From Nancy C. Russell, February 18, 1908, description of "Jerked Down", $800, and the "Smoke of the Forty Five".

Great Falls, Mont., Feb. 18, 1908. Mr. Malcolm S. McKay [sic], 16 Nassau St., New York City. Dear Sir: I am glad you know about the West and have been on the range because a picture we now have will suit you without doubt. It just came home so that accounts for our having it. It has been reproduced as a calendar. This picture is called “Jerked Down”. It is a cow-puncher riding a green bronk[sic]. He has roped a cow that has got a side pull on him and jerked his horse down. A young steer has one hind leg over the rope that holds the cow. Another puncher is trying to get his rope on the cow and there are seven or eight head of cattle crowding up a cut bank getting away form the excitement. There is a third puncher coming up swinging his rope. The country is rough and everything is in motion. It sure is a bad mix up. There is more get up and go in this picture than any you have mentioned as liking. It is a two by three foot canvas, oil, in color. Another canvas that is just finished is a gun fight called “The Smoke of the Forty-five”. It is cow-punchersin[sic] front of a stage station or saloon. They have been gambling and the game has wound up in a row. The cow-punchers are leaving the hitching rack on their horses emtying[sic] their guns into the saloon as they (over) [verso] make their get-away. One puncher has been shot from his horse and a gambler in the door is staggering under his wounds. There is lots of action in the picture, but I think the other picture will be the one that will suit you best. This gun fight is the samesize[sic] canvas as “Jerked Down”. The price of either picture is $800.00 (eight hundred dollars). If you wish me to I will send the “Jerked Down” canvas for our inspection, and when you see it, if it is not satisfactory you can return it and pay the express on it back and we will try to please you with something else. When we come to New York we will be delighted to meet you and if you should ever come west and strike out town we hope that you will call on us. Yours sincerely,

[Transcribed by Melynda Seaton, 2011-10-12]

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