The Hanging Tree

[polarbeardiggers]

The hanging tree.
My story starts about me heading out to the ranch land area,checking out a old folk lore,about

the hanging tree in the picture,all my research brought me to a old ranch hand by the name of

Everet Mcquade,a 95 year old veteran of his trade,wether or not you believe his story is purely

your choice, for me , I believe every word,and saw first hand the evidence.
His story begins from the time he was thirteen,a young ranchhand proving to his older peers,

that he could do the job as well as any other on a horse,moving cattle back from one pasture to

the next,rotating the grass lands, a practice handed down from generations of ranchers in this

area,Everet was a hard working man,the cracks in his hands show proof of that,along with his

gruff appearance,He recalls the times the hanging tree was used in many occasions,In fact the

last time it was used for a hanging,was july of 78,It was the last time he performed the hanging

by his own hands.
rustlers were never a problem,it was a different time back then he recants to me,a time that

called for extreme measures,no-one was told about this practise,until now, evil times he coughs

outloud,It was the cows ! once a week the ranch hands would wake in the morning dew while

out in the fields with all their boots missing,nothing was more embarrassing than riding home

with holes in your socks and your big toe sticking out.vengence was a very high priority,summers

would pass, and every year the ranch hands would lose thier boots,until young Everet caught a

cow in the act of stealing a cow hands boot while he slept,after further investigations they

began to find old leather boots under the cow patties in the fields, you could understand why

this story never got out,after all who would want to eat their evil beef,.
The hanging tree remains a solid reminder of the evil days when cows tried to out-smart the

ranchers, they would throw a rope over the long branch as they would for a horse thief,and kick

out the milk stool from under their front hooves,there they dangled to their last breath,.Everet

Mcquade retired at 65 after his last hanging,he says they got them all,he says his grandchildren

have taken over the ranch and never have mentioned about missing boots,except for the ones

Everet fixes on the side, I asked just how many cows did they hang during those years,37 he

whispered as he solemnly walked away.
I found out later that the last one was his favorite,Buttercup,betrayed by the very one he

delivered at birth in the field on his 55th birthday during a lightning storm. I would like to thank

Everet Mcquade for sharing his story and giving me the permission to photograph this special

tree.

[Don Schaeffer]

Taaallllllll tales with tails. Thanks Gerry.

[Dave Smith]

Thanks PBD

For a great photo and a great story.

[polarbeardiggers]

thanks for the comments,its truely just a tall tale i invented while driving out to camp to keep me amused while my son sleeps.