Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 46 e first man to ride Corbett in Belgrade was Bill Sitton. Sitton used a double cinch that kept the bull from arching his back, so he couldn't make his best jumps. e Johnstons then barred such equipment. Next was John "Kid" Kelly from Fort Ellis. Kelly saddled the bull and signaled that he was ready. e man who was to remove the bull's blindfold botched the job, so Corbett couldn't see and ran into a nearby wagon that was used as a viewing stand. He crashed into the wagon, stopped and Kelly got off. e rules said only that a man had to ride until the bull stopped, so the Johnstons gave Kelly the $25 prize. Pres Johnston said it was the only time they ever paid. Men began coming from miles away to win the cash, but Corbett bucked all of them off. e Bozeman Courier joked that the Johnston brothers made so much money betting on their bull they could start a bank or build a railroad. In December 1893, the Bozeman Chronicle reported that a cow- boy named "Starchy"successfully rode the bull. Apparently they were referring to George "Starkey" Teeples, who owned a ranch in Carbon County. Probably Teeples used stirrups tied together under the bull's belly, which wasn't allowed. Corbett's fame spread until he could draw a crowd wherever he went. His largest audience probably was at a July 4, 1894, celebration in Bozeman where 5,000 people came to watch him. It was difficult to find challengers, but finally two men named Sam Brumfield and John Foster tried and got themselves thrown. In August, Corbett went to a Labor Day celebration in Anaconda. e Anaconda Standard said when Corbett came out, he "appeared so good natured and easy going and wore an expression of contented- ness that applications to ride were made by several persons." First up was Martin Johnson. Corbett balked at being saddled and wouldn't let Johnson mount, so the man decided to drop onto the bull from above. When Johnson hit Corbett's back, a man opened the chute. e bull jumped twelve feet into the air, arched his back and sent Johnson sprawling. Next was a man named John Brass who Corbett threw on the third jump. Two weeks later Corbett went to Butte where he sent a man named Jim Radford into a full somersault and threw a man called "Mormon Ben" on the second jump. In six days, he was in Helena where local newspapers reported two men tried to ride him — and one succeeded. e Helena Herald said a cowboy from Fort Benton won a $200 prize for riding the bull, but Pres Johnston denied that. Apparently because they had a hard time getting challengers, the Johnstons then sold Corbett to a Wild West show for $300. e show failed in Indiana, and the owners sold Corbett to a farmer. e famous Belgrade Bull lived out his days as a herd sire. Pres Johnston said no- body ever rode Corbett with a fair saddle, but some people still argue about that. HE WAS GENTLE ENOUGH TO WALK PLACIDLY DOWN A CROWDED PARADE ROUTE. BUT WHEN A COWBOY CLIMBED ON HIS BACK, HE BECAME A FORMIDABLE BUCKING MACHINE.

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