TX BIOS:  W. L. McAulay
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   c 12 2/11/41 Tex Box 1
   
   Range-Lore
   
   Annie MacAulay
   
   Maverick, Texas.
   
   Page One
   
   RANGE-LORE
   
   "My family and I had been living on a ranch near where the Concho
   River empties into the Colorado, before we moved to Runnels County in
   1879," says W.L. McAulay.
   
   "Heavy rains often disturbed families, cattle and stock that were
   located so near the two rivers. I always tried to be at home when a
   heavy rain came as my wife was afraid of that location.
   
   "One day in the early spring a bunch of cowmen and I went over near
   Ballinger on a cattle deal. I left my wife and baby at home with a
   hired hand to keep things going.
   
   "The rain began to fall, my how it did rain, then we had a West Texas
   down pour. I knew the creeks and rivers were swelling far and wide and
   I had to get to 00011my family, so I headed home. When I came to the
   Colorado River I discarded my clothes with the exception of my slicker
   which I fastened to the saddle. I swam the river,leading my horse, and
   we made it across safely then I put my slicker on and rode a few miles
   to the Concho River crossing. Here the river was not so high nor wide
   but the water was very swift. I again attempted to swim, leading my
   swimming horse with my slicker tied to the saddle, as before. I was
   always a good swimmer but my horse was a little shy of the water. He
   got frightened, began to rear and pitch in the water, then pulled
   himself free and at the same time the saddle girth came loose. My
   horse made for the bank he came from. During this escapade I lost my
   slicker, saddle, horse and all. I had to walk four miles facing the
   cool spring breeze in my birthday suit before I reached home.
   
   "This was my most trying experience during my forty years of riding
   the range."

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