Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-01
THE "LAssDI>G, CRAZE.
Youthful Cowboys Make Things
Lively With Their Franks.


II some enterprising citizen was to
open an agency for supplying Western
cattle men with amateur cowboys he
could do a big business right here in sa-
yannah. There are probably not TWO boys
in ten in this city who do not bemosn their
fate, which has cast their lots so far away
from the wild, untamed West. Since the
advent OF the long haired, pistol.carrying,
bearskin-trousered raucheros. with the
half-dozen sad aud tarnisnel copper
faced poor Los, the average small boy has
voted city life bore and hardly worth
living.
A score or more bands and companies
have been organized among the lads for
the purpose of perecting the members IN
the art OF shooting, trailing, rounding up,
branding and r"plng. The word 'lassO.
ing" is not used by the knowing youths.
with them the expression ia obsolete.
They ''rOpe" everything now. Everything
includes dogs, cats, COWS, goats. and
other boys. Lassos have been lmprovised
from clothes lines, and many mother
Will hunt for her line this morning in vain.
Her young hopeful has it slowed away
under the stcOp, or in the shed, or under
the hay in neighboring stable.
Eight such youths, who call themselves
"rhe ferrOrs of OGcechee Canyon" spent
yesterday afternoon on vacant lot in the
outskirts OF the city practicing on an
never spent more miserable nalf day.
At fret he did not seem to mind the flying
nooses mucn, but finally, when enc did
drop over his head, "Bliy" frowned dark
ly. The successful roper tried to pull his
game down. The goat lowered his head,
struck tue boy at the other end OF the
rOps. carOmed on a second, and with
ricOchet movement that bit four more,
bounded through the ring and off with
20-odd feet of clothes line dangling from
his head. In a few seconds, however, the
"Terrors" recaptured the rope and by the
time they were ready to go home for sup
per Billy was as meek as u post.
number of Indian tribes have been
organized also, aud Apaches, Sioux, Mo-
docs, Commences and even oeminoles and
Pe9uOits can be found anv afternoon on
the commons on vacant lot. The braves
consider the pale faced cowboys their
legitimate prey and lie in ambush behind
every sned aud corner. The warriors
wear feather in their caps, and by that
are dIstinguished from the amateur
"ropers' who do not decorate their head
gear. Both sides carry lassOs, and when
on the war path keep sharp
lookout IN front, behind and over
head, for right frequently doth warrior
bold stretch himself out on the top of a
wall and quietly drop nOosed rope over
the head OF an enemy who is skulking by.
When the youthful savages take aprisOner
they make him run the gauntlet after the
manner OF the aborigines. IL he passes
safely though the lines he is adopted into
the trice and has to fight for it until re-
captured. Ii he is not wanted for adOp-
tiOn be is put through the motion OF beng
scaped and is then locked up in conve-
nient stable until some one releases him.
The cowboys lyncn their prisoners or
take their ropes away and turn them
loose. Half the parents In town are wish
ing they mad never let their boys see the
shooting and lassOing, fearing that they
will be tempted to run of or be made to
cimD the golden stairs by pistol that
uun = mt knnwn tn he Inalnd