Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-09
THE VACOUERO.
He Is Often Wrongfu1ly COMPOUNDED
with the Cowboy.
Tho Former Ia But u Breaker OF Wild
Horses, While the Latter's Occu-
patton Is Indicated by
His Name.

West, confound vacquoros with cow
boys, some even supposing that the only
difference between the men known by
these names is that Of locality Of tho
country in which thoy work; in other
words, that n man working with range
cattle is q cowboy in the North and a
vacqucro in the South. Such mistake,
however, is only made by people unac-
quainted with range work, because as q
matter of fact there is vast difference
between tho occupations in which those
men are engaged. 1t is true every vac
quero may become a cowboy; but every
cowboy can not possibly become vac
qucro.
The name and the occupation it de-
notes arc both Of Spanish origin, saws
Chambers Journal It is q matter of
history that tho first horses brought to
America were from Spain and the cow
ponies used in Texas and Old and New
Mexico arc to-day mongrel descendants
from tho purc-bred Barbs landed on tho
shores Of tho Gulf Of Mexico over o
century since. The same is true of tho
vacquero, for he is invariably q Mex
. lean, sometimes the descendant from q
pure Castilian family; but more often a
"Greaser' or half-brecd, having tho
blood of the Castilian and Indian mixed
in his veins. His occupation is hand
ling and breaking wild horses, and
while no inhcrits the hot-tempcred, i'm
pctuous disposition, together with tho
reckless bravery of his Spanish ances-
try, he has also coupled with it the cum
ming and trcachery of his Indian forc-
fathers in as noted degree as the wild
descendants of those pure-bred Spanish
-palfreys have inherited their high spir-
its, speed and endurance.
In his dress the vacquero gives tho
strongest outward evidence of his an
cestry and occupation. The heavy,
broad-brimmcd sombrcro, ornamented
with gold or silver braid and cord; tho
fancifully"decoratcd and embroidered
Velveteen jacket and trousers with buck
skin shirt and gaily-colorcd sash, long
legged boots and big spurs, form invari-
ably the dress adopted by him, no mat
ter how poor he may be or how old and
worn his garments,
In choosing his outfit, his saddle and
bride, he is more careful than the ordi-
nary cowboy, and gives less thought to
the expense; especially so is this the case
with regard to the trappings of his saddle,
which arc often fastened in place with
sllVer-headed rivetS, the heads being fire.
quentIy as large as crown piece, and
engraved with monograms, or brands,
or any other device which may catch his
fancy. His bride is usually of his own
manufacture, of plated horse-hair of
d1fferenS colors so combined as to give
evidence of his natural artistic taste.
1t differs from the ordinary bridlo in
being so constructed as to BIO adapted
Tor use with or without bits, and when
used in the latter shape is called q
"hackamore." 1t is in this shape tho vac
qucro invariably usos it tho first timo
he saddles and mounts wild horse, be-
cause then the bits are useless, and onlv
irritatc the animal; tho first lesson tho
vacquero desires to teach it being to no
ahead without any regard to direction.
tho hair-cord, which passes around tho
nose and jaws being sufficiently strong
to stop its wild race, if such n cours, 10
necessary. Tho lasso or lariat used by
tho vacquero is, like the COWBOYS, mndo
from plated raw-hido or horse-bair,
about thirty feet in length, and so heavy
that mono but very strong wind is
able to alter the course of tho nooso
when thrown at q fleeing animal.
Tho outfit entire is ofton worth hum
drods OF dollars, and represents tho vac
qucros stock in trade, being as indis-
pcnsablo as n lawyers or physicians Ii.
brary. We have often soon such an out
htgirthed, or ''sinchcd" as they say, on
horse not worth moro cents than tho
Quilt was dollars. Tho vacqucro talos
moro pride in tho completeness and
quality of his outfit than the ordinary
cowboy.
Rarely do you over SEQ the vacquoro
change his occupation; he i5 apparently
born in tho saddle, reared in tho
saddle, and not unfrequently falls
dead from tho saddle. IIo is more ac-
complished with tho lasso than the
cowboy, and no vacquoro Is considered a
thoroughly competent lasso.throwor,