Page 81 - TheRussellCatalogue2016

102CHARLES M. RUSSELL (1864–1926) Took Four Stewards to Unload Johnny, c. 1918 pen and ink6 x 7 inches$15,000–20,000Recorded in Charles M. Russell: A Catalogue Raisonnė: CR.DR.401Charles Russell created Took Four Stewards to Unload Johnny as an illustration for his book of cowboy tall tales, Rawhide Rawlins. In the story “Johnny Sees the Big Show,” Rawhide Rawlins recounts the story of friend and roundup cook, Johnny. On an overseas voyage, presumably to war in Europe, Johnny “crosses the pond” to “check out the trenches.” Johnny experiences motion sickness, an ailment Russell himself admitted to su ering on more than one occasion. e humorous scene directly depicted in Took Four Stewards to Unload Johnny reads:When the boat lands it takes four stewards to unload Johnny. e customs bull looks him over, an’ noticin’ a swellin’ around his middle, thinks he’s grabbed a smuggler, but stripping’ him nds he’s still wearin’ the life preserver.Johnny continues his far-fetched report of his travels from Liverpool to London to the ghting line of France, but as Rawhide observes, “ is range chef always was better talkin’ than he was cookin’.” A copy of Rawhide Rawlins featuring the full story and illustration will accompany this lot.ILLUSTRATION• Charles M. Russell. Rawhide Rawlins. Pasadena, CA: Trails End Publishing Co., Inc., 1946. 25PROVENANCE• Private collection, Montana