Wall, Henry 1973-12-02

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Henry Wall discusses his early days as a cowboy and a dowser, or water-witcher. At the end of the second tape, Side 2, he plays several dance tunes on his fiddle.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Henry Wall

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: December 02, 1973

Location: Sierra Blanca, Texas

Interviewer: Paul Patterson

Length: 3 hours


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Born: Sonora, Texas (April 7. 1902), Parents’ backgrounds, Dowsing or water-witching, Education, The Mert School, Sheep, goat and cattle raising, Work under W. A. Myers, Bill Taylor and Bud Newman, Temple train robbed, Bill Taylor and Tom Latron, Silver City, New Mexico.

Tape 1, Side 2: Work for W. T. Johnson (from 1929), Yates and Byers D Ranch, Father’s death (1912), Brother’s death (1906), Weather and economy (1929), Work for Bob Martin (1933), South Texas, South Texas cowboys, Wild cattle, Mexican cowboys, Spooning cattle, Rodeo (1916).

Tape 2, Side 1: Rodeos nationwide, Coconuts, Largest outfit, Horses, Good and bad, West Pile Cattle Company, Indio Cattle Co., Cowboying, Baylor and Bell, In New Mexico, "Corriente" cattle from Mexico.

Tape 2, Side 2: Depression at TW Ranch, Mass slaughter of cattle, Wages during Depression, Companionship and pastimes on range, Hydrophobic cattle, Snakes and horse hair rope, In France, World War I, Marine at Guadalcanal, World War II (2 years), Hospitalized, Dowsing (started in 1928), Youngest of eleven children, Plays fiddle until end of tape.

Range Dates: 1902-1945

Bulk Dates: 1916-1945


Access Information

Original Recording Format: open reel audio tape

Recording Format Notes: digitized and burned to Audio CD, February 2018

Transcript: no



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