Thursday, July 15 1948 Crowd Gathering for Great Roping Show at Encampment

The early arrivals of a crowd expected to top the 3000 mark are already beginning to arrive in Encampment and Saratoga, in anticipation of the $15,000matched roping event to be held at the Encampment rodeo grounds Sunday afternoon.

Sponsors Marvin Reid of Encampment and King Merritt of Federal, stated this week that bleachers with a seating capacity of 5000 have arrived and are now being set-up on the grounds. requests for hotel and cabin accommodations continue to pour in, in spite of the fact that every available room in the valley has been filled for some time.

The celebration will start Saturday night when the sponsors of the show will be hosts at a dance at the Encampment city hall. Sunday attractions will begin when the show gets underway at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Encampment rodeo grounds.

The grand entry will feature Miss Susan Murray, Cheyenne, who is this year’s “Miss Frontier” and her lady-in-waiting, Miss Norma Jean Bell, who are at the present in Southern California on a goodwill tour of the western states. Flag bearers for the grand entry will be Ginger and Ramona Merritt, daughters of King Merritt, who in their own rights are well known in the racing and ranching circles.

Following the grand entry, the entire assemblage will pause in silent tribute to one of the greatest and best loved of all the rodeo cowboys, Bob Crosby, who was killed recently in an automobile accident. In commemoration of his outstanding contributions to the rodeo game he western selection “Powder Horn” will be played. Powder Horn is the name of Crosby’s top rope horse, now owned and ridden by King Merritt. Rodeo and roping fans the country over were glad when it was learned Merritt had purchased the horse following Crosby’s death and planned to continue his work in the arena.

One of the outstanding sidelights of the show is the possibility that Merritt, one of the outstanding ropers in Wyoming, may have to compete against one of his own sons, the youngest of the boys, “Cotton.” Friends of the young roper who have recognized his ability with a rope have offered to enter him in the contest. Should they do so, fans will be in for some of the keenest competition possible.

Among the outstanding ropers already entered are Carl Arnold, of Buckeye, Arizona, who has a record of winning 11 matched ropings of the 14 he has entered, besides his winnings in rodeos throughout the country; Everett Shaw, Stonewall, Oklahoma, one of the most feared ropers in the country; Andy Jauregui, Newell California, another roper who might easily win top honors; Clark McIntyre of Kiowa, Oklahoma, one of the outstanding young ropers who can win as easily as not; Bill Wilkerson and Van Irvine, two of Wyoming’s best ropers; Cotton Lee, Clovis, New Mexico, one of the most consistent ropers who seldom has an “off day”; Ike Rude of Magnum, Oklahoma, one of the smallest men in the steer roping game and one of the hardest competitors; Jim Snively of Pawhuska, Oklahoma; Howard Westfall of Sheffield, Texas; and King Merritt.

Stock for the show consists of 75 of the wildest Mexican steers available. For some time the steers have been pastured near Encampment in preparation for the show.

Following the show another dance will be held at the Encampment city hall at which time the winning ropers will be guests of honor. Show sponsors have announced that a complete supper will be served in the hall at both dances. On Sunday, the Encampment Civic Club will serve dinners at the city hall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.