Phillips County Museum News for Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Are you a COWBOY?

Have you ever booted a big steer up from his sleep so you could spread your bedroll on the ground he’s warmed up? That’s what George Armstrong tells about the “cowboys” in 1900.

A cowboy’s work began in the spring when he was “hired on”. Generally, it began with branding continuing on until fall shipping. There was seldom a day off. In the saddle at daybreak after a 4 a.m. breakfast. Catch your horse and set the saddle on the hump in his back, walk him til he sweats and then climb aboard for the days work. Back for an early dinner and more riding. Back again for an early supper. Catch a few hours sleep, pile out of your blankets for a two hour night watch, and back into your blankets until the breakfast gong sounded.

We never got enough sleep, we worked in all kinds of weather, sometimes we had to shovel snow for a place to pitch a tent. Sometimes our beds would be wet for a week and the mosquitos so thick over a trail herd that you couldn’t see the sun. Doesn’t that sound like fun for $40 a month?

Meet the cowboys in the PC Museum Monday-Saturday 10-5.