The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-05-08
THROWING or THI RIATA.
An Expert on the Use Of the Rope In
Clever Hands.
Match for q PIsGOI.sThe Cowboys
1gOPessRsxPlOlts In the saddle.

a dlspatch puDllsned IN the sdn Fran
cisco Examiner short time ago gave an
account Of 4 duel between Mexican
vaqueros, in which the only weapons used
were their riatas. According to the dis
patch, one secured the victory by throw
ing his moose 20 that the other mans
moose passed right through It and the
victor lassoed the other mans arms
against his body and jeTked him from his
horse.
The dispatch then went on to tell Of
the skill Of the victorious RATA man, and
mentioned, among other wonderful feats,
his lassoinR an antelope running at high
speed 100 feet away. To make the feat
more extraordinary, the correspondent
wrote that he would pick out one Of the
animals feet and get the moose around
that alone.
The ETdminer reporter called on Louis
0hnimus, superintendent Of Woodward's
gardens, who welded a RATA for many
years and who probably knows as much
about throwing lasso as any man on the
coast, and asked him II the feats referred
to in the dispatch were possible.
THE Mexican may have won the duel
by lassooing his adversary, RATA and all"
was the answer. at is not an uncom-
mon thing for them to settle their differ.
ence by such fight, and have heard Of
the trick Of ringing the other mans rope,
but II that man can catch an antelope 100
feet away, by the foot or any other way,
he is better RATA man than ever en-
countered. In the first place, mighty few
men are strong enough to throw q rope
such distance. Then an ordinary RATA
is only fourteen or sixteen yards long
twenty yards is 4 very long one. So, you
zee, forty foot throw is a pretty good
one.
"The first thing about this business is
to have a perfect RATA. II you have one
perfectly stretched, oiled, and in thor
: oughly good condition you can throw
well; il your rope is kinky or uneven you
will find it impossible to do accurate
work."
"Whnt do you consider good RATA ?"
was asked.
"Well, I can only tell you how a good
one Is made. First, the rawhide is cut in
thin strips, as long as possible, and half
tanned with the hair on. Then they are
braided into rope, care being taken, Of
, course, to pull the strands as tight
} as it is possible. When the RATA is
made It should be buried for week, ten
days, or even fortnight in the sand. II
takes up moisture from the ground with
out getting hard. Soaking in water won't
do, nor will anything else that l know Of
. except, as say, burying 1t. When the
{ riata is resuneCted it should again be left
: for time stretched over q block, with q
, weight to bold II taut. Then the hair
i should be sandpapered OF the outside,
) and when the RATA is creased with NUT
fhisae sallOw md properly noOsed II ready
Ior use. IN ~ vaquero that pretends to
take cafe d lis Seernlgs will bury his
RATA and stretch Il every six elEhs
months.
"a hair rope does not make a good
. RATA. It Is useful to stretch around
camp at night to keep snakes away.
For some reason snakes will not cross q
, hair rope.
. "Now, as to throwing It:
"The RATA, say, is hanging from the
horn Of the saddle-not tied, but ready
for use. No vaquero who understands
his trade ties his rope to his saddle. He
] knows that his life may depend on his
ability to let 60 Of his rope in an in
slant, and he isn't going to chance kill
ing himself or his horse. You see, the
J vaquero might be on q side hill, and q
bull or steer he wishes 10 catch be on Q
trail below him, and the ground between
them be too steep to admit Of his riding
down to 1t. Now, suppose the moose, in.
stead Of catching around the horns Of the
steer should circle his neck and draw
,, down to his shoulders? Accidents are,
! Of course, as likely to happen in catching
cattle as in anything else, and give q bull
, such hold and he could pull house, let
! alone q mustang. That would be one
3 case where II would be very handy to be
able TO lot 60 quickly. Then q man Is
, likely to get his hand caught, and II he
) can't let his rope 20 free he is likely to
3 lose a finger or two, at least.
"0ur vaqueFo Is trotting along with his
rope hanging at his saddle bow and last
) ened behind him. Hesees deer or what
} ever else he wants to catch, and grabs his
rope with his left hand II be is . right
handed man, though o man to excel In
J this business should be ambidextrous.
! A right handed man can under any ordi-
nary circumstances, rope . steer, but he
has frequently to turn his horse to gain q
good position. Now It sometimes hap.
3 pens that your horse Is In . position where
you can't turn, then 1t would be awk ward
unless you could throw with either hand.
t usually throw with my left hand, though
can use either.
II take up the rope from the saddle
bow, co."
He lifted his rlata In his right hand.
; His little finger held the standing end Of
! the rope, the third and middle fingers sup
: ported the coil and the moose danyled from
his first finger. while his thumb steadied