1899_03_NormalRecord.008 |
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THE NORMAL RECORD. to see me, so, consequently, I saw no objection to "locating" there, although my real destination was near the town of Al- turas, twenty miles away. But South Fork really was a pretty place, and I enjoyed being there in more ways than the above mentioned. Through the valley ran a branch of the Pitt River, which, descending near Redding, makes a visible relation 'twixt here and there. The meadows swarmed with hay-makers, and timothy and wild grass made green the whole valley. One cause of my enjoyment was the presence of an old settler who was too old to work, yet spry enough and willing to fish and tell stories. Trout were in abundance nearby, and during one afternoon and the next morning we caught about two hundred and fifty. Most of them were of the yellow, speckled kind, but I can assure you that the color did not detract from their taste. I beg the reader's pardon for these diversions, but I really have wandered from my purpose—that of telling you of a trip on the rodeo and incidents connected with it. Modoc is to be remembered as the greatest stock- raising county in California, and the cattle or horse men there have large ranges which they hold by some means or another for their stock. A favorite mode of doing this is to "file" on the springs in the mountains, thus monopolizing the water supply and effectually cutting off all competition for the range. Being invited to accompany a party on a "round up" of all the horses and mules belonging to them, I accepted and prepared eagerly for the trip. I came near not going, however, for as I was mounting my horse, which was a real bronco, he started on a dead run, taking me with him, with my left foot in the stirrup and my right hand holding on to the back of the saddle. This raised quite a commotion at the time, but, as luck would have it, I was enabled to gain the saddle and thus averted for myself an impromptu finis. We were to go into the mountains, gather up all the horses and drive them to what was known as the "horse camp." It was nearly noon before we found many horses, but now they began to appear in large numbers. These "buckaroos," which is the vulgar form of the Spanish expression, "vaquero," pre sent a fine appearance riding, and the way they will send a bare-hoofed horse over a rocky hill might make a sentimental lawyer give expression to the form, "Cruelty to Animals." But they don't appreciate criticism, and they have reason enough. The business of rounding up horses requires quick decision and quicker work. An incident will suffice to prove this. A part of the band of horses broke away and started up a small valley. As I was on the side of this valley, it became my duty to head them off. I started off briskly enough, but coming to a place where a sort of slate rock predominated, which hurt my horse's hoofs, I let him walk. The band consequently escaped, and I received the blame. This taught me the principle of quick action. After riding till late in the afternoon, we had some three hundred horses at the camp. The horse camp was a lonely-looking place; surrounded by sagebrush and dust, it stood the only visible monument to civilization for miles around. When riding on the range horses are changed every half day, and every time they must be broken over. To do this the riders cinch their saddles on them tightly, then give them the length of the lariat and let them take their freshness out on the saddle alone. Then they mount them, make them buck until they are tired and then settle down to business. The next morning when we went to the corral nearly all the horses had escaped, and we were compelled to perform much of outwork over. I saw one sight which to me was awe-inspiring and wonderful. There was one old white bell-mare, and twenty-five young mules followed her. Wherever she would go they would go, and at every surprise they flocked about her until the poor thing couldn't move. Indeed, their attention was so concentrated upon her that she hardly had time to feed, and I think that I received the news that she died that fall from the effects of their constant attention. "Teach me your mood, O patient stars ! Who climb each night the ancient sky, Leaving no space, no shade, no scars, No trace of age, no fear to die." — H. /A". Emerson.
Object Description
Title | The Normal Record. March 1899 |
Original Date | 1899-03 |
Description | The Record. Published by the Associated Students of Chico State College. |
Creator | Chico State College |
Location of Original | Archives |
Call Number | LD723 C57 |
Digital Collection | The Record: Chico State Yearbook Collection |
Digital Repository | Meriam Library, California State University, Chico. |
Description-Abstract | The Record served as both a student magazine and a commencement program for Chico Normal School. In the year 1899, it was published almost monthly. |
Date Digital | 2013 |
Language | eng |
Rights | For information on the use of the images in this collection contact the Special Collections Department at 530.898-6342 or email: specialcollections@csuchico.edu |
Format | image/tiff |
Filename | index.cpd |
Description
Title | 1899_03_NormalRecord.008 |
Original Date | 1899-03 |
OCR- Transcript | THE NORMAL RECORD. to see me, so, consequently, I saw no objection to "locating" there, although my real destination was near the town of Al- turas, twenty miles away. But South Fork really was a pretty place, and I enjoyed being there in more ways than the above mentioned. Through the valley ran a branch of the Pitt River, which, descending near Redding, makes a visible relation 'twixt here and there. The meadows swarmed with hay-makers, and timothy and wild grass made green the whole valley. One cause of my enjoyment was the presence of an old settler who was too old to work, yet spry enough and willing to fish and tell stories. Trout were in abundance nearby, and during one afternoon and the next morning we caught about two hundred and fifty. Most of them were of the yellow, speckled kind, but I can assure you that the color did not detract from their taste. I beg the reader's pardon for these diversions, but I really have wandered from my purpose—that of telling you of a trip on the rodeo and incidents connected with it. Modoc is to be remembered as the greatest stock- raising county in California, and the cattle or horse men there have large ranges which they hold by some means or another for their stock. A favorite mode of doing this is to "file" on the springs in the mountains, thus monopolizing the water supply and effectually cutting off all competition for the range. Being invited to accompany a party on a "round up" of all the horses and mules belonging to them, I accepted and prepared eagerly for the trip. I came near not going, however, for as I was mounting my horse, which was a real bronco, he started on a dead run, taking me with him, with my left foot in the stirrup and my right hand holding on to the back of the saddle. This raised quite a commotion at the time, but, as luck would have it, I was enabled to gain the saddle and thus averted for myself an impromptu finis. We were to go into the mountains, gather up all the horses and drive them to what was known as the "horse camp." It was nearly noon before we found many horses, but now they began to appear in large numbers. These "buckaroos," which is the vulgar form of the Spanish expression, "vaquero," pre sent a fine appearance riding, and the way they will send a bare-hoofed horse over a rocky hill might make a sentimental lawyer give expression to the form, "Cruelty to Animals." But they don't appreciate criticism, and they have reason enough. The business of rounding up horses requires quick decision and quicker work. An incident will suffice to prove this. A part of the band of horses broke away and started up a small valley. As I was on the side of this valley, it became my duty to head them off. I started off briskly enough, but coming to a place where a sort of slate rock predominated, which hurt my horse's hoofs, I let him walk. The band consequently escaped, and I received the blame. This taught me the principle of quick action. After riding till late in the afternoon, we had some three hundred horses at the camp. The horse camp was a lonely-looking place; surrounded by sagebrush and dust, it stood the only visible monument to civilization for miles around. When riding on the range horses are changed every half day, and every time they must be broken over. To do this the riders cinch their saddles on them tightly, then give them the length of the lariat and let them take their freshness out on the saddle alone. Then they mount them, make them buck until they are tired and then settle down to business. The next morning when we went to the corral nearly all the horses had escaped, and we were compelled to perform much of outwork over. I saw one sight which to me was awe-inspiring and wonderful. There was one old white bell-mare, and twenty-five young mules followed her. Wherever she would go they would go, and at every surprise they flocked about her until the poor thing couldn't move. Indeed, their attention was so concentrated upon her that she hardly had time to feed, and I think that I received the news that she died that fall from the effects of their constant attention. "Teach me your mood, O patient stars ! Who climb each night the ancient sky, Leaving no space, no shade, no scars, No trace of age, no fear to die." — H. /A". Emerson. |