The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-05-06
CONDOR LASSOING.
The LEADING SPORT ON THE
GILLIAN PLAINS.

Il
the leading sport on the Chiian plains
when was in the country years ago, but
am told that this great bird has become
SO wary that tho sport is now almost un-
known. Twenty-Five years ago the con-
dor had developed no evidence Of cunning
that ever heard OF. There was then,
as there is now, believe, a government
bounty OF five dollars n head paid for
the killing Of the condor, both in Chill
and Peru.
The condor, unlike many other mem
bcrs Of the vuture family, doesn't wait
for something or somebody to dio in or.
der that he may have his dinner, but il
he doesn't find roady made carcass con-
venient on the plain when he is hungry
he proceeds at once to provide that car.
cass himself. At least, that used tn be
his habit, and / presume he hasn't
changed any in that respect, providing the
material for carcasses is as plenty now as
1t was then.
Tie condor was the greatest enemy
the stockraisers in that part OF South
America had to contend with, and il W as
his persistent and destructive raids on
grazing cattle that made him an outlaw,
with a price on his head, to be relent.
lessly hunted even among the crags and
cloudcappcd peaks where he made his
home.
When days old.tim sport at condor
lassoing was to be had the carcass OF a
steer, dog or horse was carried out on
the plain. Strong stakes were driven
into the ground, five or six inches apart,
about the carcass, until roofless en-
closure six or seven 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 as the workmen were
busy at the enclosure the birds would
sail high overhead. The instant the
coast was clear, down the great vulture
would drop, and in few seconds he
would be tearing at tho dead body in the
enclosure.
1t is no uncommon thing for mature
condor to have twelve foot spread Of
wing and l have known them to meas.
IRE fifteen feet from tip to tip OF wing.
Their bodies are heavy. and on the
ground the bird is clumsy. 1t can not
rise for flight without running rapidly
for long distance, to give it the neces-
sary momentum. especially ifit is gorged
with food, which it never fails to be il
any food can be obtained. As conse.
quence, when condor alighted in one Of
those enclosures. he was as much OF a
prisoner as il lie were chained down to
the ground, and the sportsman kept him
there to servo his pleasure.
Whom he wanted to ride after q con.
dor the owner Of the pen. generally with
n friend or two similarly equipped.
mounted feet horse, fastened his
lariat to the saddle, and rode to the
enclosure. An attendant opened tho
gate OF the prison and let out condor
for each rider. When the condors
found themselves at liberty, they at once
started at the top Of their speed on the
long run that would enable them to take
wing. After they had run probably
one quarter OF the distance tho hun tsmen
put spurs to their horses and dashed Of
ter the birds.
As the condors rose from the gr0pnd
with great wings spread, the lassoes wero
thrown. An expert handler of the lar
lat would send his rope over the condors
head, and so manage it that it was
slipped down until it touched the shoul-
ders OF the wings before it would tighten
ON the bird. f
The condor was then a prisoner, but
able to use his powerful pinions, breathe
freely, and lead the horseman a wild
chase across the plain, turning in all di-
rections in his frantic flight, but unable
to rise higher than the length OF the
lasso. When the rider tired Of the sport
he would turn his horse about aud lead
the chase himself, forcing the unwilling
bird along until it tumbled spent to the
ground aud was dragged to death at the
horses heels.
never could understand why q con-
dor, captive like that, did not turn on
both man and horse and attack them as
he would steer, bu. never saw one do
SO.
never tried the sport but once. Once
was enough for me. lassoed my bird,
a tremendous fellow, but being a green
hand at the business, tightened the rope
on his windpipe. That shut of his
breath at once, and after darting about
in the air in crazy sort OF way for
minute or so, he rose straight up as far
as the rope would let him, gave a gasp
like the escape valve OF locomotive, and
shot down upon me as straight as a
plumb bob.
When the heavy body of the condor
struck me l was unhorsed in fash.
One foot remained in the stirrup. My
horse, naturally frightened, started Off
like mad, dragging me along. The con-
dor, which was dead as stone and
smelt like breeze off Barren Island. lay
on top of me. Fortunately the ground
was soft, and one Of my fellow-huntsmen
was manourving with condor he had
roped some distance ahead OF me.
wasn't much hurt, but let Others do all
the or-lassoing after that.