Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-08-14
HUNTING WITH THE LAsso.

The following amusing adventure from
Col. Marcy's "Thirty Years of Army Life
on the border :"
A naval officer many years ago made
the experiment of hunting with the lasso,
but his success was by no means decisive.
The officers had, 1t appeared, by constant
practice upon the ship, while making the
long and tiresome voyage round the Horn,
acquired very considerable proficiency in
the use of the lasso, and was able, at twen-
ty or thirty PAGES to throw the moose over
the head of the negro cook at almost every
cast, So confident had he become in his
skill, that, upon his arrival upon the coast
of Southern California, he employed a
guide and mounted upon a well-trained
horse, with his lasso properly coiled and
ready for use, he one morning set out for
the mountains, with the firm resolve of
bagging few grizzlies before night.
He had not been out great while be-
fore he encountered one of the largest
specimens of the mighty beast whose ter
rife aspect amazed him not a little; but,
as he had come out with, firm determi-
nation to capture grizzly, in direct oppo-
sition to the advice of his guide, he re-
solved to show that he was equal to the
occasion. Accordingly he seized his lasso,
and riding up near the animal, gave it sew
eral rapid whirls above his head in the
most artistic manner, and sent the moose
directly around the bears neck at the very
first cast !; but the animal instead of taking
to his heels and endeavoring to run away,
as he had anticipated, very deliberately
sat upon his launches, facing his adverse
ry, and commenced making a very care
full examination of the rope. He t1rned
bis head from one side to the other in
looking at it; he felt it with his paws, and
scrutinized it veryI closely, as If it was
something he could not comprehend.
In the meantime the officer had turned
his horse in the opposite direction, and
commenced applying the roweis to his sides
most vigorously, with the confident expec-
tation that he was to choke the bear to
death, and drag him off in triumph but,
to his astonishment the horse, with his ut
most efforts, did not seem to advance
Ehe great strain upon the lasso, however,
began.te choke the bear so much that he
soon became enraged, and gave the rope
several slaps, first with one paw and then
with the other, as this did not relieve him,
he seized the lasso with both paws, and
commenced pulling it hand over hand, or
rather paw over paw, and bringing with it
the horse and rider that were attached to
the opposite extremity. Tke officer re-
doubled the application Of both whip AID
spurs but it was all of no avail-he bad
evidently "caught Tartar and in spite
of all the efforts Of his horse, he recoiled
rather than advanced,
In this intensely exciting and critica!
iuncture he cast hasty glance at the bear
and to his horror, found himself steadily
backing towards the frightful monster, who
sat up with his eyes glaring like balls of fire
his huge mouth wide open and frothing
with rage, and sending forth the most ter
rife and deep-toned roars. He now, for
the first time, felt seriously alarmed, and
cried out vociferously for his guide to come
to his rescus. The latter responded,
promptly rode up, cut the lasso, and ex
tracted the amatuer gentleman from his
perilous portion. He was much rejoiced
at his escape, and in reply to the inquiry of
the guide, as to whether he desired to con-
tinue the hunt, he said it WAS SO late that
he believed he would capture no more griz-
zles that day.