Page 97 - February Sun Rays

coln drove off – they never heard a word Ace is proud of what the group accomplished together. Reflecting on the experience,
from the driver, either then or later. one can be certain that the resiliance of the American spirit has not left us yet.

Cattle were counted morning and eve- to join them in a friendship circle. Ogal- cowboys – though fit and tanned – had
ning, and any who came up missing were lala, Nebraska really outdid their wel- all lost weight. Kansas cowhand Eldon
searched for until found. This was also come. A breakfast was held on the Main Winn set the record with a weight loss of
the time to check for health problems. An Street, and most of the town turned out. 33 pounds. It seemed no matter how much
ailing steer was cut from the herd and doc- The local post office even struck a stamp they ate, none of the crew could keep from
tored. If injured, the animal would ride in in their honor. losing pounds!
a stock trailer until they recovered. Cattle
were watered, fed, sprayed and watched As they rode into Miles City, Montana, the As the years passed, several reunions
over night and day. While no steers were cowboys were not prepared for the large were held and the men kept in touch. Ace
lost over the course of their trip, six horses and noisy crowd: an estimated 30,000 says the enormity of the experience didn’t
were. One horse died from a lightning people turned out to welcome them to hit him for a few years. “The last com-
strike during a violent storm; the others their destination. After parading the parable drive before us,” says Ace, “was
either died of natural causes or were put herd through the center of town, they completed over 100 years prior to The
down for health reasons. headed for the local stock yards where Great American Cattle Drive of 1995.”
the herd would be sold at auction. Most These few strangers had come together
The work was difficult and trying: bad of the horses were sold as well, since the and successfully completed a six-month
weather, so-so food and little rest led to cowhands did not intend on riding back cattle drive true to the traditions of old.
disagreements. But the further along they to Texas. It was amazing then and remains amaz-
got in the drive, the more the men came ing now.
together, forming a team and solidify- The steer were in excellent shape, but the
ing friendships. Together, they had one FEBRUARY 2017 SUNRAYS | 95
goal: bring the cattle in. They experienced
stampedes, sore animals and all manner
of weather. Electric fences – hidden in
high, wet grass – sent shocks through
horses, cattle and cowboys. Much of the
time, though, it was boring, traveling
slowly, day after day, week after week,
month after month.

Many evenings the cowboys dreamed of
hot showers, which were not part of the
trip. Bathing in rivers and lakes as the
cowboys of old would have done was not an
option, so when the group got to smelling
so bad they couldn’t stand it any longer,
cowhands were thrilled by an opportunity
to shower in the locker room of a local
school gym. Had the water had been hot
it would have been the ultimate luxury.

Small towns often rolled out the welcome
mat for the cowhands. Communities orga-
nized suppers and breakfasts, and crowds
turned out to cheer them along the route.
In Oklahoma, a Comanche tribe held a
pow-wow in their honor and invited them

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