Cowboy Dirge Is Requiem For George Daniels

DANIELS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 2/27/2014 at 08:33:29

Cowboy Dirge Is Requiem For George Daniels at the Michigan State Fair
**Handwritten: Sept. 11, 1941

(Detroit Daily News)

Gloom hangs over the rodeo at Michigan state fair today as 125 cowboys and girls mourned George Daniels, 28-year-old bulldogger of Rock Springs, Wyo., who died Monday night at Highland Park General hospital.

Because he was a good trouper and wanted to give his audience an extra thrill, Daniels risked injury from a 1,500 pound bull Friday night just once too often. He received a spinal fracture when the animal trampled him. The accident occurred after the show when Daniels attempted to entertain some boys and girls who lingered in the grandstand for a last look at the performance.

"He didn't have to do it," said Hugh Ridley of Red Rock, Okla., arena master of the rodeo. "He saw all those kids standing around with their eyes popping out, the boys and girls who love cowboys, western movies and all that sort of thing, and he tried to give them something more to remember."

Daniels began his exceptionally dangerous act two years ago. He was warned against it frequently by older bulldoggers and veterans of the arena. Billed as a humane bull fighter, he blinded his adversary with a red cape, and then fell upon the ground with his feet in the air. When the animal shook off the cape and rushed in to gore him, Daniels used the bull's head as a spring-board, planting his feet between his eyes, and turning a back somersault was out of harm's way.

"But this time his feet slipped from the bull's head and the animal crushed him," Ridley explained.

Daniels belonged to the cowboys Turtle Association, with 2,100 members which was organized to provide insurance and hospitalization for rodeo performers. Because of the high mortality among them, they are unable to obtain standard life or accident insurance.

When physicians notified representatives of the "The Turtle" Monday that Daniels was sinking, a few superstitious show-mates hoped their luck charms, rabbits' feet, coyotes' fangs and the like would preform a miracle. The more realistic summoned his wife, Doris, a cowgirl at Rock Springs, and his parents at Bentonsport, Iowa.

Cowboy Dirge Is Requiem

Thousands of Detroiters, who never knew George Daniels or heard of him until Tuesday participated in a simple memorial service at the rodeo performance in Michigan state fair.

Tuesday night the rodeo spectators witnessed a tribute to Daniels by the rodeo cast of 100 persons. After the parade of cowboys and cowgirls the cast lined up on their mounts before the grandstand and sat in silence and darkness as the Daniels' horse was led before them.

A single spotlight illuminated the plodding animal, which seemed to grasp the significance of the occasion as it was led down the line by Ralph (Old Pard) Byers, a veteran cowboy. In rhythm with the shuffle of hoofs Manuel Enos of Livermore, Calif., a close friend of Daniels, sang a typical cowboy lament, "There'll Be an Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse Tonight." He was followed to the microphone by a professional artist who sang "The Last Roundup."

The horse was blanked with flowers and wreaths from fellow rodeo performers, the fair management and the coliseum circus. Daniel's kangaroo boots with inlaid tops and his spurs hung from the horn of the saddle. Cowboys removed their hats, and a detachment of mounted police, who had given an exhibition on the track, came to a smart salute.

The ceremony witnessed by Daniels' widow, a cowgirl, who arrived Tuesday evening from Red Rock, Wyo. The former bulldogger's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Daniels, who live at Bentonsport, Iowa, were unable to make the journey.

The widow, Doris, accompanied the body to Bentonsport where funeral services were held Friday morning at the Methodist church conducted by Rev. C.H. Orf. Interment was in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Cincinnati, Iowa.

"Scrapbook of Unknown Origin"