Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-01
The Vaquero Tournament Was
a Great Success.
Leo Rio Breaks the Record for Rop-
ing Steers.
A Slight Accident at tho Ferry That
Created Temporary Excitement
But Termin ated in Hearty
Laugh.
By the Associated Press !

Laugh
By the Associated Press
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30.-A vaquero tour.
nament at the Coronado race track, closed
the third day Of the Cabrillo celebration,
and, like the preceding numbers of the
programme, was complete success.
Both the Coronado and Benicia steam
ferries were in use, running on q ten.
minute service, but they were made
quate to handle the immense throng.
Sail boats, steam launches and row
boats were called into requisition, but
did not relieve the pressure to any per-
ceptible extent. Finally, when the
crowd began to grow impatient,
the huge steamer Silver Gate was
towed alongside the wharf and a narrow
gang plank. not over IL inches wide, was
run out. At that moment the vaqueros,
nearly 160 strong. arrived and gave the
spectators foretaste of their horse
manship, by riding their wiry little
steeds down the narrow plank at an an
gle Of 45 degrees. A number amused
themselves by jumping their horses
from the wharf to the deck. There was
A SLIGHT ACCIDENT
ct the ferry wharf which, for the mo-
ment, created great excitement, but
ended in hearty laugh. About 400
people were massed on the pontoon,
inside the gates, when it suddenly gave
way and sank several feet. As the cold
wave came rushing over the pontoon,
there was chorus of shrieks from the
ladies, yells from the men and hurried
scrambling and climbing on the part OF
all. Fortunately no one was injured.
Al THE TOURNEY.
There were at least 5000 people on the
ground. The appearance of Don Tomas
Alvarado, on richly caparisoned steed,
and wearing q gold embroidered serape,
accompanied by Charles Hardy, Fran
cisco Pico, Dixie Thompson, Francisco
Estudillo, Don Pancho Argnello and
Til a. Burns, VII splendidiy mounted,
followed by vaqueros, was greeted with
yells and cheers. The entire party
saluted and galloped to the corral. At
the first quarter post, Immediately in
front of the grand stand, was high
board fence enclosing space about 40
by so feet, with bars at one corner. The
gate was thrown open and out came
DOZEN BIG WILD STEERS
with sharp, murderous looking horns
and wicked eyes. AS the steers neared
the crowd, 100 vaqueros closed around
them, forming . solid body, with only
narro opening in front, which the cat
tie had to take, straight ahead, which
led into the corral in front of the grand
stand. First on the programme was
the roping and tying of eteers. A
mounted vaquero stood near the en-
trance to the corral, his lariat coiled in
his left hand. while his right grasped
the wide moose. The horse and rider
were as motionless as statues, while
the others rode into the corral
and "cut out" or separated one steer
from the herd. Out it bounded, and
started up the track, followed instantly
by vaquero. Up the track they went
in . mad race. The vaquero suddenly
raises his right arm, the lariat swings
about his head once, twice, three times,
and away it goes, whistling through the
air. The moose settles about the steers
horns. Vainly he tries to shake it off !;
the little horse knows his part too we'll.
AS the lariat leaves his masters hand
he slackens his pace, and as the moose
settles it tautens. He sees he has the
steer fast, and is suddenly
bounding forward he circles
about the mad creature, winding
the lariat around his feet. The circuit
made, he stops instantly and settles
back on his launches, and braces him
self Tor the coming shock. Another
leap, and the steers feet are drawn from
under him, and down he comes, some
times in double somersault; before he
can recover himself, the vaquero dis
mounts, snatches short hair rope from
his belt as he runs, and seizing the hind
feet of the PROSTATE animal, ties them
securely, the horse meanwhile standing
like post, braced to hold the lariat
tight. That ia
''ROPING AND TYING sTEERs,"
Many of the vaqueros tried their hand
successfully, but the quickest work was
Leo Rios, from Don Marco Forster's
ranch, San Juan Capistrano, who roped,
threw and tied his steer in 81 seconds
from the time the animal leaped from
the corral. This breaks the Southern
California record. Ed Crossthwaite has
one of the best, If not the best rider,
and his little black horse knew his part
to perfection. He won the second
prize. Other events were equally inter-
esting, and never before has go satisfac
tory an exhibition of the kind been
witne sed in California.
A concert was given by the naval re-
serves at the opera house. at which the
First regiment band OF Fort Grant,
Ariz., aided by local artists, appeared.
Admiral Gherardi and staff and other
distinguished army and navy officers
were present. At the plaza an audience
OF 5000 was entertained by an open-air
concert by the Mexican band, three
cheers being proposed for the band, and
given with will at the close Of the
| entertainment. A grand fireworks ex-
hibition at Coronado, and excursion by
moonlight on the bay, closed the cele'