New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
LASSOING THE CONDOR.
EXCITING PAsTIME ON THE cTmIAN PLAINS,
BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND SEA.

EXCITING PASTIME ON THE CMLAN PLAINS,
BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND SEA.
"Chasing the condor with the lasso the leading
sport on the Chian plains when ] In that
country years ago. said Ncw-Y Yorker who went to
South America with Harry Meiggs the great railroad
contractor, but / told that this great bird has
become so wary that the sport is almost unknown
Twenty-Five years ago the condor had developed no
evidence OF cunning that heard Of There was
then, as there is now, believe Government bounty
of 20 head paid for the killing Of the condor, both In
Chill and Peru. II the birds plenty as they
were when I went to that region, wdeawake hunters
ought TO make plenty of money. The condor, unlike
many other members Of the vulture family, doesn't
wait for something somebody TO die in order that
he may have his dinner but IL he doesn't find a ready
made convenient on the plain when he is
hungry, he proceeds at once to provide that
himself At least, that used to be his habit, and |
presume he hasn't changed any in that respect, pro-
viding the material for carcasses is plenty
it then. The herds of cattle that pasured on the
undulating plains between the mpenetrable wall of
the Andes and the Pacifc's white crested line of
SURF offered the condor unrvalled facilities In his
line in those days, and he seemed to be In state
of chronic hunger, this king Of the feathered race
levied constant tribute the grazing herds. Twenty
five and thirty years ago it was no uncommon thing
to see hundreds Of these winged freebooters lowering
the plains, each one a ravenous and determined
dinner-robber from the herds below, to which the
shadow Of condors wings carried as much terror as
the appearance Of hawk does to brood of chickens.
The condor the greatest enemy the stOck-rasers
in that part Of South America had to contend with,
and 1t his persistent and destructive raids graz
ing cattle that made him outlaw with price
his head, to be relentessly hunted even among the
crags and cloud capped peaks where he made his home
"when a days oldume sport at condor lassolng
to be had the carcass OF steer dog a horse
carried out the plain. Strong stakes were driven
into the ground five or six inches apart about the
carcass until roofess Enclosure six or
feet high and twenty feet square, with gate
at one side was made. Long before the work
of making this Enclosure could be finished condors
would be seen floating down from the clouds, far above
which they have their haunts. As long the work
were busy at the Enclosure the birds would sail
high overhead. The instant the coast clear. down
the great vulture would drop, and in few seconds
he would be tearing at the dead body In the nclosrrc
1t IS no uncommon thing for mature condor to have
a twelve-foot spread of wing and have known them
to measure fifteen feet from tip TO tip OF wing Their
bodies are heavy and the ground the bird is clumsy
IL cannot rise for flight without running rapidly for
long distance to give 1t the necessary momentum espe
be II any food be obtained. AS consequence,
when condor aghted In one of those Enclosures ne
as much of a prisoner as II he were chained down
to the ground and the sportsman kept nun there 10
serve his pleasure When nc wanted TO ride after a
condor the OF the pen, generally Win irlenu
or two similarly equipped, mounted fleet horse,
fastened his ariat to the saddle, and rode 70 the IN
An attendant opened the gate Oh tle prison
themselves ut liberty they at once started at e
top of their speed the long run that would enable
item 10 taks wing. After they had run prob
ably one-quarer Of the distance the huntsmeh pun
spurs their horses and dashed after the D,s 40
the condors from the ground Win great wlnss
spread the lassOcs were thrown. An expert hihuier
Of the laria would send his rope over The cond0fs
head, > IL that II was slpped uo"h un,
IL touched the shoulders OF the wings before IL woulo
be frightened on the bird Inc cGuor %s bre sn
freely, and lead the hOrseman via chase across e
plain turning In all directions In his frantic Night
but unable rise higher than the length OF ue hsS
When the rider tired OF the sport he would turn his
horse about and lead the chase mnsei FORCING inc u
willing bird along until 1t tumbed spent TO the ground
and dragged To death at the horses heels .,...
81 never could understand why u CONDOR, captive
like that did not turn on both man and horse and at
tack them he would "a steer. but never Knew one
TO do 50. once III while larlat wonid break wnilc
the horseman bracng his horse against some des
nc rate sweep "a mighty condor and then both horse
and rider would be tumbled violently TO the ground
and the suddenly released bird would shoot upward
like cannonbal and soon disappear among ue
clouds COndors with several feet OF somebody laiat
hanging TO them frequently seen among those
that swooped down on the herds.
never tried the sport but once. once was enough
for me- | lassOed my bird, tremendous ienOW, Out
being green hand at the business. ughened the rope
on his wndppe That shut on his breath ut once,
and after dnrng about In the air In crazy sort OF
way for a minute he arose straight up as far as
the rope would let him, gave gasp Ike the escape
valve Of locomotive and shot down upon me as
condor struck me ] was rnhorsed In nash one
Zoo, remained in the STRAP Ny horse, naturally
frightened. started OF like mad. drngging me along
The condor which was as dead stone and smelt
like breeze Oft Barren Island lay right on top OF me-
Fortunately the ground SOFT ana one 81 my fellow
huntsmen manoeuvuring With condor he had
rpped some distance ahead Of me- He caught my
horse and rescued me. wasn't much hurt, but let
Others DO all the embarrassing after that