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| From
the files of The Tascosa Pioneer, published from June 1886 through 1888, all issues
contained in the archives of The
Panhandle-Plains Museum, we found the following tidbits of information telling
of everyday life in the Panhandle
at that time. (In Trew fashion of course.) |
|
Photo courtesy Eleanor Powers Beebe, 2008 |
A New Mexico cowman
named Allison was visiting in Colorado when a tooth became abscessed. The only
dentist around was a quack who bored a hole into an adjoining good tooth then
broke it off while trying to pull. Mr. Allison was so enraged he slammed the dentist
to the floor, seized the forceps and jerked out one of the dentist's good teeth.
Only his screaming which brought help saved him from losing more teeth. It was
a rough way of exacting revenge.
The Lee-Scott Cattle Company is paying
$25 apiece for the scalps of panthers and Mexican lions killed on their ranch.
It seems they have lost young calves to the predators. I wonder what the difference
is between a panther and a Mexican lion.?
A considerable quantity of drift
wood came down the Canadian
River on the recent rise. The boys with teams rustled the wood because with
the absence of any forests near by, firewood is at a premium. Cedar wood is best
for burning but since driftwood is free and easy to collect, we can't afford to
waste it.
The LIT Ranch is enclosing their range with barbed
wire fences. When finished, the enclosure will be twenty-two miles north and
south and eighteen miles east and west. (If my figures are correct that is 396
section of land or 253,440 acres.)
The first camp meeting ever held in
the Panhandle opened at McClellan
Creek between Clarendon
and Mobeetie lasting several days
with various visiting preachers in attendance. ( I wonder how many "amens" were
shouted during this meeting?)
The Cresswell Ranch in Roberts County reported
the wolves have killed half their calf crop this year. The ranch is bringing in
hounds to assist in solving the problem. (Was it really wolves or was it coyotes?
Most of the lobo wolves disappeared with the buffalo
herds eliminated a few years earlier.)
The LS Ranch boys found and butchered
a lone buffalo a few days back and brought a piece of it into Ben Bance's Restaurant.
It was sampled and found to be the most delicious steak yet. (Imagine finding
a remnant of the vast prairie buffalo
herds hiding somewhere in a remote canyon.) |
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| Two parties are arranging
to put up ice here this winter. It seems that sort of undertaking should insure
some profits as considerable ice
would find a good market here during the hot summer months. (Especially with all
the saloons in business in old Tascosa.) |
Alexander George
claims he was here in the area in the 1850s, long before the Adobe
Walls Indian Battle. If there is an older man in the area let him come and
be counted.
An occasional dog fight has furnished about the only sensations
this week in the town of Tascosa.
(And so, the world turns in the exciting life of Tascosa.
Ho Hum!)
©
Delbert Trew
"It's All Trew" September
14, 2010column |
Delbert Trew is a freelance writer and retired rancher. He can be reached at 806-779-3164,
by mail at Box A, Alanreed, TX 79002, or by e-mail at trewblue@centramedia.net.
For books see DelbertTrew.com. His column appears weekly.
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