The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-11-11
manitomof pilot.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER IL, 1886
FEATS OF COWBOYS.
ONE OF THE NOVEL SCENES AT NEW
MEXICAN FAIR.

ONE OF THE NOVEL SCENES AT NEW
MEXICAN FAIR.
Says a correspondent describing
recent fair at Albuquerque, n. NJ:
A. 3 o'clock a drove of wild Texan
steers were turned loose in the in
closure, and a large number of cow
boys began the task of lassoing them,
the boy who lassoed the greatest mum
Der to be declared the winner 1t was
a glorious sight-those stalwart young
men mounted upon broncho horses of
the highest mettle and speed, their
brown cheeks glowing with health,
and their dark eyes flashing with ex
element. The fence around the in
side of the track had been re-
moved, and on the large oval of green
| turf In front of the grand stand the
steers go plunging and tossing and
boys go riding after them like SO many
incarnate whirlwinds. Every now and
then an Infatuated steer would make
straight for a broncho, bent on goring
the life out of him and his rider, but
the alert cowboy, with his high-spirit-
ed steed under the most perfect con-
troll, by single turn of his bride hand
would wheel him deity aside and the
fierce bovine would catch nothing on
his horns save the circumambient air
The skill displayed in riding and
managing the bronchos and throwing
the lasso was simply marvellous. Cast
ing the running moose over the head
Of the steer while riding at full speed
is the most insignificant part of the
performance With the most perfect
ease the cowboys would place it around
any one Of the animals legs. This is
most difficult feat, and the skill
requisite to its accomplishment can
only be acquired by long and patient
practice. Even then he who seeks to
become proficient in it must have an
Unborn aptitude and dexterity of eye
and hand. To perform it the cowboy
must determine the spot upon which
the swiftly running animal will next
set the foot Of the leg around which
he desires to draw the moose. Upon
this spot he must throw the lasso, and
the moment the steer has placed his
foot within its slip-not he must, by a
peculiar, indescribable motion of his
hand and arm, draw it above the
creatures knee and quickly draw it
taught This feat was accomplished
many times during the progress of
the tournament; indeed, the number
of failures was very insignificant in
proportion to the number of trials.
The riding was equal to the lassoing
There seems to be no possible position.
however difficult OF unnatural, and no
combination of circumstances, how
ever unfortuitous, in which a cowboy
cannot maintain his equilibrium upon
and his absolute and complete control
Of q bronchO horse, an animal naturally
so wild and vicious that very few of
the most yenturesome and accom-
plished riders, outside of Mexicans,
Indians, and cowboys, would dare even
to mount him. The man who will
show the people of the Eastern cities
such cowboy tournament as | wit
messed to-day at Albuquerque can I'M
doubtedly become the wealthiest show
man of our time, for it is an entertain
ment so thrilling and exciting that
Buffalo Bills Wild West" and the
most daring feats of the circus ring
sink into utter insigniticance in com
parisOn with it.