Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-07-29
cowsov SPORTS.


Csaeeses ~ MAIN TAst Are Held ~ TIE
CAanpisns d Rkva Ranches.
Even the festive cowboy has his
hours Of relaxation, although per-
chance his more civilized fellows OF
'the States" would pronounce the
same fraught with danger and re-
plcte with q malicious int lticn to
do great bodily HARM to the partic.
ipanta. But among the legitimate
sports In which the cowboys are prone
to indulge, aside from the not infrc-
Quent intervals when they reach q
town and ride around yelling like Co.
manches and chasing all aw-abiding
citizens into their sub-ccllars during
their v~isitationA, may be mentioned
their occasional contests Of skill ut
riding. shooting and roping steers,
got up between the ranchmen of
rival camps.
A certain curly.haired, young law
yer OF staid demeanor described such
q scene In which he had participated
In q certain sense, under conditions
that the local scribe was not to men.
ton his name.
ut was about five years ago." he
began, .'when / vas roughing 1t on
Morgan Hills ranche-a little patch
OF some 20, 600 acres-about sixteen
miles out from San jose. Mine hosts
outfit OF ranchcrs were exclusively
| Mexican, and an intense albeit a
friendly rivalry, for a wonder. existed
between them and the American cow
boys OF a neighboring ranch. One
Sunday morning our boys and their
neighbOrs OF 1.-The States" met at a
saloon Mt Madrone Station, and, as
usual, loud boastings we're heard on
each side as to their superiority in all
that the cowboy holds dear, namely,
riding, shooting and dexterity in
welding the lasso. A match was
finally agreed upon between one Lu.
cas- Padrone Of our camp and a picked
man from the American camp for a
contest OF skill on the points Of rid
Ing and shooting. Our Mexicans put
up as wagers everything they had ex-
cept their prospective chances of
escaping purgatory; that is to say,
their loose coin, blankets, lariats,
brides, saddles, 'real--genuine Mex.
lean Plugs ss Mark Twain would
style them, and all. The American
boys saw the ante and cheerfully
raised them 10 the extent of all their
worldly possessions. One Mexican
put up his silver-mouEted revolver,
and favorite bride with me for
enough coins OF the realm 10 stake all
on Padrone.
"Of course, I was glad to see the
contest, and also am rejoiced to say
that the champion from u ranch
came out victorious. The first test
vas to ride around a post about SKIS
inches on the circumference on a 40
foot circle, and to girdle the afOre.
said post with balls from a revolver.
Padrone won both the toss and the
match, averaging at least 20 balls
out Of the SO shots allowed. He won
the second contest also, in fancy rid.
ing, but this was due in the main
to the superior intelligence and train.
iny Of his pony, a little bay and
white bronco, which appeared as
meek as Moses, but which had the
temper of the devil when aroused by
its master. 1t really came up to the
ideal of the cowboys ponv, and was
able to wheel on a quarter This
contest embraced seemingly marvel.
Gus feats of horsemanship such as
the picking up OF handkerchiefs OF
small coins while galloping at full
speed, the vaulting in and out of the
saddle and many other manRuvres-
common enough in the West, but
which would be worth a small for
tune to a performer In a circus doing
the 'efrcte East. '"--SJ. Louis Re
public.