On Your Marks, ‘Go’!
By Dick Perue
Thus reads the headline in the July 1, 1921, issue of the Star Valley Independent as it announced the Fourth of July celebration in Afton. Excerpts from the news item follow.
Preparations are at last complete for the biggest celebration in the history of Star Valley. Post 49 of the American Legion will conduct the events of the day and this means about 35 capable men are working to make the affair a success.
The big feature of the celebration is the Wild West Rodeo, which will be in charge of the Clinger Brothers of Etna. This promises to be the best and most elaborate ever attempted in Star Valley or in Lincoln County, and no means have been spared to get absolutely the best material in the West.
Special chariots have been built, riders imported, Native Americans roped in and many events will be staged that have never been witnessed in this part of the country before.
The Clinger Special, a stunt requiring about 12 expert riders and ropers, promises to furnish the most pampered of novelty-seekers a real thrill. The Native Americans, the originators of this stunt, have long used it to furnish amusement for the hardest hearted of their tribes, and it has been practiced almost every day for the past two weeks so it can be duplicated in every detail by Clingers and their riders.
Another daring and novel stunt will be staged by the Mayor of Afton, wherein he catches an alleged bootlegger by throwing himself from a horse into the rear seat of a racing automobile.
The morning of the fourth, at 10 a.m., a special program will be held in the Tabernacle. The Afton Band will be in attendance and the best of the local talent has been busy, of late to furnish music and oratory for the occasion.
A couple of the side stories in the paper are also interesting.
Some Spill
Last Sunday, while Warden Clinger was trying out some teams for the chariot race for the big celebration for July Fourth, his team ran away, and when they crossed a deep ditch, threw Warden from the chariot. He landed between 30 and 50 feet away.
The team ran about a mile farther and hung up in a bunch of trees, having broken the tongue of the chariot and several other parts of lesser importance. Clinger, said he would show that team, the next day, that he could ride behind ’em.
Wilder Than Last Weeks
J. P. Robinson has a Hereford bull that he guarantees no one can ride, one that goes higher and faster than the Lallathin Bull, and he is willing to wager $50 on his judgment.
He also has some of the wildest horses ever shown in this part of the country, bred and raised in the wilds of Texas, they have never been in a corral, and they absolutely refuse to have the lasso around their necks. Come and see the professional busters try to ride these wild steeds.
