Friday, March 24, 2023

Cowboys of the Old West


This real photo postcard dates from 1904 -1918. Scratched into the negative on the left is “Stars at stampede Havre.” On the right of the boy is “Mathison”. I can’t make out the first name. On the right of the man is “Jack Mabee”. Jack Mabee and his close friend “Long George Francis” organized (and performed in) the Great Northern Montana Stampede. In 1917, Long George became an outlaw and was known as the Montana Outlaw. He was convicted of cattle rustling and horse thievery. He was one of the last cowboys of the old west who was loved and known as a genuine folk hero in Montana. I wonder if the photographer in the background is the one who took the photo. 

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