Schupbach, Pard 1972-07-22

South Texas rancher Pard Schupbach talks about his sheep ranching operations on the border, including techniques of handling livestock, living conditions on the ranch, and his serious illness during the 1918 influenza epidemic. He also relates anecdotes concerning his involvement in the Mexican Revolution, characterizes the Mexican sheepherder, and expresses social attitudes toward the Mexican people.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Pard Schupbach

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: July 22, 1972

Location: Sanderson, Texas

Interviewer: Paul Patterson

Length: 2 hours 30 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Sheep herding from Sheffield to Sanderson, Describes poisoning predators, Sheep herding operations discussed, Notes Mexican government’s attempts to regulate sheep herding on the U.S.-Mexican border, Involvement in Mexican Revolution cited, Family mentioned, Recalls "bootlegging" and narcotic traffic on the border, Goat and sheep raising contrasted, Cattle operation on the Rio Grande explained.

Tape 1, Side 2: Mexican sheepherders characterized, Recovering a stolen horse from Mexico and subsequent, legal complications, Expresses attitude toward the law, Droughts recalled, Government’s Depression goat-killing program mentioned, Further comments on the recovery of the horse from Mexico, Anecdotes about Mexican revolutionaries on the U.S. side of the river, Discussion of ranch horses.

Tape 2, Side 1: Family discussed, Experiences breaking horses, Fatal accident described, Explains techniques of catching horses, Water witching and drilling a well, Recalls discipline in his educational experience.

Tape 2, Side 2: Discipline (continued), Anecdote about bank robbery, Area wildlife discussed, Treating sheep for disease and ticks, Remembers quarantine lines for livestock, Discussion of "hoof and mouth" disease, States attitude toward government cattle program, Recalls three months without seeing a human, Influenza epidemic described, Reviews experience with serious illness.

Tape 3, Side 1: Illness during influenza epidemic (continued), Sunstroke described, Religious attitudes expressed, Rescuing livestock from river quicksand, Discusses variety of grazing grasses, Explains attitude toward Mexican Revolution and government, Social attitudes toward Mexicans and Americans studied, Anecdote concerning a confrontation.

Tape 3, Side 2: Blank

Range Dates: 1910s-1930s

Bulk Dates: 1910s-1930s

Access Information

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Transcript:

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