills 0
y 9Ared. And wmd4f he
gentled. He never pitched another time,
Wilson lived a single and free life for sixty years.
He says he was
a lonecowhand. He was persuaded, he
to change his mind and was o Ss Laura
Smith. He worked umber of ye fter he quit riding
as W ervice Man. for The Elpaso And So estern Rail
Road Co. He had to retire two years ago on accoun
health. He and his wife now make their home in Ballinger.
Bibliography.
Carl Wilson, llinger Texas. Pioneer citizen and old
cowhand in West Texas. Interviewed Feb. 3, 1938.