HIST OK Y OF HEKEFOKD CATTLE 



479 



rules and they were compelled to bring out 

 their stock or forfeit their class premiums. 



When the bulls were led out a dense crowd 

 gathered around them and it was with diffi- 

 culty that the police cleared the way. Hon. 

 John Kelley and a number of prominent cattle 

 men then inspected the display and then stepped 

 aside and cast a vote as to where first and 

 second premiums should go. This was done 

 secretly before the judges came into the ring. 

 Scarcely any time was taken upon the first, 

 and the committee was unanimous in favor of 

 my bull. The second went to Mr. Blakeley's 



walked off without any interruption, followed 

 by a few of their admirers, whose faces looked 

 fully two inches longer than the day previous. 

 I am free to acknowledge that this was one of 

 the proudest days of my life. Not so much on 

 account of this victory, but because I had re- 

 sented the insult and wrongs done the dumb 

 brute and had secured for him even-handed 

 justice. 



Next came the eows. My three-year-old cow, 

 Ella 3d, with a good strong bull calf tugging at 

 her, was awarded first; and last, but not least, 

 my whitefaced herd was declared the best on 



FAMILIAR SCENE ON THE RANGE. 



Shorthorn, and the bulls that got first and 

 second the previous day got nothing. The 

 action of the committee and the outside judges 

 were precisely the same, and gave general satis- 

 faction. I was completely overwhelmed with 

 congratulations, and the little bull was patted 

 and stroked by many a man that had never 

 seen a Hereford before. "Ain't he a good one." 

 "He is the best bull I ever saw/' "Just look at 

 his back." "Yes, and his quarters, too. He 

 comes out behind like a Berkshire pig." "If it 

 was not for his horns he would be perfection, 

 wouldn't he?" and other like exclamations, 



pame from all sides, The defeated Shorthorns 



the grounds. The judges were unanimous in 

 all these awards and the bystanders shook their 

 hands and congratulated them upon their judg- 

 ment. 



I supposed the battle over and the victory 

 won beyond all question ; but in this I was mis- 

 taken. The secretary notified me that the 

 Shorthorn men had protested and ordered him 

 to withhold my diplomas and premiums; that 

 the Hon. Mr. Ross denied writing the news- 

 paper articles referred to in my protest, etc., 

 etc. They then employed a lawyer to manage 

 and attend to their case. I then sought the 

 Eon, John Kelley, but he had gone home and 



