Francis Hammond
|
Depending
on which description you go by, the Great
Basin is a geographic region roughly encompassing most of Nevada,
and parts of California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and a bit of Wyoming.
It was first named the Great Basin by early explorer John Fremont
who discovered that no water in this region drains to the sea. Instead,
rivers and creeks all end in valleys where the water evaporates.
These parts of Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and surrounding states are
classified “high desert”. Most of the country’s wild horse herds
are found in the Great Basin. |
What
the heck is a "Buckaroo?"
In 1927 Charles M. Russell,
the noted painter and interpreter of the West, commented about buckaroo's
penchant for fancy gear: “…usin’ centerfire or single-cinch
saddles, with high fork an’ cantle; packed a sixty or sixty-five foot
rawhide rope, an’ swung a big loop. These cow people were generally
strong on pretty, usin’ plenty of hoss jewelry, silver-mounted spurs,
bits, an’ conchas; instead of a quirt, used a romal, or quirt braided
to the end of the reins. Their saddles were full stamped, with from 24 to
28 inch eagle-bill tapaderos. Their chaparejos were made of fur or hair,
either bear, angora goat, or hair sealskin. These fellows were sure fancy
an’ called themselves buccaroos, coming from the Spanish word,
vaquero.”
In
contrast, Russell noted, the cowboy "originated in Texas and ranged
north." Unlike the buckaroo, "he wasn't much for pretty; his saddle
was low horn, rimfire, or double-cinch." He identifies another of
their salient characteristics and the reason for it: "Their rope
was seldom over forty feet, for being a good deal in a brush country,
they were forced to swing a small loop. These men generally tied
[hard and fast], instead of taking their dallie-welts, or wrapping
their rope around the saddle horn. Their chaparejos were made of
heavy bullhide, to protect the leg from the brush and thorns." He
goes on to note that they protected their feet "with hog-snout tapaderos,"
those with no flaps. These characteristics are still typical of
cowboys, although the tapaderos are found only in brush country.
Russell seems to have preferred the flashy buckaroo to the plainer
cowboy, or at least he described the California type more fully.
His use of "lass-rope" reflects the dialect of the buckaroo. Without
doubt, however, he understood the differences he observed. {from
book: "Vaqueros, Cowboys, and Buckaroos"} |
Buckaroo Hall of Fame & Heritage Museum
become a Member today
|
"Three Fingered Jack"
20" x 30"
Art Print for Sale
Signature prints for sale donated by cowboy artist,
Larry Bute. $50.00 (includes shipping and handling)
All proceeds go to benefit the Buckaroo Hall of
Fame Museum.
We plan to offer more art work for fund raising in the future.
We gratefully consider offers from respected buckaroo artists.
 "Buckaroo Legends of the Great Basin" Volume 1 was introduced at the Buckaroo Hall of Fame ceremony 09-03-11. It is a nice hard cover 8"x10", 240 page book with a dust jacket, containing 82 inductees from 1990 through 2011 with photos and history. We are taking orders for this book: it would make a great gift. Cost is $110 (which includes S&H). Email Carl to order. |
"A Long Dust On The Desert", another buckaroo book written by 2011 inductee Ed Hanks & his wife Ella, is available exclusively through the Buckaroo Hall of Fame; it is a soft cover, and is $18 (which includes S&H). It is a very nice book with (true) turn of the 20th Century buckaroo stories from Ed's exciting life as one of the early Nevada buckaroos. |
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est 1989, Winnemucca NV all rights reserved
