The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-06-14

sryo Glasses of Picturesque Westerners
that Are Sometimes Confonndcd.


boys. some even supposing that the only
difference between the men known by
these names is that of locality OF the
country In which they work; in other
words, that a man working with range
cattle is cowboy i'm the North and
yacquero In the South. Such n mis-
take. however is only made by people
/ unacquainted with range work, because
as matter Of fact there Is "A vast differ
ence between the occupations in which
these men are engaged. IL Is true
every yacquero may become cowboy;
but every cowboy can not possibly be-
come a vacquero.
The name and the occupation il de-
notes are both Of Spanish origin. 1t is
matter of history that the first horses
brought 20 America were from Spain.
and the cow-ponics used in Texas and
| Old and New Mexico are to-day mon
grcl descendants from the purc-bred
barbs landed on the shores OF the Gulf
of Mexico over "A century since. The
same Is true of the vacquero, for he is
invariably a Mexican. sometimes the
! descendant from pure Castllian fami-
! Isl; but more often "A "Grcaser' or half
breed. having the blood OF the Castilian
| and Indian mixed in his veins. His
occupation is handling and breaking
wild horses. and while he inhcrts the
I hot-tempcrd impctuous disposition of
his Spanish ancestry. he has also coupled
with ii the cunning and trcachery of
/ his Indian forefathers, in rs noted
degree rs the wild descendants of those
pure-brcd Spanish palfreys have in
/ herited their high spirits, speed and
endurance.
La his dress the vacqucro gives the
strongest outward evidence of his an
ccstry and occupation. The heavy
I broad brmmcd sombrcro. ornamented
I with gold or silver braid and cord; the
/ fancifully decorated and embroidered
4 vclvcteen jacket and trousers. with
| buckskin shirt and gally-colorcd sash
/ long-legged boots and big spurs. form
! invariably the dress adopted by him. no
matter how poor he may be on how old
and worn his garments.
! In choosing his outfit, his saddle and
bride, he is more careful than the
! ordinary cowboy,and gives less thought
7 10 the expense; especially SO is this the
case with regard to the trappings OF his
saddle. which are often fastened in
| place with silver-headcd rivets. the
heads being frequently rs large as a
/ crown-piece. and engraved with mono
! grams, or brands. or any other device
which may catch his fancy. His Bride
/ is usually of his own manufacture OF
/ plated horSe-hair of different coloTs
/ so combined rs TO give evidence of his
natural artistic taste IL differs from
the ordinary bride in being so con.
structed rs 10 be adapted for use with
or without bits, and when used in the
! latter shape is called "hackamoor.'
! 1t is la this shape the yacquero inyar.
! ably uses il the first time he saddles
and mounts n wild horse, because then
/ the bits are useless. and only irritate
/ the animal;the first lesson the vacqucrc
| desires To teach it being TO 30 ahead
without any regard TO direction. the
! hair-cord which passed around the nose
and jaws being sufficiently strong &c
stop its wild race, il such course il
necessary. The lasso or lariat used
by the vacqucio is, like the cowboys,
made from plated raw hide or horse
hair. about thirty feet in length, and sc
heavy that none but very strong
wind l. able 10 alter the course of the
moose when thrown ut a fleeing animal.
| drcds OF dollars and represents the
vacqueros stock in trade. being as in.
dispcnsablc rs lawyers or physicians
| library. We have often seen such ar
outfit girthcd. or 'sinched" rs they say.
on horse not worth many more cents
than The outfit was dollars. The
vacquero takes more pride in the com
plctcness and quality OF his Quilt than
the ordinary cowboy.
Rarely do YOU ever see the vacqucrc
change his occupation; he is apparent.
" born ia the saddle, reared In the sad
Every shot. every arrow. and every
lance was directed at the pole. and
bark and chips were flying from its
sides like shavings from the rotary bit
of plaucr. When every bullet had
been discharged. and every arrow and
lance had been hurled. the riders
crowded around the pole and shouted
as only excited savagcs can about
Had IL fallen in this onslaught. an
other pole would at once have been
chosen and another morning devoted
TO the performance Though this sell
dom happens. il was thought that the
numerous assailants OF this pole might
bring il TO the ground They did not.
however, although II looked like
ragged scarccrow. with chips aud bark
hanging from It's mutilatcd sides.
That such vast. tumultuous throng
could escape accident in all that wild
charging. firing of shots. hurting OF
lanccs and arrows. and great excite
ment would be- borderngon miracle.
and no miracle happeucn One of the