The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-08-24
Hunting with the Lasso.

The following amusing adventure is from
Col. Marcy's "Thirty Years of Army Life on
the Border:''
"A naval officer many years ago made the
following experiment of hunting with the
lasso, but his success was by no means decis.
i've:
"The officer had, it 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 twenty or thirty PAGES,
to throw the moose over the head OF the negro
cook at almost every cast
$50 confident had he become in his skill
that, on his arrival upon the coast of Southern
California, he employed guide, and, mount
ed upon 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 hanging few grizzlies before
| night He had not been out great while be-
| fore he came upon one of the largest specimens
| of the mighty beast, whose terrific aspect
amazed him not little but, as he had come
out with firm determination to capture a
grizzly, in direct opposition to the advice of
his guide, he resolved to show him that he
was equal to the occasion.
Accordingly he seized his lasso, and riding
up near the animal, gave it several rapid
whirls above his head in the most artistic man
ner, and sent the moose directly around the
bears neck at the very first cast but the ami
NAL, instead of taking to his heels and en-
deavoring to run away, as he had anticipated,
| very deliberately sat upon his launches, fac
ing his adversary, and commenced making a
very careful examination of the rope. He
turned his head from one ride to the other in
looking at it; he felt it with his paws, and
scrutinized it very closely, as ifit were some
| thing he could not comprehend.
"In the meantime the officer turned his
horse IN the opposite direction, and commenc-
ed applying the rowels to his sides most vIg-
orously; but, to his establishment, the horse,
with his utmost efforts, did not seem to adj.
vance.
The great strain upon the lasso, however,
began to choke the bear so much that he soon
became enraged, and gave the rope several
violent slaps, first with one paw and then with
the other, but, finding that this did not relieve
him, he seized the lasso with both paws and
commenced pulling it in hand over hand, or
rather, paw over paw, and bringing with it
the horse and rider that were attached TO the
opposite extremity.
The officer redoubled the application of both
whip and spurs, but it was OF no avail; and,
in spite of all efforts of his horse, he backed
rather than advanced.
"At this intensely exciting and critical
juncture, he cast hasty glance to the rear,
and, to his horror, found himself steadily
backing towards the frightiul monster, who
sat up with his eyes glarlng like balls of fire
his huge mouth wide open and frothing with
rage and sending up the most terrific and
deep-toned roars. He now, for the first time,
felt seriously alarmed, and called out voclfer.
Gus for his guide to come to his rescue.
"'The latter responded promptly, rode up,
cut the lasso, and eXtrlcated the amateur gen.
tleman from his perlous position. lie was
much rejoiced at his escape, and, IN reply to
the inquiry of the guide, as to whether he de.
sired to continue the hunt, he said that it wa.
getting so late that he believed he would cap.
ture no more grizzlies that day"
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