TX BIOS:  Earl Horne
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   Beliefs and customs - occupational lore
   
   Mrs. Annie McAulay
   
   Maverick Texas
   
   Runnels County
   
   Page One [Continuity?] No FEC
   
   COWBOY LORE
   
   EARL HORNE was born in Travis county Texas, Sept. 7, 1883. He came
   with his parents to Runnels County in 1895. His father, A. A. Horne
   was a Range Rider before him. He had punched cattle in Hayes and
   Travis counties before coming to Runnels County.
   
   Mr. Horne says, "I learned to sit on a horse when not more than six
   years old. I began riding and helping work cattle when fifteen years
   of age. My father was working for W. L. McAulay and I was given a job
   with the same outfit.
   
   When I was about grown I went o work for Jake Stubblefield of Norton.
   He had ranches and leases scattered over Runnels and some other
   counties further west. I did the usual job of riding branding and so
   on. After I had worked awhile for Mr. Stubblefield, I decided to try
   my hand at a cooking job and so I went to cooking for one of his
   outfits near Midland. I was on the trail quite a bit then too. They
   always carried the cook and wagon along on the drives. I remember one
   stampede we had at Big Springs.
   
   It was in 1905. Ouroutfit was driving two or three thousand head of
   cattle from Midland to a place north of Big Springs. When we got to
   Big springs they refused to cross the railroad.
   
     NOTE: C12 - 2/11/41 - Texas
     
   00022The boys worked and worked to try to cross with them butthey
   finnally got so disturbed and scattered for miles around, we had to
   get extra help and then finally crossed the track several miles below
   the regular crossing. It took all day to get together and across that
   track.
   
   I was with another trail driving outfit in 1903. This [t?] time I was
   riding. Mr. [DEL: McAulau :DEL] McAulauy' outfit was driving 1000 head
   of steers to the Texas plains. We left his ranch at Maverick. We had
   camped [?] think it was our second night out not far from Mt.
   Chadbourne. A rainstorm came up around midnight and frightened the
   herd and throwed them into a panic. They began to run and ball, and of
   course we rode like mad to stop them. And dark, that was the blackest
   night I ever saw. We never could get them dadblame dogies to milling.
   They just scattered everywhere. It took us all the next day to get 'em
   all together agin.
   
   I worked three years for Hill Bros. Cattle Co. of Midland. I had a
   cooking job part of the time. That was the worst bunch for razzing new
   riders I ever saw. I felt real sorry for those old boys sometimes.
   They did treat em plum rough at times. They'd play practical jokes on
   them and try to put [te?] dirtiest work possible on and give them the
   toughest horses in the outfit to ride, if tey could work em [intto?]
   mounting them. But it didn't hurt 'em none I guess.
   
   I went to work in 1917 for R. R. Russell of San Tonia. I worked on The
   Grape Creek ranch in Texas and also on a ranch in The Osage country in
   Oklahoma.
   
   I was feeding steers most of one winter while working 00033in Okla. I
   remember I had to go out and feed a big bunch eight days straight,
   while the temperture was fourteen degrees below zero. We never lost a
   head during that spell but I shore thought it never was going to thaw
   out agin.
   
   Billy O'brian was the best woman rider I ever knew. She was the
   daughter of my foreman while working for Hill Bros. of Midland. She'd
   catch her mount in the mornings same as the other riders. She was
   shore a good hand too. However she never did any stunt or bronc riding
   while I was working there.
   
   I never could ride shore nuff bronco much. I used to try it once in
   awhile. I got throwed so much I quit.
   
   I knew some good busters though. Mitt Castlebury of Maverick was one.
   I never saw him quit a horse. Bob Bingham who was with The Five Well
   Outfit for a number of years was a humdinger. Thats all he did then
   and he could create more fun and entertainment than a movie actress.
   
   I knew a short legged guy, name of Jimmy Cain. Worked on the Bar ell
   (md). He could shore ride. Boy he was like a natural hump on a broncs
   back. He was a funny sight but he shore could stick.
   
   I've worked cattle in Texas. New Mexico. Oklahoma and Kansas. It's a
   great life. But it can also be a hard one sometimes. 0004Bibliography
   Earl Home. Norton Texas, Pioneer citizen, and old cowhand. Interviewed
   Feb. 14, 1938.

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