In a Canyon, In a Cavern....!
Jan 17, 2021 21:29:42 #
It was probably 1950, or 51, and dad decided we should lease some nearby land and run several head of cattle on this leased land. At the height of our “cattle baron” days, we probably had around 100 head of cows and calves, along with 2 mares and a colt.
I want to point out here that my father and I grew up in far different times and circumstances.
He grew up in a horse era and totally without cars. He loved horses and it seemed he always wanted to have at least one around, even though we seldom needed one for any reason. In his youth, having a saddle pony was a necessity. So, we would often be surprised when he would bring home a horse from some trade he had made.
Now the pasture we had leased did not have a corral, so we immediately build a large corral with a loading chute and everything necessary to work cattle, that is to vaccinate, brand, castrate, what ever was needed. Also, he discovered a fresh water spring on this property. Nothing would do but that we scavenged so old pipe and arranged for this spring water be piped down to a watering tank for the cows, which was better than the earthen tank with muddy water to ease their thirst.
One last remedy was to build a guard fence so the horses and cows would not accidentally fall off into a deep canyon on one side of this property. Camp creek was bordered by walls that were perhaps 40- or 50-feet deep. Not only did we fence all along this canyon wall, but at the point where there was a 90 degree turn in the boundary, dad said we had to create a turn so if the horses were running along, they would not see the boundary fence in time and were likely to cut themselves severely on the barbed wire fence.
So, we are out there with a post hole digger, and all the tools to build a boundary fence that make the fence instead of being a 90-degree turn, would instead create a corner consisting of two 45 degrees so they would hopefully be turned and not get cut. In those times, an untreated wound on any animal would get infected by blowflies and their eggs would hatch out into screw worms and, well it would be a dangerous mess. We wanted to prevent that for our 3 horses. I want to add parenthetically, horses aren’t very smart anyway. Sort of like teenage boys!
Well, if you are a farm or ranch kid in Texas, building a fence is in one sense easy, but does require some work. We had dug the post holes and I had planted an extra post. Tho I was near the canyon rim, I stepped back to make sure these posts lined up, and immediately stepped back forward! When I did so, a large portion of the canyon wall caved off and fell into the canyon! It was something that happened quickly, but I had never intended to stand there very long anyway.
It really shook my father up. He got so upset he went over and sat on the running board of our pickup to calm down. I admit what I had done was dangerous, and if I had been thinking, I would have done it differently. I tried to tell dad that all I was going to do was to take a very quick look to see that I had lined the posts up, but the fact remained what I had done was quite dangerous, in that my boot heel had caused the break. We had that very spring lost one calf that had fallen into the canyon and died from a broken neck. Just Sayin…RJS
I want to point out here that my father and I grew up in far different times and circumstances.
He grew up in a horse era and totally without cars. He loved horses and it seemed he always wanted to have at least one around, even though we seldom needed one for any reason. In his youth, having a saddle pony was a necessity. So, we would often be surprised when he would bring home a horse from some trade he had made.
Now the pasture we had leased did not have a corral, so we immediately build a large corral with a loading chute and everything necessary to work cattle, that is to vaccinate, brand, castrate, what ever was needed. Also, he discovered a fresh water spring on this property. Nothing would do but that we scavenged so old pipe and arranged for this spring water be piped down to a watering tank for the cows, which was better than the earthen tank with muddy water to ease their thirst.
One last remedy was to build a guard fence so the horses and cows would not accidentally fall off into a deep canyon on one side of this property. Camp creek was bordered by walls that were perhaps 40- or 50-feet deep. Not only did we fence all along this canyon wall, but at the point where there was a 90 degree turn in the boundary, dad said we had to create a turn so if the horses were running along, they would not see the boundary fence in time and were likely to cut themselves severely on the barbed wire fence.
So, we are out there with a post hole digger, and all the tools to build a boundary fence that make the fence instead of being a 90-degree turn, would instead create a corner consisting of two 45 degrees so they would hopefully be turned and not get cut. In those times, an untreated wound on any animal would get infected by blowflies and their eggs would hatch out into screw worms and, well it would be a dangerous mess. We wanted to prevent that for our 3 horses. I want to add parenthetically, horses aren’t very smart anyway. Sort of like teenage boys!
Well, if you are a farm or ranch kid in Texas, building a fence is in one sense easy, but does require some work. We had dug the post holes and I had planted an extra post. Tho I was near the canyon rim, I stepped back to make sure these posts lined up, and immediately stepped back forward! When I did so, a large portion of the canyon wall caved off and fell into the canyon! It was something that happened quickly, but I had never intended to stand there very long anyway.
It really shook my father up. He got so upset he went over and sat on the running board of our pickup to calm down. I admit what I had done was dangerous, and if I had been thinking, I would have done it differently. I tried to tell dad that all I was going to do was to take a very quick look to see that I had lined the posts up, but the fact remained what I had done was quite dangerous, in that my boot heel had caused the break. We had that very spring lost one calf that had fallen into the canyon and died from a broken neck. Just Sayin…RJS
Jan 17, 2021 23:48:35 #
Another example of divine intervention in your life, RJS! Glad you're still with us!
Jan 18, 2021 00:23:19 #
Iowa Farmer: I guess you walk a tight rope, never knowing whether you are doing something dangerous or not. I did refuse to go up in the derrick on this drilling rig without being paid a derrickman's wages. I told the driller he could not expect me to go up in the derrick to the monkey board without the extra pay. I remembered i ahd a cousin killed when theyu pulled the derrick in and killed him. Just Sayin...RJS
Jan 18, 2021 14:09:36 #
Yes, I have been blessed and my life has been saved on more than one instance. Just Sayin...RJS
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