THE FACE OF HISTORY AND TOUCHING EVENT

Bronco Charlie Miller (December 1850 – 15 January 1955) was an American horse tamer and Pony Express rider. He was born on the trail in California to parents travelling west for the California Gold Rush. At the age of 11, Miller claimed to have become the youngest ever Pony Express rider, claiming to have done so after witnessing a horse arrive without its rider at the station in Sacramento. Miller then worked as a horse trainer, from which he earned his nickname, including a period working on Teddy Roosevelt's cattle ranch. Afterwards, he became a performer demonstrating roping techniques, horse riding and knife throwing. On his travels, he met and married Carrie Potter, who joined and became a target girl in his act. Miller was known as a teller of "tall tales", though many of them were true. He stated that he joined the Canadian Army and fought in the First World War and also volunteered to serve in the Korean War. Miller claimed an acquaintance with many Old West figu...

 THE 'LOST' DUNCOW HOUSE (& its families) Today we're revisiting a place described by Alice Howdle last year - it seeming of particular topicality in continuing the story of the Heron family (see yesterday's post re. Kirroughtree House) in the region. My background research of Duncow reveals that is was a barony granted by Robert the Bruce to his supporter Sir Robert Boyd, soon after the victory of Bannockburn. In time it became a property of the Maxwells, and a tower here (exact location uncertain, but possibly at the nearby farm or hamlet) was twice burned by the Johnstones during the Maxwell-Johnstone feud spanning the approximate century c.1520-1620. King James V (d.1542) apparently stayed the night here! An old commemorative stone, also now disappeared  allegedly once marked the spot of the monarch's nocturnal visit (said in an account to have been in a humble 'cottage' - which, knowing James' weakness for local wenches on his travels, may well ...