Katherine Slaughterback AKA Rattlesnake Kate

 

 I've been in Colorado over 50 years. I lived in Keenesburg near Hudson, and I've visited Greeley several times, yet only recently did I learn of Rattlesnake Kate. 

   There is a museum and a huge amount of information "out there" on Kate, so I'll hit the amazing highlights, which I'm sure will spur you on to doing more reading and research. 

 Kate (1893-1969) was an independent lady, and progressive for the time. Married and divorced several time, she loved shooting guns and working hard, and had been a trained nurse and taxidermist. Rumor has it that she was also a bootlegger.

    On October 28, 1925, Katherine McHale Slaughterback  was out with her 3-year old adopted son Ernie. They were on horseback and headed toward a lake near her farm in Hudson, Colorado 

                                       (restored residence)

   She'd heard what sounded like hunters, and was riding to a pond with Ernie, to gather any wounded ducks left by hunters so they could have them for dinner.

 Climbing down from her horse to unlock the gate, she saw the first snake. Hundreds of migrating rattlesnakes followed. Kate fired her .22 Remington rifle until no bullets remained. Having disturbed and agitated the snakes, they soon surrounded Ernie, Kate and her horse.

   Out of ammunition and terribly worried about Ernie and her horse, Kate grabbed a nearby sign—ironically it’s believed to have been a “No Hunting” sign. Equipped only with this wooded weapon, she began killing the rattlesnakes, one-by-one, until all were dead.

     According to Kate, “I fought them with a club not more than 3 feet long, whirling constantly for over two hours before I could kill my way out of them and get back to my faithful horse and Ernie, who were staring at me during my terrible battle not more than 60 feet away." 

A neighbor saw her soon after she got home. She had blisters on her hands and her face was swollen from the heat. The neighbor went back to the pond with Kate. The battle had been a tough one, and they picked up 140 snakes collected in three large washtubs then hung on a line to dry.

The neighbor told other people about Kate's adventure. Soon reporters came to hear Kate's experience which made her famous. Newspapers carried the story all over the world. The story was retold for many years and she was known as the world champion rattlesnake killer.

   Handy at taxidermy, Kate knew how to cure animal skins so they could be kept. She used over 50 of the skins to make a flapper style dress on display at the Greeley City Museum. She also used snake skins for a pair of shoes and a neck band.

 But it wasn't all killing snakes and no fun out there on the prairie. There was a long distance romance in her life, the other party being Buckskin Bill Randolph, the poet of the plains.

They might not have shared the touching romance of his poetry, but they did share a friendship through correspondence that spanned almost 40 years. 

       There came a 23 year silence between them when WWII came about. Buckskin Bill married and was a guard at the Rock Island Arsenal. Kate became a Red Cross nurse stationed in Pusan, Korea and Nagasaki, Japan. Later, Bill attempted to write a biography of Kate, to seal a place for her in the history of the Wild West.

 Kate would wear the dress to many functions. She later kept it inside a trunk where curious family members would sneak peeks at it. She would not allow it to be photographed because she thought it would lessen the dress' value.

   In 2022, a play about her premiered at the Wolf Theater in Denver, and quickly became a global sensation. 

   Three weeks before she died, at age seventy-five, she left her dress to the Greeley Museum along with other artifacts related to her rattlesnake legacy. By request, she's buried in Platteville, Colorado.  

Visitors can see the original dress,

 which is kept in an air-tight, 

climate and light controlled case 

at the Greeley History Museum.

 714 8th Street, 

                       Here is share link to Greeley Museum

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What Kind of Horses Did the Cowboys Ride? by Reggi Allder

 

Roy Roger's Trigger

What Kind of Horses Did the Cowboys Ride?

 by Reggi Allder

As a movie buff, I have watched many old Western Cowboy movies. I learned the names of the cowboy’s horses, Trigger, and Champion, among others. Still, I wondered what breed of horse the real cowboy used.

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, most cattle drives lasted 3-5 months depending on the distance they needed to travel and the delays experienced along the way. A typical cattle drive could cover 15-25 miles per day.

On a typical drive, a crew of 10 to 15 drovers (cowboys driving the cattle) would be responsible for moving approximately 2,000 steers and 100 to 150 horses across hundreds of miles of open prairie in all kinds of weather, including rain, sleet, and snow. A good horse was necessary for the success of the drive and the Quarter Horse fit the bill.

The Quarter Horses tend to have a good disposition and can be easily trained. These muscled, compact horses can run a short distance (1/4 mile) over a straightway faster than any other horse, hence their name, American Quarter Horse. They are agile and sure-footed making them perfect for the cowboy’s needs. This horse is not bothered by cattle and is useful for cutting and moving cows. That’s why they were a favorite choice during the open-range era of the West, C 1866 to 1890.

American Quarter Horse, is one of the oldest recognized breeds of horse in the USA. The breed originated about the 1660s as a cross between native horses of Spanish origin used by the earliest colonists and English horses imported to Virginia from about 1610. By the late 17th century, these horses raced successfully over quarter-mile courses in Rhode Island and Virginia. They were also used as stock horses and were suited for the Western Frontier.

The modern Quarter Horses’ height of mature animals varies from 14.3 to 16 hands (about 57 to 64 inches, or 145 to 163 cm). Their weight is 950 to 1,200 pounds (431 to 544 kg). They have a calm, cooperative temperament.

      By the way, they come in many colors, including but not only, Sorrel, Buckskin, Palomino, Chestnut, and Black.

In 1940, the American Quarter Horse Association, (AQHA) was organized. in 1950 it was reorganized to include other Quarter Horse organizations. The AQHA controls the American Quarter Horse Stud Book and Registry. They had more than 2.5 million horses registered in its stud book by the late 20th century. The AQHA was the largest horse breeders’ organization in the world.

When I wrote the Sierra Creek Series, starting with Her Country Heart, I thought of the horses needed for the cowboys and rodeo champions in the books. I was especially interested in the American Quarter Horse.

Horses play an important part in my series. Check out Our Country Heart Book 3 in the Series. All four books in the series are available. Her Country Heart is book one.

 

Excerpt: Our Country Heart Sierra Creek Series Book 3 by Reggi Allder

 

Vanna finished her drink and wandered toward the pasture. From a knoll overlooking the meadow, she gazed at Manny astride his black horse, tall in the western saddle, his strong hand on the horn, his booted feet in the stirrups, a riding helmet covering his head. He surveyed the area. She watched his profile, wide cheekbones, and strong chin. A desire for him raged in her.

She didn’t take her eyes off him until the black mare pawed the earth and Manny leaned forward in the saddle and spoke to the horse.

Vanna didn’t understand what he said, but the mare whinnied in response to his voice. Soon, the animal began a series of movements without Manny touching her. Rather, he used praise to help the horse continue to work. Whatever the pony did, he encouraged her with his comments. It was the communication between horse and rider and the dance to music only they heard.

She gasped at the beauty of the two of them. Manny’s love for the horse was evident in his expression.

He looked up, waved, and dismounted. When he walked toward her, the mare followed him.

“That was amazing, Manny! I didn’t know you did dressage.”

He shrugged. “Not seriously, we just have fun. My old girl likes to play.” He grinned.

“She’s gorgeous.” But as they came nearer, Vanna backed away.

“Oh, I forgot.” He stopped and scanned her. “I won’t bring the horse any closer.”

“I’m sorry. She’s wonderful but—horses make me nervous.”

“Walk with me. I need to cool her down. I’ll keep her away from you.” He held out his hand.

More than she would admit, she wanted to—should she? With a slow breath, she gazed at Manny, realizing fear must be showing in her eyes.

“Vee, I won’t let anything hurt you.”

When she took his rough hand, he gently wrapped his fingers around hers. True to his word, he kept the horse a safe distance away.

“Your mare is following you like a dog.”

“I never had a puppy. Still, Amy’s grandfather had trained horses at one point in his life. He made sure Wyatt and I had horses to ride. I’ll always be grateful to Grandpa.”

“Is that how you got on the rodeo circuit?”

“Yeah, when we were in high school. It probably saved Wyatt and me from getting into trouble.”

He took off his helmet and a breeze blew his raven hair out of his face.

She stared, astonished by his magnetism. “You look—never mind.” Her throat tightened. She was about to tell him how attractive he was. Not smart. They were becoming friends again. She wouldn’t spoil it with a conversation about his desirability and her need to kiss him.

 

Our Country Heart Sierra Creek Series by Reggi Allder 

 

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Love suspense? Try the Dangerous Series by Reggi Allder

 Dangerous Web. When the past returns to threaten Emma’s present, is the key to her safety the man offering protection? Will his secrets put her in greater danger? "The book will hold you on the edge of your seat as you follow Reggi’s real-to-life characters.” “Romantic Suspense from beginning to the thrilling end!” “The characters take you away!”

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