s in the shortest time possible. The man accomplishing the
feat in the quickest time to be declared the winner.

It seems to me that the horse chosen for me was the most vicious of the
lot. Everything being in readiness, the "45" cracked and we all sprang
forward together, each of us making for our particular mustang.

I roped, threw, tied, bridled, saddled and mounted my mustang in exactly
nine minutes from the crack of the gun. The time of the next nearest
competitor was twelve minutes and thirty seconds. This gave me the
record and championship of the West, which I held up to the time I quit
the business in 1890, and my record has never been beaten. It is worthy
of passing remark that I never had a horse pitch with me so much as that
mustang, but I never stopped sticking my spurs in him and using my quirt
on his flanks until I proved his master. Right there the assembled crowd
named me Deadwood Dick and proclaimed me champion roper of the western
cattle country.

The roping contest over, a dispute arose over the shooting question with
the result that a contest was arranged for the afternoon, as there
happened to be some of the best shots with rifle and revolver in the
West present that day. Among them were Stormy Jim, who claimed the
championship; Powder Horn Bill, who had the reputation of never missing
what he shot at; also White Head, a half breed, who generally hit what
he shot at, and many other men who knew how to handle a rifle or
45-colt.

The range was measured off 100 and 250 yards for the rifle and 150 for
the Colt 45. At this distance a bulls eye about the size of an apple was
put up. Each man was to have 14 shots at each range with the rifle and
12 shots with the Colts 45. I placed every one of my 14 shots with the
rifle in the bulls eye with ease, all shots being made from the hip; but
with the 45 Colts I missed it twice, only placing 10 shots in the small
circle, Stormy Jim being my nearest competitor, only placing 8 bullets
in the bulls eye clear, the rest being quite close, while with the 45 he
placed 5 bullets in the charmed circle. This gave me the championship of
rifle and revolver shooting as well as the roping contest, and for that
day I was the hero of Deadwood, and the purse of $200 which I had won on
the roping contest went toward keeping things moving, and they did move
as only a large crowd of cattle men can move things. This lasted for
several days when most of the cattle men had to ret