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Fhe Salt (irass I rail RideThe great rattle Industry In America had Its beginning along the Texas Gulf coast prairies. First Introduced around the Spanish missions they had multiplied until 1820 rangy, almost wild, longhorns numbered in the millions.The rattle Industry had Its fastest development as the violent days of the Civil War came to an end. The tired soldiers came bark to their land and began developing their longhorn herds. The beef-hungry East was paying premium prices In the ’70’s for cattle and Texans made plans for supplying the need.The cattle along the Gulf Coast area would drift In the winters to the salt grass country, an area extending atout 15 miles inland from the Gulf, from approximately Orange to Brownsville. There were no fences at that time. The salt and marsh grasses, tall and bunchy, stayed green all year.Some of the cattlewere shipped to the Fast, but over 11,000,000 longhorns were driven up the Chisholm, Dodge and Western trails to the railroads.The cattle which fed on the salt grass grew fatter and healthier than other cattle. Today science and research have proved that It was the high mineral content of the grass that was so beneficial to the cattle.Steers particularly did well on the salt grass grazing. Sometimes the cattlemen also sent some cows and calves down the trail. In such case they usually carried extra wagons along to pick up the little calves that got too tired.If a herd consisted of from 700 to 800 head of cattle about seven men usually rode along, plus the wagon drivers. After reaching salt grass two or three men remained, usually from November through February, to ride herd.The cattle were branded and all ran together on the salt grass territory. When the time came to go home each ranch's cowboys cut their rattle out from the group, helping each other as they worked and then headed the cattle back home.One of these trails started up In the Hempstead area. Thousands of cattle and horses and men and wagons of families went winding their way long this route to the salt grass.Many of our great highways today follow the route of the cattle trails. The old Salt Grass Trail route Is now along part of U. S. Highway 290.The idea for starting the SaltGrass Trail Ride again came In the first week of January, 1952,Arthur laro and Clark Nealon of the Houston Post; Jack Harris, general manager of KPRC-TV; Charles Gierendann^r Jr., partner of Gregory-Glezendanner; Reese Lockett, rancher, merchant and mayor of Brenham; Ralph Johnston and Archer Romero, Houston Fat Stock Show officials, were having lunch together.Reese had been talking about the salt grass trail rides of pioneer flays and complaining of bad flying weather on a trip he and Clark Nealon had taken to the nrange Bowl game In Florida. They had been grounded several days until the weather cleared. “I'll never make another trip where I can't ride home on my horse, Reese said.Ralph John 'on asked Reese to be arena director of the rodeo again when Clark Nealon said You’ll have to come down horseback.” Then as Reese tells It, Charlie Glezendanner hit the celling.” It could be wonderful publicity for the Houston Fat Stock Show,” Charlie said.Early next morning Reese got a long distance call from Charlie — ”The newspapers have promised publicIty, Pat Flaherty will film the ride for television, Emil Marks will go along with his chuck wagon.”So Reese Lockett, Pat Flaherty, E. H. Marks and John Warnasch left Brenham on January 30, with an LH7 chuck-wagon, following the pioneer trail to Houston. Thirteen other persons joined the group along the way.In 1953 eighty people made the ride and the number has grown until now around two thousand people take part in the ride each year. It is the largest organized horseback movement to take place In modern times.The ride Is timed each year to publicize the opening of the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo and the great livestock Industry It represents today.People have come from all parts of the United States, from England, Cuba anti other countries to take part in the ride. Riders have Included bankers, lawyers, oilmen, housewives, television personalities, writers from national magazines, from 5 year* to 83 years of age.The ride has been imitated In many parts of the United States anti as far away as Spain.The riders stretched out single file, for the distance of a mile or more, always present a colorful picture as they go down thetrail.For three days and nights they are concerned only with eating, the well-being of theirhorses, and possibly a few blisters.By the evening campfires they feel a close kinship to the pioneer Texan who fought to protect his longhorns on the open range, and then drove them several thousand miles to market.The A e if * Of...SM«\H\ Ruhr Dm _0 0 WA few deer have been killed around here lately. Glenn Hav-ard got a nice buck, Clarence Quave killed a seven-point buck and Kenneth Hollingsworth got a ten-pointer.Visitors In the Vestal Cryer home were their daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs, Carlos Martin, Patty and Mike, formerly of Ohio and now of Houston; and Victor Cryer of Willis.Mr. and Mrs. Joe Trapasso, Carey Jo Trapasso, Elwln Tatum, and Mr. and Mrs. Ocle Palmer visited Mr. and Mrs. Leon Day over the weekend.Riley Day was here over the weekend deer hunting, but no luck.Mr. and Mrs. Bill Courtney visited Mrs. Allie Grimes over the weekend.I.yndale Grimes la In Memorial Hospital, Lufkin. He underwent surgery again on his leg that was broken in May 1963,Visitors at Saron Pentecostal Church were Mr*. Floy Martin, Patty and Mike Martin.Visiting last Wednesday night In the Lyndale Grimes home were Mr. awl Mrs, Isam Cryer, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Day and Mr. and Mrs. Eulon Page.A Youth Rally will be held at the United Pentecostal Church In Dlboll on Friday night, Dec. 11. Everyone 1* invited to attend.Bobby Dean McMllllan and family, his slater Christine and family have been visiting with Mr, awl Mr*. Isam Cryer and deer hunting. They are the children of Isam’s sister, Leona Cryer McMllllan.Mr. and Mrs, Isam Cryer made a trip to Lufkin to visit with Mrs. Isabel Harris who 1* HI, but missel her, as she was in Saron for the day visiting In the home of a daughter, Mr*, opal Day, They visit el with Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Harris next door.Rend The W ant Ad*!r
Newspaper Details
Diboll Free Press
Diboll, Texas, US
Thu, Dec 10, 1964
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Monte N.
NA, NA 07 Sep 2023
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Diboll Free Press
