Brothers who did not have time, but became famous (6 photos)

Excitement is a bright emotion. But dangerous. After all, risking, you can not only win, but also lose everything. These guys took a risk.





We made a bet and agreed to ride the path from New York to San Francisco in two months provided they get paid 10 thousand dollars. At the rate of 1911, the amount was serious. And brothers The Abernathys saddled their faithful horses, stocked up on the basic minimum and set out on the road. The case, it seems, is ordinary, because the life of a cowboy is already passes in the saddle. The only catch is that the guys - Lewis and Temple were 10 and 6 years old.



Abernathy Brothers

I must say that their father is Jack Abernathy, who himself is in youth with wolves without weapons dealt with and became the youngest marshal in history of the United States, raised the boys alone. The wife died when the youngest my son was barely three years old. And he raised assistants from the guys, and not consumers. Therefore, the man did not argue when the children agreed for a dispute.

Big brother rode a horse and little Temple was too small so he went on a pony named Geronimo. He is clearly not tall enough. Even the saddle had to climb from a stump. But the boys are not discouraged: they moved, asked for directions, slept in bags right on the ground and informed the father about the state of affairs by telegrams.

The journey was not without loss: the brothers were caught in a snowstorm, got lost. Their horses ran away. They were attacked by wolves. Then Temple got sick. Because of the fever, he almost fell into the water and died.

But the stubborn Abernathy still achieved their goal. True, with two days late. Therefore, they did not receive prize money, only expenses. And fame.





With Father

I must say that this was not the first such trip. A year earlier, the boys, traveling in a similar fashion, had arrived in New York, where they were met by a crowd of thousands of fans, and were awarded audience with Roosevelt. And the first, so to speak, trial balloon was the 1909 trip the brothers made through the state of New Mexico—before Santa Fe city and back.

By the way, after this trip, their father received an unusual message. A note was brought to the marshal’s house with the following content: “I don’t I don't like a single hair on your head, but I like these kids. We followed them through the worst part of New Mexico to make sure they not harmed by shepherds, evil men or animals.” And sent her a cattle thief whose friend was killed in a shootout with Abernathy.

Jack rejoiced at this turn and declared: "It's just shows that there is something good in all men. He would have killed me blink of an eye, but he acted nobly in protecting my innocent boys."



In 1913, the children made their last major journey, documented: on an Indian motorcycle, purchased with their own funds earned from advertising, drove from Oklahoma to New York.



The brothers grew up, settled down. The elder Lewis became a lawyer, the younger Temple chose the oil and gas industry. The brave travelers are gone from life at a respectable age over 80.



In their hometown of Frederick (Tillman County, Oklahoma) little cowboys erected a monument. Bronze boys boldly and mockingly observed by the inhabitants, who every year celebrate the first Saturday in June Abernathy Day is a celebration of insolence, recklessness and freedom.