Saturday, January 05, 2019

COWBOY #5


Posted by Chic Silber at 1/05/2019 11:32:00 AM

2 comments:

Tony Greiner said...

The oldest use of the phrase "Rough Riders" I know is from Theodore Roosevelt's volunteers in the Spanish-American war. It rolls off the tongue, but does it really mean anything?

What would a 'gentle rider' be? (English saddle?)

06 January, 2019 13:31
Roger Smith said...

It sure as hell did at the time. From '90 to '92, I drove the horse carriage tours around the Alamo. Our prime stand was on the Crockett Street side, across the street from the well-chronicled Menger Hotel. As San Antonio historians proudly point out, Teddy Roosevelt organized the Rough Riders in the Menger's saloon. Teddy never did anything quietly, and the event may have included knocking back a few whiskys, but off they went, and the saloon is still there.

Now, this was in the old Victorian, or "historical", side of the hotel, then half a block from the Alamo. Both buildings sit side-by-side, and face what is now Alamo Plaza. In this original section of the Menger, where regional honeymooners reserve rooms, resides the very real ghost of Sally White. Before Teddy and the boys assembled, she was murdered by her boyfriend in the hotel, where she toiled as a maid. She roams the halls in her traditional hotel maid uniform, and is regularly seen by guests who think she is a present-day employee in wardrobe. When they ask for towels or additional services, Sally stands looking at them for a moment, then turns away in silence, and vanishes down the hall. Guests take their concerns to the managers, who gently explain that, "Yes, you did see Sally, whose ghost is a continual presence. She is entirely harmless, but Sally has never left us. Towels and other amenities will now be delivered by more communicative associates." True story. If you don't believe me, go book a room in the old side.

06 January, 2019 18:38

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