Monache Rodeo Part Three
(PP 16, 17, 18)
TAYLOR AND MULL
This story is true. The two cowboys are Gary Taylor who is working for the City of Los Angeles in Independence and Norman Mull, who is shoeing horses in Bishop at this time. Previous to the Monache Rodeo they were working as cowboys for Rancho Samataguma, here in the Owens Valley. While working there they entered the wild cow milking at the Monache Rodeo.
I didn't see what happened myself as I was entered in the same event. It was the last event of the rodeo and we turned the cattle out and gave them a five minute head start. They started out across the meadow at a trop. Five minutes later forty cowboys took after them. The idea was to rope a cow, milk her and ride back with a container of milk to the starting line. You can imagine what kind of a wreck took place.
The story of Taylor and Mull was witnessed by several people. I got my information from Mr. Bobby Bills of Lone Pine. A gentleman of incredible honesty, who was standing not ten feet away, and saw the whole thing.
The incident gave me an opportunity to write another poem about friends and make a true story rhyme.
TAYLOR AND MULL
Here's a story about Taylor and Mull.
They were Owens Valley cowboys and they
figured their lives were mighty dull.
They both agreed they were ready for a change.
They wanted to quit this drought stricken range.
But like cowboys everywhere they were always
short of change.
Each night as they rolled out in their beds.
Plan after plan would run through their heads.
At last they came up with a scheme,
that had to be the answer to their life long dreams.
The Rodeo was coming and the wild
cow milking was where the money was at.
And pard you know they were good at that.
Well they practiced every day
the whole month of May.
And when they rode by, we heard them say,
"we're ready pard we'll show them some class
we'll spend a hundred dollars up at Montgomery Pass."
Well at last the big day came and the wild
cow milking was the last event.
They sat quietly on their horses.
Their faces were lined with intent.
And the judge said go and they were on their way.
Never again would they ever see another poor day.
Mull through a loop that fit like a hat.
And Taylor was on him as quick as a cat.
He knuckled the brute right on down.
And Mull had the bucket under it when it hit the ground.
Then they looked at each other and took off the rope.
At fame and fortune they had no hope.
Their champagne appetite went back to beer.
That mighty team had roped a steer.
