Stampede cords

[Deadeye Don]

An interesting question was posed over on the SASS website about whether stampede cords were actually used.   Somebody else mentioned asking the NCOWS bunch over here.  Frankly,  I am not sure if they were used or not and if so, how common they were.  They would seem to make sense from a practical standpoint.   I suppose one could just tie a bandana around the hat in a windstorm and that would do the trick.   

[Books OToole]

Dash for the Timber, by Frederick Remington (1887) shows at least three.

Books

[Deadeye Don]

Ok,  I just found some previous material here on cas city that speaks to this issue pretty well.  So unless somebody has something new to offer............nevermind.  

PS I posted a link to the old thread on the SASS Wire thread

[Frenchie]

Okay, I'm going to whip back the curtain and expose my ignorance. What, exactly, is a "stampede cord"? Is it like the chin strap on the original tall, black, felt cavalry hats that became the 1858 army dress hat, i.e., the "Hardee hat"?

[Deadeye Don]

http://tontorim.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page5.html

[Frenchie]

Deadeye, they're very attractive, but how are they used? Do you punch holes on either side of the hat's crown and let them hang down under your chin?

[Deadeye Don]

Frenchie,   Yes that is essentially what happens with them.  I know that some prefer to have the string go around the back of their neck rather than in front until they are ready to use it.  Two holes are punched in the hat to each side and I think the cord goes through the holes and perhaps around the back of the hat.  I am not really sure though. 

[Books OToole]

Frenchie,   Yes that is essentially what happens with them.  I know that some prefer to have the string go around the back of their neck rather than in front until they are ready to use it.  Two holes are punched in the hat to each side and I think the cord goes through the holes and perhaps around the back of the hat.  I am not really sure though. 

Or; you have small cotter-key devices that insert between the hat and the sweat-band.
That works pretty slick.  I let you know if they really keep the hat on your head on the windy Kansas prairie after our next shoot.


Books

[Dr. Bob]

Seems that the braided cords came along pretty late.  Good documentation exists for "bonnet strings" being made of unbraided buckskin which could be tucked up in the sweat band when not needed.  They were fairly short so as to not interfere with the reins and rope if you were working.  James Hunt has the documentation.  He is on CAS City.

[James Hunt]

Deadeye: Hopefully this will help. We have fought this battle before, but in a word there is no evidence that the term "stampede cord" ever existed during the 19th century. Further, their is no good evidence that a fancy cord such as sold by modern western wear stores, hanging to the waist existed. While seeming practical, they are not. If you ride and rope (or shoot) the thing just gets in your way while one hand is using the reins and the other the rope. I know the wealthier buckaroo crowd can be seen ranch roping with them, but I'm not sure that transfers to the real working buckaroo or cowboy. I used to wear them and find them to get in the way. What is correct and what works? A simple light, leather string tied beneath the chin with maybe an inch or two of excess. Again, hope the below helps you and your friends.

FROM OUR FINDINGS:

The use of a chin strap to 'tie down' a military cap or shako on the wearer, and use of worsted wool hat cords for decoration and arguably to tighten an 1858 hat's fit, is documented well before our time period. The existence of such items is in no way questioned. Rather, this position statement attempts to place appropriate historical limitations on use of a hat string or cord attachment for the purpose of securing a civilian hat.

The necessity of this statement is subsequent to the popular use of what is known as "stampede strings" or "cords" by those involved with cowboy action shooting. Commonly available in western wear stores and providers of cowboy action shooting clothing, they generally are made of braided cord or heavy string, hang to the belt line, and often have decorative attachments to include an end that is made of horse tail hair much like a fly tassel used on horse tack. They are obvious when seen.

Review of the literature and period images to date have not revealed any similar item from our period, or the later half of the 19th century. Further, the term "stampede string" or "cord" as yet has not been discovered in the writings of the 19th century.

This does not exclude the use of a hat string. A summary of what is known is given below.

Taken from I see by your outfit, by Lindmier and Mount: "Some Cowboy's used a leather thong which passed around the base of the crown and under the chin to keep the wind from blowing away their hats" John R Huhges, an early 1880's cowboy commented that the use of two "buckskin strings" to secure the cowboy's broad brim hat was common. However, the authors then go on to say, maybe in Montana but they could find no images of Wyoming cowboys using them. Note that this refers to two buckskin strings, and not a braided, decorative stampede cord.


Further from: The Unconventional History of Civilization on the Old-Time Cattle Range, by Philip Ashton Rollins (1869-1950), published 1936 "Around the crown (of the hat), just above the brim and for the purpose of regulating the fit of the hat, ran a belt which was adjustable as to length" this would assist in securing the hat but it is not a stampede string.

The author continues - "from either side of the brim at its inner edge, depended a buckskin thong; these two thongs, sometimes known as 'BONNET STRINGS' (my emphasis) being tied together and so forming a guard, which during rapid riding or in windy weather was pushed under the base of the skull, but which at other times was thrust inside the hat" This sounds familiar with two buckskin strings, but it sounds as if the author is describing it use on the (rear) base of the skull like a drill sergeants' hat.

Further information is found in a book called: "The Trail Drivers of Texas" originally published in 1924 by George W. Saunders, President of The Old Time Trail Drivers' Association. The memoir named, "My First Five-Dollar Bill", contributed by J.L. McCaleb, takes place on a trail drive in 1868. McCaleb says "I wore a black plush hat which had a row of small stars around the rim, with buckskin strings to tie and hold on my head". It is quoted in 'Cowboy Culture', (top of page 220).

The original source is Trail Drivers of Texas, by J. L. McCaleb, Carrizo Springs, Texas,  p.486

On page 484: "I went up the trail in 1868 with a herd for Mitchell Dixon of Hays County."

Then, on page 486: "We bedded our cattle for the last time near Abilene, Kansas. The boss let myself and another boy go to the city one day. As it had been a long time since we had seen a house or a woman, they were good to look at. I wore a black plush hat which had a row of small stars around the rim, with buck-skin strings to tie and hold on my head. We went into town, tied our ponies, and the first place we visited was a saloon and dance hall."

These are the only sources to date that we have of "strings" attaching the hat to the head.

After looking at many, many images from the period we have none, NONE which shows an Anglo wearing anything similar to a modern stampede cord. Even amongst Californios or Vaqueros none are seen from the period wearing anything like a modern stampede cord.

What is occasionally seen is a simple functional string often of thin leather, but sometimes of ribbon tied with little more than 1 to 3 inches of excess material hanging beyond the tied knot.

From Cowboys and Trappings of the Old West, by Manns and Flood, page 27, there is an image showing a sombrero purportedly dating from the 1880's with a buckskin thong coursing the front of the crown and then piercing the brim at either side above the ear which is then tied with about three inches of excess thong below the tie (image on right). From the same source on page 113 there is an image showing a charro that is dated purportedly 1885 - it looks as if he has both a stiff military like leather strap and a string tied beneath his chin the string hanging to mid-chest. Again from the same source on pages 142 and 143 the cowboy riding third from left has a leather string coming from his small crowned short brimmed hat (image on left).


In the The Peacemakers Arms and Adventure in the American West, by R.L. Wilson, page 161 there is an image of King Fisher (killed in a gunfight in 1884) where what appears to be a leather thong attached to his hat and tied beneath his chin with about an inch of material hanging beneath his chin (image on left).

The image on the right is of Joe Cheeseman, attributed to the late 19th century and from the above source also, it shows a wide brimmed western hat – look closely and you will see a string placed behind the head.


There are other images, but notably when looking for such images one is struck by how seldom one sees any sort of hat tie. It appears to be limited to plainsmen or cowboys and infrequent if not uncommon in its use.

Relative to how the hat string attaches to the hat: there is no period reference or image of a civilian hat with a braided hat string where the braiding separates as it goes through the hat creating a circle of braided string on either side, both intended to envelope the crown of the hat - as the modern through the brim stampede strings do. Rather, most period strings seem to have gone through the hat preceding either in front of the crown or behind the crown, then through the brim on the opposite side and most often tied beneath the chin (no sliding apparatus) with perhaps an inch or two of extra sting hanging below.

Therefore lacking further evidence the following statements can be made:

1/ There is no such period term as stampede cord, stampede string, or stampede anything, but rather a thong, or bonnet string, or hat string.

2/ There is no evidence to suggest that a braided fancy cord hanging to the belt buckle existed in the 19th century.

3/ There will, on occasion, be seen a buckskin or ribbon string that would most likely be stuck inside the hat or cast behind it when not in use.

4/ When considering either period photo's and/or written description, the wearing of such a bonnet string may have well been regional, certainly rare, and under no circumstance similar to that which is worn today and is termed a stampede string.. Their use by Anglo plainsmen from Texas to the Canadian border, cowboys of the Oregon basin, and Anglos of the southwest is infrequent if one considers all period photos of horsemen - there must be hundreds of photos failing to show bonnet strings for everyone where one can be found. If common they should be frequently seen, and they are not. They must be considered infrequent if not uncommon. Point in fact, their uncommon use continues to this day amongst working cowboys although seen with some frequency amongst modern California and Great Basin horseman who claim Buckaroo influence.

PS: This information is largely for those documenting their appearance in NCOWS. There is certainly no requirement such as that in SASS. In fact they celebrate the B cowboy. Along those lines it appears that the origin of a long gaudy hat string certainly began with those portraying a cowboy on the screen in the early silent era, and they may well have taken that from woman's rodeo contestants of the very early 20th century (which is where the common use of the huge hats first began),

[Delmonico]

Most folks back then bought a hat tight and wet it and let it mould to the head as it dried, all my hats will hold in a 30 MPH wind, my custom fitted Rand will do a 40 mph.  Have rode a lot of miles on a 4 wheeler on county roads with a hat and no cord, just keep yer head tipped down a slight bit and have a good hat with out excess siffener in it.

[Deadeye Don]

James,  Thanks so much for reposting your findings on stampede strings.  You certainly did your "homework" on this question.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

One of the first rodeos was the Calgary Stampede.  It began in 1911 or 1912, as the old cowboy skills ware being lost due to the closing of the open range.

Are there any earlier references to "stampede", other than referring to a bunch of panicked animals racing their fool heads off to go nowhere special?  Unless there are, the term, at least, is out of our period.  In windy areas where stock are usually run, having "bonnet strings" is a great idea.

BTW, the open range in Alberta ended in 1906 with a devastating blizzard.  Some stock drifted quite a ways, many down to the States, and one bunch went all the way to the Dakotas.  The custom then was that a rancher receiving drifted cattle that could be identified (usually) kept them for sale and sent the proceeds back to the owners.  Open range ranching was suplanted by "farming" methods, at lest in Canada. Cattle were fenced in, shelters built and stock were fed on hay during the winter. In 1906, while the large ranches died in filled in coulees and snowdrifts, the small holders who actually looked after their herds were virtually unscathed.  One of the notable small holders was named Copithorn.  His family are no longer small holders! The present Copithorn Ranch contains the set for the "Montana" town featured near the end of LONESOME DOVE. The "town" is stilll used as a western set.

The northern US open range ended in 1886 for the same reason.

[Major 2]

Just an aside..I desided to Google Copithorn Ranch....warning 

I was directed to a gay porn site 

[Deadeye Don]

Just an aside..I desided to Google Copithorn Ranch....warning 

I was directed to a gay porn site 

     Question is......how long did you stick around?   

[Major 2]

NOT LONG  took longer to errase it from my History...

that is some sick crap ! 

[Texas Lawdog]

Major, Not the kind of DUDE ranch that you would want to visit!

[James Hunt]

 "I was directed to a gay porn site"

Major 2: Was anyone there wearing a stampede string? We need to narrow down the origin of such nomenclature" 

[Delmonico]

I did a search for some Rye Bread recipes and came up with a chat board for Russian ladies who liked other ladies.   Mr. google is evil.

[Curley Cole]

I did a search for "Zuni Fetishes" on ebay, and among a few pages of the indian carvings I was looking for there were a hundred or so pages of pvc mini skirts, red sparkle high heel shoes and a host of other strange items....

sometimes ya gotta watch what ya looks for..

curley (who don't own the pvc minis or the high heels..)