The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-07-28
COWBOYS WITH ALASSo
Their Wonderful Skill
in Handling the
Lariat.
Throwing the Rope with Marvel
l0us Prectsi0n--Catching q Bull
by the Horns.

W ssAO AAVk MDe
In . letter describing life among the
. Montana letter to the Cleve
land Leader says: ! noticed variety OF
lariats with . rornd-up party, nearly ali
Of Which we're made OF the very best
quslfty 0f hemp, twisted 90 extremely
tight that Il Was almost impossible to
untwist the strands. Others we're made
Of sinew cords, and were braided very
neatly, the ends or lassoing parts being
creased 90 as TO slip easily. These las.
soes were about sixty or seventy.fve
feet long, one-lhird of which forms the
noose, and when swinging It is grasped
q little above the loop, 90 - TO prevent
the same from sliping until launched
through the air.. The lasso is swung
over the head and left shoulder and back
over the right shoulder, peculiar turn
OF the wrist as Il begins to return, keep
ing the loop wide open. When flying
through the air the moose takes . slight
ly oval form, but remains open and set
ties quietly around the object aimed at
McGaigan exhibited to me the modus
operandi Of handling the rope, and some
OF bis feats performed In my presence
were not only executed with marvellous
precision, but we're also beautiful to look
at. This model cowboy is certainly an
expert In bis profession, perhaps the
best rider and lassoist in the whole North.
west. What Slosson is to billiards, Nc
Gaigan is to his profession.
One afternoon, while loadng around
the camp fire on the Musselshell, Nc.
Gaigan and / got talking about the skill
he had acquired in throwing cattle and
l had little difficulty in persusding him
to let me into the secrets OF his wonder.
fol dexterity and actually showing. me
some Of the finer points OF the business.
Mounting our bronchos We rode of
through the sage brush and out on the
open prairie, where numberless cattle
we're peacefully munching the luxuriant
buffalo grass. My friend had his best
lariat fastened to the pommel Of the
saddle. and first showed me many fancy
shots, throwing the lAsso from or to any
point, over either shoulder, behind or
10 trout. He caught tremendous bull
BY the horns, who looked up In surprise
and started off like steam engine, but
the pony bestrode by the cowboy plant.
ed bis forefeet firmly in the ground and
checked Mr.. Bull in bis mad career be.
fore the latter got we'll started. The en-
ragged steer went round and round 10 q
circle at 40 gait, the pony acting as
q perfect pivot and turning slowly
around with him, bat it was no use the
bull was prisoner and would have re-
mained so bad not McGaigan taken pity
on him, and passed the wonderful ring
down the line, upon which the rope
leaped from around the horns and fell to
the ground. +
McGaigan remarked that It was no
credit to catch bull by the horns, for
he cannot be thrown by them, and is
simply held as . prisoner, but the skill
in throwing lasso Is to pitch the moose
just In front Of the animal when he IL
going at full gallop, 90 that at the next
step he treads into 1t. He tried Il on
another bull while both Of our ponies
were jumping along on dead run. The
old fellow was going about as fast ss
we we're, but the fatal loop shot through
the Dir At tangent aud fell, wide open,
just 10 front Of him ON the ground. The
left forefoot plunged square into the cir
Gle. the rope was frightened with sud-
den Jerk and the steer rolled over In the
dust, as cleverly caught ~ anything
ever saw. The broncbo, TOO, understood
his part Of the business thoroughly, for
be bore at the right moment in the OPP
posite direction, else be might have been
thrown instead Of the bull, TO which be
was much inferior in weight. McGaigan
also caught great big steers galloping
past al an angle BY any leg ! named
Not once was judgment ct fault. The
moose whizzing through the air in.every
direction went as true to the mark % .
bullet shot from q rife.
! was much taken With the free and
easy sort Of life experienced by this
round-up party aid enjoyed the trip aud
camping out experience so hugely that !
was almost tempted TO give up profess
sion Of scribe and become . cowboy
myself. but thought better Of Il next
day and, although ] had lots OF fun and
enjoyment, ! concluded that COW boy
life must have its dark as we'll as its
bright, sunny side.