Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-12-02
"ROPING0 .BRUIN.
HOW BEARS ARE CAUGHT ALIVE
IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
Sometimes n Big Grizzly Catches a
Man-intelligent Ponies Play
an Important Part I'm
Bruins Capture.

march OF our civilization. Nearly third
of a century ago, when was an officer
of the regular Army stationed at a re-
mote military post in New Mexico, the
"foothills" and the main ranges of the
Rocky Mountains swarmed with bear.
1t was the most exciting of all sports to
go with party of Mexican vaqueros, or
white cowboys from the then great
cattle ranches, to catch bears alive with
the lariat, or lasso, rs the "rope" is best
known in the Eastern States. The pre-
iiminaries to this sort OF hunt, are that
Two of the selected number, experts with
The rope, OF course, whether to capture
the grizzly, cinnamon, or common brown
bear, go out day or two in advance, to
look over the ground of tho proposed
chase, which sometimes covers au area
Of three or four square miles.
A played out pony is taken along,
and when the spot has been selected for
laying the bait the poor animal is killed.
His visccia are then drawn out, in order
that the bear may scent the cilluva at
n greater distance than he could if the
animal were left intact. A whole quarter
Of the pony is then cut Off, fastened by a
rope to the horn of one of the mems sad
dies, and dragged all over the entire
ground, after which proceeding it IS
taken back, and left with the remainder
of the carcass; but great prccaution is
/ exercised to cover the whole bait pretty
well with brush. to prevent the buzzards
from devouring it before the bear finds
| 1t.
When the time has arrived for the
| party to set out, all are mounted on
horses; those who are to do the business
with the bear, arc on those TINT have
been drilled to the use Of the rope; it is
not at all necessary that their animals
should be particularly fast but they
must be lively, aud know exactly what
to do the moment the bear is roped. The
party generally cndcavor to arrive where
the bait is laid, about dusk; it having
been placed on an open, clear piece of
ground, where there are no rocks, or any
Obstacles to Interfere with straightior-
ward riding; but it must be within a
lew hundred yards of ledge, or rather
KIND of shelter, where the party may hide,
so that the bear will not see any of the
men or horses rs he approaches the bait.
this manner, soon learns to understand
what the necessary silence of the expedi.
ton means, and after few time seems
to take as much interest in the sport rs
the men themselves. He lets his rider
know by deep breathings and priclling
up his ears when to be on sharp look
out; and when this occurs, either OH the
part Of all the animals, or only portion
OF them, the hunters know that bruin is
on his way to the spot. Then they ret
up from the place where they have been
lying concealed, mount their animals,
and with rope already to throw, they
quietly spur the horses forward, though
no urging is needed, for the obedient
animals are as eager, apparently, rs their
riders to capture the bear. A horse is Il
much swifler and nimbler animal than Il
bear, and if everything has been pre-
pared correctly, rs to proper ground,
good bait, full knowledge of all holes,
ravines, etc, bruin is certain to be over
taken before he can find cover.
The cowboy or vaqucro who happens
to be in advance when the bear is seen,
FORCES ahead, and the moment he comes
within throwing distance, swings his
rope, almost always sure to catch the
bear by the neck, around the body, or
one leg. II he should by any circum-
stance miss, the others are by this time
close behind him and throwing their
ropes, the bear is caught by one or more
IN some manner. The moment the shaggy
monster finds himself in the tolls of the
rope, he almost invariably catches hold
OF 1t with his forepaws, and then it must
be drawn tight quickly or he will soon
free himself, for Il bear is not n slow AMI
NAL in his movements when he is In n
scrape, however clumsy he may appear
as ne shambles along alone in the forest
and not disturbed. Sometimes he will
BIT up on his launches and begin to pull
the rope hand hand, and, as has
been the case, draws the horse and rider
IN rather too close proximity for com.
Tort, especially if the latter should have
MS rifle or revolver empty at the mo-
ment. Such an instance could only hap
| pen where the bear Is monstrous
grizzly, but such All event is on record.
The instant the bear is ropcd, the
horses sagacity and strength are called
ih'o uStoni nc Keeps sharp eye on the
movements of both his master and the
bear, doirg all in his power to protec.
himself and his rider. Sometimes it
happens that from carelessness on the
part of the hunter the bear will run
around the horses legs with the rope,
but well-traincd animal will with the
greatest agility and judgment clear him
self from the tangling alliance without a
word or motion from his rider. There
are we'll authenticated instances on record
where, when the bear has run right I'D
to the horse, the latter, watching the
bear all the while, instead of jumping
sideways at the supreme moment of dan
ger lehpcd directly over bruin, then sud
denly turned and faced the vicious brute,
OF course, such things are not common,
and can only occur when the horse is an
exceedingly intelligent and perfectly
trained animal.
IT the bear caught is a very large one,
1t requires two or three ropes to secure
him, as they have fashion of taking a
rope in their teeth and biting it off, OIL