'.COPY, M, L. INT&VIBW

Transcription

1 '.COPY, M, L. INT&VIBW

2 Forn D-(S-149) 477 LEGEND 8c STORY FORM WOicKS PROGRESS ADLUNISTRATION Indian-Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma CODY, M* L. INTERVimT Field workor's-nai.fi Bobart H. Boetaan This report made on (date) 1. This lopend iv&s secured from (name) Address This person is (njplc or fiacaii) ifinbtx, Mxjczs, Indian, If Indiu\, give tribe Cherokee 2. Origin rnd history of legend or story 3. WsitQ out tho legend or story as completely as possible. Use blank sheet's "Jid rttc.ch firmly to this form. Number of sheets attached

3 478 OODY. 1&«L» INTKnVIEW Robert H» Boatman* Investigator, April 25, ^, i * An interview with M.L. Cody.. Blanchard, Oklahoma* My parent8 originally lived in Florida, but were moved from there at some date earlier than X remember and when they were settled It was in the state of Tesas, where I was born November is, I860, ' in whioh etate I remained till I was twenty-three years of age. In 18^3, I saddled my horse and started out for some adventure all of my own* I crossed the Red River by fording it ne«p Denis co, Texas, and entered the In* dian Territory into what was the tjhickasaw BTatica* After s me few days of riding along over the country whioh at that time was occupied oy, the Indiana and a few white men who called themselves ranchmen, X saw that I was going to have to secure some kind of employment or return to my father's home* and that I determined I would not do* fihen I cams hero thle was just a big open cowtry with no roads and no homes except a few log huts and the ranch houses were little better than the homeo of the red

4 COOT, M.L. INTERVIEW, <> -2- man. T" One Say I presented nyeexf to the foreman of a ranch and applied for a job and to my surprise was hired at a wage of f!5»00i>er month, with chuck or board furnished, which consisted mainly of cornbread, milk, butter and beef* A horse was also furnished was but I/required to furnishrayown saddle or ride without one* I was shown the bunk house, chuck.shack, corrals and horses and after looking over the.horses X picked out one and chose him for my, mount* Speaking of the bunk house I never did see very much need of It for in those days a cowboy 1 s bunk mainly consisted of the lone prairie with grass for a bed, saddle for a pillow and the stars and sky for a cover, I was soon to learn that a cowboy's life consisted of more than a mere job and $15*00 par month* On one occasion, my first experience alone I was de-» tailed to move some fifty head of cattle off to another section of range* I was determined to slu.tr myself up as a real cowhand so imrr&dia'iely set out for the designated point with my little herd entrusted to me, then the second

5 CODY, M.L. INTERVIEW. ' \ day it happened*- I can unaware to the banks of Mud Creek which was a raging torrent that looked everything but inviting,but after some two or three hours pondering the situation I forced some,ew of zh& cattle into the stream. Goraa ten or fifteen^jiead of them had I dumped into the stream when the leader hit the center current which was very swift and began to circle around and around with the rest in the purauit. I was sitting on the bank seething with wrath because the leader had not headed on across and thus ended my trouble at this point and in mi' predicament I thought of everything but God Almighty* Not knowing just what to do or how to handle tne situation, though realising triat some iraaediate action was necessary, I came to a quick conclusion- which I quickly put into action* I took down ay rope, then after axxou psreuaaion and some little ptuishcent I jumped coy r.ount into the stream, warn out near the milling herd, lassoed the leader and dragged him across to the other side. This action ended ay.worry there, for the rest of the herd followed In quick pursuit. Doak*5 store, a country store located near the mouth

6 481 CODY, M.L INTERVIEW of Mud Creek In the southern part of the Chickaaaw Nation, wa> the only trading place anywhere in that whole section of th Territory and then only the moat necesswy tiling could be had 'such as coffee and tobaoeo. TheVrfLd trading continued in operation for several yenr3, jtfc. fact, till the establishment of tne towns! te of Ardmore, after which the7-e it was fully discontinued and today/is not a EVrk of the old noted place to be seen* I was married in 1888 and settled down to a mor* re fined life* 1 eame to t ; e opening of the Pott ootmtry and ventured to make the run at the opening and, with the family along With a teas of. orses and covered wagon, was ready to enter at the given time* The signal was given- t>e rush began and this time I was unsuccessful in the run, for the entire country was covered in only a few hours* I then returned westward and settled near old Dibble and I began farming, where i lived until 193? when I moved to the town of Blanehard*