Walking the Cow

By Debra Staab

A hundred years ago kids didn’t walk their pet dog, they walked the family cow.

One day in 1895 two young boys were leading their respective families’ cows down the local wagon track near Santa Cruz.  Clarence G. Dake was an adventuresome boy—always trying something different, always looking for excitement.  He put the end of the cow’s rope in his mouth, stuffed both hands in his pockets, and plodded along—showing that he could lead the cow with “no hands”.

Philip Bliss kept his cow’s lead rope in his hand and marched beside Clarence.

Suddenly they heard a racket—a dreadful noise—and before the two boys could think, a runaway horse and buggy was dashing toward them.

The cows’ tails flew up, and they bolted in a flash.

Clarence lost his two front teeth. Phil lost the tip of his thumb.

Clarence grew up to take over the land title business of his father, Lawrence J. Dake.

Phil grew up to attend UC Dental College and became one of Santa Cruz’s leading dentists.

From The History of Santa Cruz County by Margaret Koch, 1991, pp. 95-96.