The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-25
PERILS IN AUSTRALIA.
NERVE OF TIE BUSa RIDER AND
FEATS OF TEE HUNTER.
Australian Game Worthy the Mama
Kaugsroos are Splendid Fghters
mastering" . Play for Lifs-Ths
Way to XIII a Maddensd Steer.


Kaugsroos are Splendid Fighters.
mastering" . Play for Lifs-Ths
Way to XIII a Maddensd Steer.
tCopVri0ht9
Can you ride p was the question asked
me by one Of the largest land owners OF
Victoria as 1 leaned against the bars Of a
paddock watching a herd Of fine Austria
lian horses"
ride, sir why Of course can ride I
was known as the best rider in the whole
country before l was 10
Mr.. Hearne smiled smile of disdain and
said:
20, know you English country chaps
can ride those quiet unspirited hacks you've
got over there, but l mean can you ride an
Australian horse p
Mr.. Hesrne," said sternly. 81 have
ridden horses since I could walk, and BUCK
ing trutes, too, at that-horses that would
surprise those quiet beasts of yours over
there, and pointed scornfully at the sp-
pero creatures walking so quietly arc md in
the Enclosure.
Every well, Mr.. Turaer, since yol ride
so well, now would you like TO mount yon-
der tiiyp aud he pointed ou5 a beautiful
gray mare that made my eyes sparkle with
delight.
Just the very one, F" said, highly pleased.
without paying narticular ate tion 60 the
smi that lighted up the faces of the men
and boys around.
! Ten minutes later a wiry little Irishman
| came to the gate leading two horses saddled
aud bridled. AS l went forward to take the
bride cut Of the groom's hand, h said:
''Shall OF hold her head, sirf
"Non l rep led, and throwing the reins
over the mares haad and taking tnem and
a hold of her name with my left, l jumped
| into the saddle. l Yves scarcely comfortable
when a surprising scene took place-at least
surprising TO me- but expected by on
lockers. The mare made a sudden side
| sprlng OF about twelve feet, almost uuseat-
! ing me, and then bucked three times in sue
cesslon with such raDldiey and force that |
was sent dying through the air. o. the
| horror OF the situation, with those idiots
| laughing uproariouSly over the ignominv Of
my downfall. Well, let them laugh, but
that horse should be conquered yet l
| would not be bested by any horse. With
| this lntentl sought TO recatch tie mare,
| which was standing quietly grazing and
! fenning herself with her tail as if nothing
had ppened. But the moment | ap-
! preached she made right wheel up went
| her hind legs to annihilate me AMI she
! played most marvellous devils tattoo" in
| the air. When she had gone through this
I
again quoted down, but as soon as / came
near, the same old game began again. By
! this time the spectators could laugh no more,
| and one OF them caught the vic GUS brute. /
was determined to mount her again, when
Mr.. Hearne said; 81 admire your pluck,
! young man, but would advise you 70 pick
! out quiet nag and learn to ride first before
| You get On a young thing like that
Insult added to injury was not 70 be
! lightly borne, 80 with a calm front /
| mounted only 10 be thrown again In a
| third desperate attempt TO keep my seat |
was victor, much to the assonishment OF the
| hilarious crowd.
| Alb Ut niue months after nv arrival at
| the station Mr.. Hearne invited several
| friends to join hin in a kangaroo hunt On
several &C a ions before this had been out
| With the boys, and had seen several kanga-
roos killed by the dogs, but this was b. be
something unusual, ana was eager for the
morrlw.
| At IL o'clock IN the morning four ladies'
and seven gentle men. mounted on splendid
animals, set out for large tract of scrubby
| and bushy land known q Brouyhton'S for
est We were sccumpau sd by -four kanga-
roe dogs and two greyhounds. We had
been riding along slowly and merlily for
about III hour when Mr. Dougla, ca ght
sight Of number Of large kangaroos feod-
ing and hopping about in the distance. At
the same instant they were sighted
! by the dogs, who ran msdly
at them, barking loudly. The
"tally-ho" was given, the horses be
came FESTIVE, for they knew well what was
coming, and, on they went in full chase
| through bracken, scrub and trees. On, On
we tore, the game in sight, hopping from
their bind legs aud tail distance OF from
twenty to thirty feet at a jump. On, on, in
a mad galop through the thick scrub, While
branches from bull or the oak tree. or
eucalyptus Dough snartly reminded ou9 of
their vicinity, by striking leg, treast or
head. Little fearing, little caring, the
horses, wild with he exciting ase beta
| wonaa and man struggle for first place.
| Neither whip nor spur is needed TO lncite
the gallant steeds [ a quicker pace. Now
stopping to the horses neck to AVOID some
pendent branch, now sitting back SIS we fly
over ratings, brush fence o. five barred
! gate, on We sped close IN the wake of the
hounds, that are quickly gaining on their
| prey. Tho latter have scattered in various
| directions, as have also the riders and dogs:
| CLOSE at hand the peculiar barking tells us
| that kangaroo is brought 10 bay. Several
! of Us hasten to he spot. There with his
| back to the lerdly eucalyptus, or gum tree
stands in msnscIuR attitude a noble "old
man" kangaroo, of the micropus ma jor fam
| lily. As he stands erect with hts back
| against a tree his vary little eyes filed
| with rage, be is not an animal to be
t9oughtlessly attacked. The bounds have
| stopped beyond the reach OF his death deal
| ing kicks, but as We approach they become
more br We, and one flies at the throat of
tae ''old man." only to suffer death for his
| temerity.
His body hos been torn open from neck to
! belly and his emit aIls are scattered about
| the 3 rub. Yet another hound ventures
and falls with It's side torn asunder. These
| dogs are too valuable to lose easily, 80 a
! hunter gallops Up and defty slipping a
stirrup iro from its hold he whirls 1t high
! Ia ar, and like an electric flash the heavy
! iron descends On the heal Of the kangaroo,
smashing in the skull and laying it pros
| trate at the mercy OF the dogs. which, with
| difficulty are kept from tearing il TO pieces.
| his last performance is ofteh accompanied
with danger, and no one tut a cool and ex-
| pert rider can pc form the feat. for the
chances are hundred to one that If, in the
| downward blow, one misses the kangaroo.
| he will be thrown fir m his horse and in
stantiy killed by blow from the hind leg
I OF the Infatuated animal.
| AS rule the Australian despises the use
OF tie rifle in chasing kaugaroos. 1t is only
| cases where the latter have become too
numerous that a wholesale slaughter by
| firearms takes place. Many a time young
Australian will bring a kangaroo to bay,
l