History Of A Gritty Cowboy: Old Boots

Cecil, I find, as he and I spoke together, didn't let the still or gentle wind settle on his face. Always saddlin', girthin', bridlin' and ridin' a fine Horse somewhere. And sometimes that was with some body else, a lot of people, or across this country of the U.S. by himself, border to border, coast to coast. It was for weeks and months on Horseback, you'd find Cecil.

Bitter Creek Newcomb is what they called him. What about him, and why? Well, to answer that last part of the question first, I need to let this extreme opposite of Cecil, in character, be seen. Yet, though, it is a direct blood line of Cecil. His great grand-dad! And here is that brief story about a true Oklahoma hombre.

From archives of Oklahoma History I find it all started when Bill Doolin, son of an Arkansas farmer, rode into Indian Territory (later now called Oklahoma). That was in 1881! Doolin worked as a cowboy at H-X Bar ranch. But, of course, that story goes on to let us know, those infamous Dalton Brothers occasionally worked at that same ranch. I'm sure you've heard, or read of 'em.

The gang included Bill Dalton, one of the remaining outlaw brothers of the Dalton Gang; Dan Clifton, known as Dynamite Dick; George "Bitter Creek" Newcomb (Cecil's Grand-dad); George "Red Buck" Weightman; Tulsa Jack Blake; Charley Pierce; Bob Grounds; Little Dick West; Roy Daugherty, also known as Arkansas Tom Jones; Alf Sohn; Little Bill Raidler; and Ole Yantis. From 1893 through 1895 the Oklahombres specialized in robbing banks.

For three years this gang did raid banks, rob trains, and stagecoaches, headquartering in the wide open town of Ingalls, Okla.

I open this book with rodeo bronc ridin', an' pictures of finest horses Cecil owned.