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Range -lore
Ruby Mosley
Son Angelo, Texas.
e flare
RAIKM-1,028
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"1 was born in Alsbane 82 years ago," says r.
William '°Neill of San Angelo, Texas.
"I oame to Texas in 1875, and,settled at Bremond,
Robertson County. It was my first time to ride a train
and I was always teased about not knowing that it stopped
at the station to let the paseengers get on. when I saw
it pulling into the station, I ran out and yelled, 'Stop,
wait for me, I want to get on.'
"The first work I ever did in Texas was on the Judge
Honeycutt ranch, out on Blue Ridge. I worked with old
Captain blaylock„ he sure was a dandy, they don't make 'em
no better.
"In 1885 I came to the San Angelo section and had
several chances to go up the trail; but I wouldn't never
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go, I didn't want to go. tell you another thing,
I wasn't no brans buster, for I always choked the saddle
horn when I rode, regardless of the horee's nature. This
ridin' broncs and going up the trail will make a fellow
get old. I ain't never gain' to get old in looks. Yes,
I'm 82 years old but most people guess ma to be around
60. I have lived a quiet bachelor life which is one of
the best ways of staying young.
"I received quite a little recognition at one time
for advising and helping a guard to capture an escaped
convict near AuLtin. Me and another feller was a-ridin'
around in the outskirts of Austin one day rhen we heard
a gun fire, as we were passing a bunch of convicts work..
inc under guards. A nigger convict was eheaping into
the river bottoms. I stopped and told the guard to jump
into the bum"' and I'd take him around to head the nigger
off, then I said, 'You go down in the timber near the
river and get behind a tree or ledge, when the nigger
comes by just halt him right there.' Well we drove a-
round the bend, and the guard took his place behind a
big tree; soon the negro some by and wen taken in by the
guard. They sure gave me a niee 'write up' in the news-
papers abut this little capture; it sure made my chest
stick out for a while.
PI knew a little about some of the outlaws. I
rode from Li Peso to Abilene with a feller that had
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never oould. prove anything. The sheriff, also the
flglish brothers had plenty of capitol, but could not
do much in this case recardless of the niney, like
they can now. ilhen the sheriff was shot, e stray bullet
pierced a younc boy in the neck. He was knocked down
an of all the yelling and screaming I ever heard, this
was the best, it was right funny to us; he was as wild
as a dog with u bunch of tin cans tied to it's tail.
"I was raised back in the old states by an old
negro mammy and she 1186 a dear old soul to me. I have seen
VIII different ..embers of the family put up on blocks and
sold to men fro* far and near, Of course, those old mamr
miee hated to part with their children. I have seen the
men whip the slaves'. men end women.' whip their own sex.
They would tie their hands together, bend them over, slip
their hands over their kneee and run a stick under thElr
knees and over their arms, then whip them 'til they could
not stand up hen freed from that position. There is
never a day passes, that don't think thin7s over end
wonder if my own dear, dead mother went to eeven or not,
after seeing- her tie and whip those poor old niglers. I
never could see anything that I thought they deserved
punishment of that kind for. I loved my old mammy, the
was so good to me.
"The escaped slaves were alwaye trailed down by
hounds; they never got away, there were always some
good slaves to tell on others. I was glad when the
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slaves gained their freedom, even though we had a large
number and lost plenty of money. They made many people
rich and got nothing but punishment as a reward. They
tell that some of the meters were good but I never did
see a good one.
Renge-lore
Ruby Uosley
an Angelo, Texas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mr. William 4.oNeill, en Angelo, Texas, interviewed,
February 2, 1938.