Long George Francis

The Outlaw and the Schoolmarm

They said he rode with Curry, but we can never tell,

but at the ridin’ and the ropin’ we knew he did excel.

Perhaps he had a long rope, an orphan calf or two,

those farmers and the ranchers never had a clue.

Tall and slim and fitted out in the finest clothes,

Long George was the best hand, everybody knows.

From Pendleton to Calgary, he always won the prize,

started up a ranch ‘neath the big Montana skies.

He had a horse named Tony, at ‘dogging did they shine,

and for the fair Amanda, his lonely heart would pine.

She’s teachin’ school at Simpson out on the lone prairie,

but Long George stole a horse, and then he had to flee.

For two long years he hid out somewhere in the ‘Paws,

the Sheriff looked the other way, said he had no cause.

Then George he starts ‘a thinkin’ that what he done was wrong,

Then sweet Amanda says “I’ll wait, six years ain’t that long.”

 He stands before His Honor, heart upon his sleeve,

“Before I go to Deer Lodge, can I get a small reprieve?

And if ever you should grant it, I promise I won’t stray,

You know I gotta’ see my girl, she’s in a family way.”

On Christmas Eve he’s granted his final fervent wish,

He’s headed up the river, with gifts his sweetheart will cherish.

He opens up the stall and hollers out at Tony, “Shoo!

When you hit the mountains, you’ll know what to do.”

Crankin’ up the Hupmobile, he heads out in a rush,

the flurries they are flyin’, road of frozen slush.

Slippin’ and ‘a slidin’, easin’ off the clutch,

Snow is fallin’ harder, the light there isn’t much.

He missed the curve and slid off at the river bend,

Crumpled up on the ice, the car has met its end.

Looks down at his leg, the bone is stickin’ out,

A crate and some denim will fix it up no doubt.

Climbs up on the bank followin’ the road,

Maybe there’s a farmer bringin’ in a load.

He crawls a mile or more freezin’ in the snow,

he’s thinkin’s that it’s gotta’ be twenty below.

Now he’ll never make it, he’s fadin’ and forlorn,

Soon that pretty schoolmarm is gonna’ have to mourn.

He thinks about that pistol underneath the seat,

if he only had it, he’d match Curry’s final feat.

But all he’s got upon him is a pocket knife,

and sweet Amada Spears will never be his wife.

LDT May 14, ‘20

     Long George Francis (1874 -1920) was born in Cedar Valley, Utah. He first came to Montana with the Warbonnet Cattle Company in 1894. He is buried in Highland Cemetery in Havre, Montana. Tony, his bay horse, roamed free in the Bear Paw Mountains for years. In 2008 Long George was honored with the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Legacy Award.

     Schoolteacher Amanda Spears was born in Minnesota in 1890. Old-timers say she left teaching after George’s death. Her baby did not survive.

REFERENCES:

     “Long George” Francis – More Than Just Outlaws (google.com)

         Celebrating History: Long George Francis – Havre Daily News

         Great Falls Tribune. Great falls Montana. December 28, 1920. 28 Dec 1920, Page 1 – Great Falls Tribune at Newspapers.com

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