The Gang Ranch, characters, and cattle drives in 19th C. BC

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I was looking for pictures of Henry rifles and searched for images of our first Judge in BC., Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, The Hanging Judge.  I had seen a photo of him in a group during a court circuit.  One of the members had a Henry.

I didn't find what I was looking for, but stumbled on this;

http://www.chriskindbooks.piczo.com/?cr=4

It is about the Gang Ranch, but it included clips of many historical characters in early BC.  Check out "CATALINE" the famous packer, and cowboys who drove a herd of thousands from the Chilcotin area of BC to Salt Lake & San Francisco on the 1870s.

I've bookmarked this one for my own use.  A gem!

[James Hunt]

Interesting site, I may be  the only other guy on this board who has heard of the Gang ranch, probably my Canadian heritage. If you are into Ian Tyson he has a great VHS tape from perhaps the early 90's (if you can find it) of him working cattle on the Gang ranch (with his songs in the background), really beautiful country.

Note the cowboy mounted on "Poison". They would use those Ox-bow stirrups and ride with their boot "all the way home" pushing the legs out in front of their hips and shoulders - not the balanced seat we are taught today. If you watch old B movies from the 30's you can see this style of seat. Gary Cooper rode that way. I have tried it, and it feels very "unbalanced". I can only think that with those old slick fork saddles and the broncs they would routinely ride that it may have kept them from being pitched over the horses head. Otherwise I can see no reason for it.

Interesting.

[Hangtown Frye]

I never could quite get into that style of riding either, but if you go back into 15th Century and earlier illustrations, Knights are shown with the same basic posture, with feet pushed well forward, over the horse's shoulders.  Not very "balanced" by modern standards, but it probably has something to do with absorbing shock, either from a steer hitting the end of the rope, or a lance contacting you in the chest (or your lance wanting to push you out of your saddle).  I've done a fair amount of jousting and I can sort of see it, but still, it's a bit odd.

Per things going on in BC, I hang out with a number of fellows who portray the Royal Engineers Columbia Detachment, who were sent to BC not only to build the Cariboo Road, but also keep an eye on all of the American Miners in the district.  I've read some accounts of Victoria in the late-1850's, and it sounds more like Carson City than anything else.  Pistol bullets whizzing by as people walk the streets, etc.  One of the amazing things is that the Royal Engineers issued Colt's Navy revolvers to the Enlisted Men of the detachment, since the Americans were all so well armed, they didn't want their own men to be at a disadvantage!  They even sent two NCO's from the 15th Hussars to train Militia in case of a war between the US and Britain arose from the problems going on at the time (miners, the Pig War, etc.)  Most amusing, and great ammunition for discussing things with Canadians!  ;^D

BTW, the website for the Royal Engineers Columbia Detachment: http://www.royalengineers.ca/

Cheers!

Gordon

[James Hunt]

Went to that web site, whew..., and they complain about stitch Nazi's in CAS, ha, ha. These guy's really look great and do it right!!