Four-Page Autographed Signed Letter From A Cowboy Working In Oregon

CHARLES DURRELL

Publication: Written by Charles Durrell, 1888, Olex, Gilliam County, Oregon

The four-page ALS dated September 6th, 1888, addressed to Mr. Edgar Ransdell and signed by Charles Durrell. Durrell tells of his riding after horses, working as a freighter, his intention to be a ranch hand,, getting caught in a mud slide along the railroad in the Cascades, and a wild 4th of July in central Oregon. The letter reads as follows: "Dear Friend. I thought I would drop you a few lines as I have not heard from webfoot for some time. I am still on the bunchgrass. I did not go to Montannah [sic] last Spring as I expected. I went to Grant Co. and rode after horses about 3 weeks but my jam I got at Prineville kept me from riding. Then I went to freighting and I am still at it. I am going to freight about a month yet and then try working on a ranch, such as riding after horses, cattle, branding, farming & Jack of all trades and Master of none. I have got a job of the same man I have drove for this Summer. I jumped the game with C. D. Sennett as soon as we got to Arlington. He like to wore me out with them d...d cattle. I was up on guard three nights without sleep. That big slide in the Cascades caught us. It was about 2 o'clock in the morning and raining like h..l. I was on top of the train. It nearly spilt me off. I hung on you bet. It was mostly all mud. It slid down until you could not tell where the track was next day. I expect to stay here this winter at least and maybe longer. I have not been to but one dance since I left there. That was the 4th of July. It was a good one, you bet. It commenced the morning of the 4th with speaking. From that to a bet between the cowboys with pop guns at a target, then a prize fight, speaking again, then dinner, then riding by ladies bareback for a $10 bridle, then a fist & scull fight, then riding by the ladies. From that to the dance and wound up next morning with about 40 fights. Whiskey flowed free. It was a genuine wake up. Well, I will have to close as it is late. Write soon. Yours, Respect / Charles Durrell." Durrell was likely the Charles Durrell (1867-1941) who was born in Michigan. His death certificate issued in Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon, states that his occupation had been as a common laborer and doing odd jobs. His mention of "webfoot" refers to the residents of the rainy, wet regions of Oregon (think Oregon Ducks!), and the term "bunchgrass" refers to parts of eastern Oregon where native grasses grew, often used in early days as grazing lands. A great cowboy letter from Oregon. Four 5" x 8" sheets of paper with light fold lines else in fine condition.

Inventory Number: 51478