TX BIOS:  J. S. Buchannan, McLennan and Coke Counties, TX

   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.
   
   0001
   
   Beliefs and Customs - Occupational Lore [?]
   
   Range-lore
   
   Annie McAulay
   
   Maverick, Texas
   
   RANGE-LORE
   
   J. S. Buchannan was born at Waco, Texas, January 2, 1872. He came to
   Coke County to make a permanent home with his brother in 1890.
   
   Mr. Buchannan says: "I got my first ranch job from my brother when I
   was sixteen years old. My work was mostly herdin' horses. My brother
   had a horse and cattle ranch, too. We had to pen the horses [DEL: ever
   night :DEL] everynight, and we had to break 'em, too. My brother sold
   them for the saddle or for carriage and work stuff.
   
   "I learned something about punchin' 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.
   
   "We'd round-up one pasture or section of pasture one
   
     NOTE: C. 12 - 2/11/41 Tex. Box 1
     
   00022day and then the next day another section until all were brought
   in. Then we'd cut 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. We 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,
   calling the others to come help. We finally got 'em to circling, but
   we had to keep it up nearly all night. Next morning we were closer
   home than when we made camp.
   
   "I worked awhile for the Littlefield Cattle Company, on the L. F. D.
   ranch. Joe Phelps was manager, Bud Wilson, range boss, and Charlie
   Walker, trail boss. We made a lot of drives from Boswell to Amarillo
   while I was there. I don't remember that we had any serious trouble
   except one time. We was trying to cross a swollen stream, Goose Creek,
   I think it was. We tried to rush the cattle across the creek. It
   wasn't wide but pretty swift. One fellow got in the lead and others on
   the side. We lost several cows and almost lost a rider, he had to let
   his horse go. We roped him in and pulled him ashore. I never after
   that wanted to 00033take a bunch 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 like the boys do in
   college except a heap worse. They'd whip 'em with boots or leggins',
   hide their clothes and boots, put pepper in their coffee or anything
   they might think of. Of course, they'd try to work off all the tough
   bronco on 'em just to see 'em get throwed.
   
   "I remember one kid went to work for the L. F. D. outfit while I was
   there. A bunch made it up not to pass him any biscuits at the table.
   And for two or three meals he didn't get any bread. But finally a big
   plateful came near enough and he reached out and got 'em. He stuffed
   one in his mouth and 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 bunch."
   
   *************
   
   REFERENCE: J. S. Buchannan, Robert Lee, Texas. Interviewed July 19,
   1938.

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