Stirpes, Volume 34, Number 1, March 1994 Page: 70

MARCH 1994

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Eugene T. Hail
Lettie M. Shilling
J.M. Shilling
M.J. Shilling
Alice N. Hoelscher
John C. Riley
Nellie Riley
Thomas P. Shaw
Andrew Shaw, Jr.
Andrew Shaw
Medina T. Shaw
W.T. Tyler
Naomi R. Beauchamp

1868-1939
1893-1939
1846-1928
1872-1932
1874-1958
1882-1957
1886-1969
1889-1908
1893-1895
1826-1895
1850-1936
1866-1899
1917-1966

107.
108.
109.

Robert I. Shaw
John W. Beauchamp
Bessie R. Beauchamp

110. S.R. Teague
111. Luana B. King
112. Addie R. Teague
113. Richard B. Teague
114. Truman W. Teague
115. E. T. Wilson
116. Elva Bell Black
117. O.Z.A. Black
118. Erma Ruth Black
119. Jasper Black

70

94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.

1883-1968
1881-1957
1882-1966
1842-1918
1866-1927
1889-1953
1880-1961
1908-1980
1910-1941
1888-1934
1886-1932
1927-1930
1925-1925

Tournaments
By: Fount Rambie
A great sport known as Tournaments was prevalent in some parts of Texas after the
Civil War. These were gala occasions and held in connection with barbecues, dances and
entertainment for the whole family. Often there were as many as a thousand people in
attendance. This custom was brought from the Old South where, before the Civil War, it was
the most popular and manly of sports. It was a formal social event based upon the jousting
tournaments of feudal times.
Some of the Texas counties holding periodical tournaments were Live Oak, Atascosa,
Wilson, Jefferson, Leon, and Montgomery. J. Frank Dobie, as a young man, rode in many
tournaments, and much of this material was taken from his recollections.
Running a tournament course required real skill, steady nerves and superb
horsemanship as well as a good horse. A course was 200 yards long and in a straight line.
There were three posts about 50 yards apart. These posts were ten feet high and set on the
right side of each runway. A three or four foot horizontal beam sat on the top of each post.
Each beam had a stiff wire bent at a right angle and fitted with a brass ring covered with a
bright colored cloth. The horseman held a cue-like lance about eight feet long with a leather
guard to protect the hand and arm from being injured. The runner on a horse was to spear as
many rigs as he could going at full gallop. Three runs were made by each horseman. The
winner was the one gathering the most rings. Colorful costumes were worn and the horses
were decorated as well. A parade took place before each contest such as done at today's
racetracks. The tournament craze was over some time around the turn of the century.
In more recent times there was a revival of tournaments when the Texas Cavaliers was
formed by a group of men from San Antonio in 1926. The original purpose of the Texas
Cavalier was to keep alive the art and practice of horsemanship. The Texas Cavaliers played an
important role in the annual Fiesta activities held in San Antonio in April of each year. King
Antonio is chosen from members of the Texas Cavaliers. Tournaments were staged during
Fiesta Week in 1926 through 1929. In 1930 the Texas Cavaliers abandoned "The Tournament
of Roses" and replaced it with a horse show. Now, these too, are a thing of the past.
References:
The Tournament in Texas by J. Frank Dobie. Texas Folk-Lore Society, Vol. No. V. 1926.
History of the Texas Cavaliers. Henry Graham. 1976.
The Chronicle, Wilson County. July 13, 1877.

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