This morning whilr getting my daughters ready for school I was watching the History channel and they had a program on called 'Cowboys and Outlaws' This episode was on Tom Horn.

I have read a few books about him and saw a few more documentaries and naturally the Steve McQueen movie. I have always found Horn a fascinating character. From cowboy/Scout to Lawman/Stock detective to killer. This program was actually pretty good they had Chip Carlson, Paul Hutton and Roger McGrath as the sources and they kept to the facts as much as possible.

I know in th emovie he used an 1876 in 40/60 but in real life he used a Model 94 in 30/30. One of the statements made was that he and other men like him kept up with technology and that he was a 'gun guy' and kept his tools in working order and clean. Which makes sense since he bet his life on them.


It is pretty clear he was a killer some 17 men at least with the Pinkertons and possibly up to 40 all together with the cattle barons. and he kept his mouth shut even when on trial, while his employers left him to hang.

They re-did his trial in the early 90's I beleive and he was found not guilty, but I am sure it didn't do him to much good. The evidence against him was circumstantial at best and would not have held up in a trial today but on the frontier it was good enough for the jury.


I still enjoy reading anything new about him, and just watched the movie a few Sundays ago.

Well that s all for this morning, take care.

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Stan

And then there's fellers like me that had family that were friends of Tom that know a little bit more than what the History Channel told.

I knew a neighbor who when I was a kid told us over and over that he was paid by the "Cattle Barons" to feed, and train a fast horse and tie it up behind the jail on the day Tom was to be hanged.

No one ever saw Tom's face the day he was hanged. He was already hooded when they brought him to the gallows.

That night the horse was gone and this feller swore til his dyin' day that Tom died of old age in the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands.

Another neighbor of ours sang a hymn at Tom's request at the hanging, but the request was made before Tom was brought out, and though he stood on the gallows when he sang, Tom never spoke.


Now this brings up the question of who did they hang that day but no answer has ever been offered.

The guy that fed the horse told me he thought that it was a bum they scrounged up in the UPRR yards the night before the hanging. Makes you wonder what they used to drug him sufficiently for him to remain placid until the trap was sprung

They also didn't mention the feud between the Millers and the Nickles, and that one of the Miller boys left the country right after the shooting and never returned. The TV program mentioned that Tom stayed at Nickle place from time to time and they were pretty familiar with Tom's quirks.

One of my relatives was told by a Miller about what really happened.

In the History Channel presentation, they showed a picture of Tom in jail and a horse hair head stall and reins he braided while there.

Tom gave them to an uncle of mine and it is still lurking in the family.

Chip Carlson and I have visited about some of this stuff and he is inclined to agree with the things I have mentioned.
He said in that program that there was still considerable doubt that Tom killed Willy but there ain't much doubt among the old timers that lived there at the time.

One of my old bosses on the Highway Patrol was on the last round up of the Swan Livestock Co when he was a kid.

He said that Tom would come in late at night and grab some grub at the chuck wagon from time to time.

Tom would just appear out of the dark, grab a meal and coffee. Never sat down and stood with his back to the chuck wagon, when he was done, he was gone.

Tom was paid by the "cattlemen" to see that none of their stock was "rounded up" with the Swan stuff by "accident"

He told me that Tom was one spooky ***. He never spoke and no one would speak to him. Tom was a spook and he did everything he could maintain that image to keep the cowhands off balance.

Reminds me of another "fabled lawman" that did the same thing here in Wyoming while I was in law enforcement. I had dealings with him and I would never turn my back on him for any reason. He had the same rep and killed a fellow cop to enhance it.
He got off on the charge of murder, but there ain't no doubt he killed the guy.

One of our cow hands when I was a kid was on the jury that convicted Tom. I didn't learn that until last summer. He had been a lawman at the time Tom was doing his thing. I knew him well enough that if being on that jury was something he was comfortable about he would have told me about it. A Deputy in the county on the jury? Kinda makes you wonder........


The old west ain't quite dead yet!!

Wow Iggy that is really cool!!

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Dom

I have a great book, "A cowboy detective" by Charles A. Siringo. Siringo was a pinkerton man for 22 years from about 1884 to about 1906. It`s a huge book of 519 pages. Siringo shows a picture of Horn in his book and calls him "Tim Corn". Their paths crossed working for pinkerton and Siringo wasnt complimentry of him in his book. I also liked reading everything I could about Horn.
I am a avid student of western history for many years. I think the book is one of the best, and siringo rubbed shoulders of most the outlaws and lawmen we all have read about, and writes his opinion of many of them.

Thats a pretty cool post Iggy thank you, I drove throuh Wyoming once and would love to go back there for a vacation.

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Stan

Hell, there ain't nuthin' in Wyoming but miles and miles of nuthin but miles and miles of nuthin'.



Don't you be tellin' nobody nuthin' differ'nt neither!!

BTW Willy was killed in those blue mountains you can see in the background at the far left of the picture and that big mountain (Laramie Peak) is close to 80 miles away.

The picture is of a portion of the family ranch where I grew up. The "holding grounds" for round up I mentioned took place was a few miles from where this picture was taken.
I now manage another of the ranches 30 miles beyond the mountain in the back ground.

Iggy, I bet you are referring to the Ed cantrell case that Gerry Spence defended?

Joe LeFors lived to a ripe old age a few miles down the road from me; died of general meanness around 1947 or so. Lots of so-called 'history'--isn't.

Read up on the Cattle War and Joe Cantrell if you want to get a feel for the twists and turns of 'justice' in WY. You can still get away with murder now and then depending on the circumstances.

Yup! He was just like a rattle snake. He was on the Patrol for a couple of years when I first went on. He left under questionable circumstances.
After his little "fracas" in Rock Springs, he became a range detective looking for modern day rustlers. Black pickup and no headlights at night kind of a thing. He didn't quite have as strong of backers or quite a loyal supporters as Tom and that didn't last long. He left the state not long after he quit being a range detective. I don't know, and I don't want to know anymore about him than I already do.

Iggy, did you ever know or hear of Dewey Van Winkle? I understand he was sheriff of the county Jackson is in, probley in the 30s,or 40s. I knew him when I worked for the park service in the grand tetons in 1961.
Later I worked in the movie studios and ran into a wrangler and even a old western movie producer that knew him. I was told he was also a heck of a rodeo rider etc. I estimate he was born in the 1890s. He told me of driveing cattle in the park before there was roads there etc.
One of the stores in Jackson had his colt saa and belt on display. Someone else told me Deweys wife committed suicide with it. He was a tall rough old gezzer of about 70 years old, and hard hearing when I knew him. He kind of sepecialised as the park plumber back then. I also knew his brother Johnny.

feralmerril

I have heard the name, but I don't know anything more about him.

A lot of the old law men back in that day were tough old geezers, present company excepted of course. *G* I was just a smooth-back colt back then.

If you really want to stir up some discussion in this state, just mention Tom Horn, the Johnson County War or the Spring Creek Raid (cattlemen vs sheepherders in the Big Horn Basin). The interest remains high because many of us are related to people who participated in one or another of those debacles. At the very least, if we grew up here, we knew people who did. I grew up in the northern part of the state and learned early to be very careful when speaking of these subjects to people I didn't know. Might turn out they had relatives involved. There remains much to be learned on these events even today. My former law partner will have a new book out this spring on the Johnson County War, and there is a lot of stuff in the manuscript that I didn't know before.

By the way, the Wyoming Supreme Court heard the Tom Horn appeal and issued a decision of nearly 100 pages. That decision recites the evidence in considerable detail and makes an interesting read. I know that just before they filed McQueen's version of "Tom Horn" the movie company asked the Governor to issue a posthumous pardon to Horn - they figured it would make good PR. The Gov. told them he would be happy to do so - all Horn needed to do was show up in the office and ask for it!

Iggy, I am a wisconsin kid that came west first working in yosemite in 1960, then the tetons in 61. Born in 41. I read everything I could on the west, its history and guns since I could read. I have been blessed meeting some of whats left of the old timers through the years. I always thought I was born a 100 years too late!
By a huge coincidence, I found my wifes step mother is the great great grand daughter of John doyle lee. (The only person exicuted for his part of the mountain meadows massicure. Rigthously so, I might add) Then a few months ago we had a big family gathering at my stepdaughters house. She is engaged (we hope) to a guy whos mother is the great great grandaughter of one of the orphans that survived said massicure! The two old women sat there telling each other of the connection, and it was strange! So, if the two have a kid, the kid would have a ancester on each side of the massicure!
History can sure be funny at times!

What Wyo says about Wyoming is so true. I am a rancher in Wyoming. We produce a lot of beef every year.
I know it is probably silly, but I am the only member of the family that absolutely refuses to join the Wyoming Stock-growers Association.

The present organization has no resemblance to the old Cattleman's association of the past. Today's organization serves a worthy and beneficial cause for beef producers in the state today, but I come from a family of homesteaders that had to fight the "big boys" tooth and nail for water and the right to survive back then, and the bitterness runs deep and long.

Through perseverance and plain old bulldog stubbornness and court battles with soon to be Governor's and Senators, we survived and grew into one of the biggest ranches in the state.

The Stock-growers Association is an outgrowth of the old Cattleman's organization. Great grand kids of the old cattle barons are now the big herd bulls of the present day organization. It is now headed by one of my cousins.

Each year, he pays the Association membership dues for the ranch that I run, and it pisses me off to no end.
It is kind of funny we are now our old enemy, but being the grizzled old fart that I am, I can't forget the Associations roots or it's past.
I remember the stories, my grand parents and the old hired hands told about the old days and it isn't that easy to disregard.

As silly as it is, this ol coot ain't a gonna be one of them " Association ********es" now way, no how!!

I sure would be proud to own this gun.

Great thread, thanks for everybody's input, especially Iggy. Iggy, thanks for all the info and stories you've shared with us. I really appreciate it.

For those reading and posting, any good books to recommend on Tom Horn and the rest fo what has been discussed?

Thanks in advance,

__________________
Barry, youngest son of Claud

I will say it again, Iggy that is cool!! You are one of the rare breeds that stands up for what is right. I applaud you sir!

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Dom

"Keep Your Nerve Sam, 'Cause I'm Gonna Keep Mine....."

the Spring Creek Raid (cattlemen vs sheepherders in the Big Horn Basin)

This rifle belonged to my wife's great uncle. The bead on the front sight is nearly worn off from being carried in a saddle scabbard. He went from Missouri to Montana at the turn of the last century. He worked for a cow outfit up there for a while. He came home suddenly and would never talk much about what went on except that he got into a tangle with some "sheepers" in Wyoming, and had to get out of there.

My wife's Granddad showed me the rifle when we went back to Missouri to visit them right after we were married. It had been in a closet untouched for more than 60 years. I had a fit and insisted on cleaning and oiling it up before I left their place.

About a month later, he sent me the rifle. He said I was the only one that showed any interest in the old gun and I would get it when he died anyway so I might as well have it and enjoy it now rather than later.



It is one of my prize possessions.

Another tale about one of Wyoming's old outlaws.

http://home.bresnan.net/~buflerchip/gunsight.htm

This is the gun ol Bill kept under the cash register at his tourist trap store in Laramie.

That's a great tip, Feral. Thanks.

From a bookseller's website:

Book Description: University of Nebraska Press, 1988. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 128mm x 36mm x 204mm. We are no longer able to guarantee delivery by Christmas. After years of cowboying, Charles A. Siringo had settled down to store-keeping in Caldwell, Kansas, when a blind phrenologist, traveling through, took the measure of his "mule head" and told him that he was "cut out" for detective work. Thereupon, Siringo joined the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1886.

A Cowboy Detective chronicles his twenty-two years as an undercover operative in wilder parts of the West, where he rode with the lawless, using more stratagems and guises than Sherlock Holmes to bring them to justice and escaping violent death more often than Dick Tracy. He survived the labor riots at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1892 (his testimony helped convict eighteen union leaders), hounded moonshiners in the Appalachians, and chased Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch.

Once described as "a small wiry man, cold and steady as a rock" and "born without fear," Charlie Siringo became a favorite of high-ups in the Pinkerton organization. Nevertheless, the Pinkertons, ever sensitive to criticism, went to court to block publication of Siringo's book. Frank Morn, in his introduction to this Bison Books edition, discusses the changes that resulted from two years of litigation. Finally published in 1912 without Pinkerton in the title or the text, A Cowboy Detective has Siringo working for the "Dickensen Detective Agency," and meeting up with the likes of "Tim Corn," whom every western buff will recognize. The deeper truth of Siringo's book remains.

As J. Frank Dobie wrote, "His cowboys and gunmen were not of Hollywood and folklore. He was an honest reporter."

Frank Morn is a professor of criminal justice at Illinois State University and author of The Eye That Never Sleeps: A History of thePinkerton National Detective Agency (1982).

John Coble paid for Tom's defense at the trial.

I suspect that John was the one that paid for the horse behind the jail.

John's fortunes went down hill after Tom was "hanged." He had gone against the wishes of the Association. They wanted rid of Tom, he had become an embarrassment to them. As a result, John lost his job and any future he might have had in the west. He wound up shooting himself years later.

I still don't like that thar danged Association.

BIL runs the youth home in Torrington. They have an upstairs museum not generally open to the public with an 8" long piece of the rope Tom Horn was hung with. Interesting piece of history.

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Front sight and squeeze

Iggy wrote:
Ironic, isn't it, that Richard Farnsworth, who played John Coble, also killed himself in 2000, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

For those reading and posting, any good books to recommend on Tom Horn and the rest fo what has been discussed?

I actually found Tom Horn's autobiography in the local junk store for 25 cents, haven't read it yet but it's in my pending pile. Looks pretty interesting, so you can read his life story in his own words if you wish. I don't know if it's still in publication, but I noticed it does have some appendixes that were added after his hanging.

Take care...

I also have or had Tom Horns autobiography. I got to tell this story. My ex, daughter and I went to see the movie about in 1982 when it came out. It was at a drive in. I had a old 72 ford pickup with a shell camper with the window you could crawl through to the cab. Our 4 year old daughter was playing in back. Exactly when they sprung the water trap door to hang horn, the truck shook, my daughter screamed bloody murder! She at the same moment that tom dropped, she opened up the camper door, fell on her back!

Great story, Iggy. That description reminds me of a SO detective we had around here some years back. I knew him pretty well, perhaps not well enough to count him as a friend, but I suspect not many others did either. As you described, he was a spooky ***....only man I ever knew who could make himself invisible in a crowd....

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

Iggy,I just followed your link and found your your "home page", I couldn't stop,read every story one after the other.You tell a good story and sure have a way with words.
Sounds like you have lived quite an interesting life

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Chad

The author's name is John Davis and the book is coming out of the University of Oklahoma press hopefully by about March or April. I helped proofread the manuscript for him and it's a great story. I'll post something up when it comes out.

Iggy - I have an old Colt Lightning, looks just like Bill's, that my Grandad found out in the desert west of Worland back in the '50's. The grips were worn smooth, finish was nearly gone, but it was in surprisingly good shape. It had three live rounds and three empties in it. Always wished that gun could talk - bet it could have told a good story.

I never saw the McQueen movie. I did see "Mr Horn" with David Carradine. It was pretty dark and heavy. I'm sure the books would be better than either movie.

'WYO,

I spent a week up there in Worland one night, I think I may have lost that Lightning while I was there....

It sure would be fun to hear that gun tell it's tale.

7003006,

Glad you enjoyed the stories. One thing you got to remember is that Ol Iggy would tell you a story 3 differn't ways afore he'd tell you a lie!

Thanks for all the neat replies, I love the photos

__________________
Stan

Where is this great gun?! In all my reference books about this stuff, this Rem. has never popped up.

I googled Tom Horn's Remington revolver and came up with a 2007 auction flyer indicating it sold for $86+K

Firearms - March 2007 Selected Highlights

My, my, my! Man oh man, that made my eyes water! What we have here is a revolver given to tom horn by a groupee. Horn probley never used it on any of his exploits. It sold for a fortune. Now, I have wrote before of owning and loseing a colt new frontier that audie murphy had bought new. Now, it is said that audie was the most decorated war hero in the history of this country. Also a big movie star. He was the biggest bonafied war hero. Question: If horns remington went for $86,250s, what should my murphy gun that was well documented be worth?

Don't think about it. You will get constipated, have hardening of the arteries, and insomnia!

The costipation I can use, but not harding of the arterys!

This thread was better than any book I have read in the last 6 months!
Iggy, you write a good yarn.
Thanks for the links, too.
clipper1

What a great story. I worked for the PRCA during my annual leave, always worked Frontier days and stayed a The Hitching Post until 82. As a Marshal I worked for Justice JP Morgan who had a connection with with a air service owner who was a Frontier days "Heel" Morgan and a fellow from Mo. named Lineberger???(SLT) and two guys from Cheyenne owned or had control of a large tract of land north of Cheyenne. A fellow that was Chief of police in Cheyenne, I heard he later became Sheriff there., Rudy ??? talked to me once about going to Rock Springs and working UC for some task force. I passed and from these story's I glad. I do remember about Bill Jordan testifying for Cantrell. I wanted to go to the trial but due to my position it was not advisable. One thing did surprise me was Tom Horn wasn't considered the hero us folks not from Wyoming thought he was. My main job during Frontier Days was keeping the PRCA cowboys out of jail as much as possible. Not an easy job back then....I loved Cheyenne. Tough amazingly it really seems to be more of an eastern or mid west city except during frontier days. Any stories you hear about Frontier Days are probably true, if not should be.. Thanks for the info Iggy a real treat...

I got to tell this story: In 1961 I worked for the park service in the tetons. Jackson was about 25 miles south of moose, our camp, and we would go there often. (Drinking & illegal blackjack in the bars.)
The town had a skit several times a day. A stagecoach would haul *** through town and be held up by Clover the killer. Clover was a old one eyed colorfull character. They would have a trial and hang clover. It was quite a tourist draw for the town and sometimes maybe 1,500 tourists would watch on the square.
This one day I came out of a establishment and beheld one hell of a fight. I thought these boys are good! The town was ropped off for the skit and traffic was stopped and four guys were doing their best to kill each other with at least a 1,000 people watching.
It soon dawned on me that this wasnt the regular event and this was real blood. One guy was knocked cold. A girlfriend of his was crying over him and asking people to throw him in her car. It seemed everyone was dumbfounded and wouldnt move. I went over, picked him up and threw him over my shoulder and as she started to lead me to her car, he come to, thought I was his antagonist, and bit my ear good! Well, he soon was out again, I threw him in the car and went back to watch the action with the other two. The fight had broke out with a local indian, the guy I threw in the car, (turned out that one was a marine deserter) those two against a pair of rodeo riders that was passing through. All were drunk or in their cups. Why it wasnt broke up by local LEO, I can only speculate.
I never in my life seen a man take as bad a beating as that drunk indian was getting, he was dieing on his knees, it looked to me. The cowboy was about 6ft 4"s, skinny as a rail. He had wore himself out beating on the indian but somehow couldnt knock him out. The indian was bleeding out of his ears, nose and elsewhere. He couldnt stand but would crawl on his knees after the cowboy and try to put his arms around the cowboys legs as the cowboy tried to walk off!
Since no one else would stop it, I did. (It wasnt hard). I got to know all participants as the summer wore on. The incident did make me fairly popular with some of the business owners in jackson, and I had a good time of it when I would come to town rest of the summer.
That same night after the fight I and 3 or 4 co-workers of mine went into the silver dollar bar, I belive. The owner came up to me and said, are these boys at least as old as you? I said yes. It was funny because I was just 20, and the youngest of them! We had it made for the rest of the season! Unfortunately, thats when I learned blackjack, and that seemed to keep me mostly broke untill now!

the Silver Dollar Bar Remember when Ol Waylon would would go there and perform? (at a very reduced rate) What a place....Been years.

I dont remember whalon, but I do remember a cowgirl band. About 4 chicks that were good and the mainstay there. Dont know if they ever made it big. A close friend of mines father was one of the owners of the wort hotel & bar. Used to be a log cabin assemblies of god church there. It was ran by two nice young single girls. One was the preacher. The average sunday was maybe 15 people. They lived in the combined parsonage with the church. I kind of lightly courted the girls. I would come to town, take over a couple cases of coke, visited the girls for a couple hours, they were my age, then I would leave and hit the bars gamble etc.
I sure liked that cowboy chuckwagon going out of town to the north. I remember us boys going back for fourths or so, and the grizzeled old cook asking us, should he call a doctor?
I also remember a old gunsmith and small shop on a side street. He had the scariest, uglyist dog I ever seen. It looked like it was more mountain lion than dog! Then, there was a very old small man that ran a photography shop. Seemed he was a trainer or promoter many years ago for jack dempsey and jacks older brother jack! He told me a few good storys!
I worked the park in 1961. It seems I go through there about every 7 years or so since. I spent a few days there in the late 70s, I was flying a light plane I own to wisconsin and decided to spend a day or two. Another time I rode through on my harley.
Its a ritch mans town. Sure is a nice place to spend a day!

George, you are probably talking about Rudy Restivo.
When Casey Tibbs won the saddle bronc one year, I drove his purple Continental into the arena and took him on a victory lap.

The rodeo security took a dim view of that, but the Frontier Committee intervened. They couldn't have their Champeen goin' to jail, and they hustled me out of there in a hurry too.

I did stay out of town for a while.

Later, I got to meet many of the night show entertainers and got them to make radio safety spots for accident prevention on Wyoming's highways for me. Most of them were really nice folks, but was a couple of them that their hat's fit their heads purty tight.

Jordan testified that Ed could beat him to the draw.
That was just some of Spence's theatrics.

I've seen both of them draw and Ed wouldn't have had a prayer.

Back in Tom Horn's day the homesteaders and little guys in this part of country viewed Tom as a back shootin' thug.

He just didn't shoot the one that got him in deep doo-doo.

Feralmerril,
That Silver Dollar bar was some kinda place. You just never knew who would show up in there.

Lots of movie stars spent their spare time and money in that place when they was makin' movies in the "Hole"

Now the "billionaires" has crowded out the "millionaires" They had to move to Pinedale or Cody to find diggin's they can afford.

Great post, Iggy. I used to hunt in Brown's Park (Brown's Hole) Colorado, where Isom Dart's grave is. Matt Rash's cabin is a short distance away, and it was pretty spooky standing in the doorway of that old cabin. You could almost see old Tom taking a bead with his Winchester from a pile of rocks nearby.

I think everyone pretty much agrees that we will never know for sure if Horn killed Willie Nickell, but by the time he got to trial both sides had decided he really needed to go. The little guys had hated him for years, and he knew way too much for the big guys' comfort. Tom had worn out his welcome in this part of the country! Whether he actually shot Willie or not, he probably deserved hangin' for a lot of the other stuff he'd done. At least, that's what most folks thought and I don't believe anyone was sad to see him go. (Understanding, of course, that Iggy has some doubt about whether he "went" at all).

Yup, Ol Tom had outlived his time.

I suspect he really was the guy under the hood that day, but we'll never know.

I've heard tell that who ever is buried down there in Boulder CO is entombed in a solid block of concrete so nobody can dig him up.


I think mebbe Elvis is in there too.

Fun thread. Thanks, guys.

Some of you guys, in addition to what Iggy does, really, ought to write your memoirs. Just lay it out, like ya do here. Like you, Feral.

When my dad died, 15 years ago now, I came across a manuscript he'd been handwriting about his life. It was about 75 pages on a yellow legal pad, and the dickens to read 'cause he had bad handwriting and couldn't spell a lick. It was interesting to me, tho. What I wound up doing was hiring a guy in India, who I found on the internet, whose daughter typed it all up for $140, and then I hired another guy, a printer in PA I found on the internet, to privately publish a couple dozen book copies for my siblings, their kids, my kids, coupla cousins, my mom, and me. It made a great gift to the family. Everybody loves it.

In 61 many of the saloons had illegal wide open gambling. Somehow they had a tip-off system. It would be wide open a few nights than queit the next with no evidence of the tables to be seen! I remember this one dealer kept a claw hammer always in reach on his table to settle arguments. Looked pretty inocent to nieve people I guess!
I always liked Afton wyoming. Freedom, of Freedom Arms is just a couple miles up the road. And if you like airplanes as I do, aviatt aircraft co. makes some cool planes there. I dont know if the buidings are still at kelly wyoming where they filmed shane or not, but it was neat. I had a six month appointment in the tetons and it was some of the best time of my life. There was about 20 of us guys that worked for the park service and we lived together in a bunk house at moose, and you can imangine how that was. Three of us in the group had cars, so they all would chip together a few cents each and kept me busy nights hauling everybody back & forth from jackson.
We were playing cards late one night when there was a knock at the door. Two dudes had been treed by a bull moose since early that morning, that night the moose had finaly walked off a distance. They seen the lights on our buckhouse far below them so they dropped out of the tree and ran to us.
I remember one of the guys couldnt hold his liquer well and was in a dead sleep. A couple of the boys carried him sleeping in his bunk outside in the sun. He never woke up and he got badly burned! There was always something going on!

What he said. Good stuff.

Well here's one can't remember the year. Some names must remain blank. I not up on the statues of limitations. When Tanya Tucker was headlining the rodeo Show, and Ricky and the Red Streaks were in the lounge and then in big room at hitching post. A certain cowboy from the Neb.Reds. bit her on the butt right on stage. Her boy friend back then was a Texas brock rider that was one tough ***. While Tanya had asked me not to mention it to boyfriend (name with-held) because he would make scene. Of course they fly in to make the go-around and were going back upstate to ride the next night. Tanya couldn't wait to tell him as the Red's cowboy was at HP again . Best damn bare knuckle fight I ever saw. I had to get them out of the HP into parking lot. the guy from the Red's eye was almost on his cheek but he hung in there. For years an attorney tried to get a hold of me. Of course I couldn't remember any names. My comment was "Are you kidding you want me to remember ONE fight' at Frontier Days......... Casey was always playing jokes he tried it at the Shy Clown Casino in Sparks Nv during Reno Rodeo. He had been hired to be master of ceremonies at the Shy Clown for the week. Bunch of high rollers, great food and top entertainment. They paid Casey to be there because he was still famous or infamous depending how you looked at it. The Clown had a horse trailer for a drawing and Casey borrowed it as a joke and hid it. As a joke the GM got a phony warrant for Casey from Sparks Magistrate Court and Washoe County Deputies came in and arrested Casey. the Deputies were in on the joke and so was the old magistrate. Threw him in jail, but in Sparks not Reno. We waited about an hour and went and bailed him out (he thought we bailed him out) of course it was all a set up. But to give him his due he could take it as well as give it out. Him and Mahan were from a different breed. A different time but damn they had personality. After working those jobs I was glad and safer going back to Judicial protection. Judges might get drunk but they didn't get on tables and drop their Wranglers and moon the crowd. I did that part time job for eight years six rodeo's a year, used all my annual leave ever year, and only got one broken nose. Glade some one on this web is from the real West and remembers some of the real characters that now are a dieing breed. In those days no medical help at rodeo, no trainers, and no show up money. You got down the road as best you could. God Bless em they were Americana.....As crazy as i was in those days I had enough sense to stay away from the Rock Springs deal. Never did learn the real story, except it was on "City Confidential" years ago I agree I saw Jordan shoot once, Cantrell couldn't have beat him in any thing. Jordan was a big old boy even in his I guess 70s. He was a legend in the federal service.

Casey was definitely a character. He caused a ruckus in the Brown Palace in Denver one time during the Stock Show. We didn't git the taters, but we got our steaks for free that night. We had to eat them steaks in his car, we din't have no forks, but they was free.

I gave up on the rodeo circuit pretty quick. I could see that the medical bills was gonna be more than the winnings. I helped Jim Shoulders at Denver one year. He was on crutches. We helped in up into the chute onto a scotch highlander bull called Dennis the Menace. He rode him for the full 8, untied himself and fell off. We came out and carried him back behind the chutes. A TV reporter asked him "How can you do that?" Jim said, "I cry all the way to the bank."


Talking about Bill Jordan. His hands were huge. He had special Herrert grips on his gun. That Model 19 looked like a J-frame in his mitts. Lordy he was quick with that gun.

Would you believe that the HP is closed, boarded up, and abandoned?