Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-11-24
RANCHMEN PLAY IT.
THE CRUEL GAME CALLED
GANDER PULLING.
A Curious and Brutal Scene In n Cali
fornIa Viliage-Christmas Day Made
the Occasion OF the sport-What
Visitor Witnessed at the Game.

elSCO CnFOhlClo udu OlJen nedru
of gander pulling in the South, but
had never witnessed the so-called
sport. The pulling" took place at
q little crossroads hamlet contain
ing tavern, store. saloon, and about
q dozen dwellings,. The place was
at that time called Washington, or
Washington Corners. The ranch
men had gathered in from far and
near, nearly all mounted upon mus
tangs. Many cowboys, both Ameri-
can and Mexican, were in attend
ance. The game seemed to be an
unusual one to the people of the
settlement, as | found few better in
formed in regard to it than l myself
was.
A prominent object, and one that
Immediately attracted the attention
of all corners, was a gallows-like
structure newly erected in the center
of the village. On either side of the
roadway stood tall post, and rest
ing on the tops of these posts was
strong crossbeam 1t was from this
beam that the goose was to DO sus-
pended.
The cross beam was placed at such
q height that a man on h horseback
could only reach the neck of the gan
der by rising somewhat in his stir
rups and stretching his arms to their
full extent above his head. The con-
testants had to ride over course
about 100 yards in length before
reaching the goose, and had to ride
between two rows of men, each of
whom was armed with willow rod
ten TO fifteen feet in length. When
rider started the men with the will
low switches whipped his horse most
numerically and sent him flying up
the line. Horse and rider were made
20 run the gauntlet. At the begin
ming OF the course the whippers
were from ten &c twenty feet apart,
but near the goose they We're as close
as they could stand and have room
to use their long switches. Being
required to ride through this lane
of men with switches made the win
ming of the prize almost an impossi-
bility. Yet there were plenty of
reckless young fellows ready to put
up their dollar and take all the
chances.
At last the goose was brought out
and securely dashed by the legs to
the ceuter of the cross-beam. 1t was
wild goose-a tough old gander.
The neck of the bird had been strip
ped Of feathers and well covered
with soft soap The soap seemed to
In 20, "a l, id
ribly. 1t was continually frantically
plucking at its neck and breast with
! its beak.
The fun began when the riders
started. The savage lashings they re-
ceived from all sides drove most of
the horses wild and rendered them
uncomfortable. A number never got
near the goose. They charged
through the lines of switchmen and
took to the commons. Some of those
that did pass under the gallows
where the goose was suspended ran
at such frightful speed that their
riders did not attempt to raise their
hands TO reach for the neck of the
bird. The old gander proved good
at lodging when he saw what was
up, and of the few that did reach for
him in galloping past not one touched
his neck
Failure did not discourage the cow
boys. They were always ready for
another trial Presently, in order to
escape the whippers, from half a
dozen to dozen started at once, in
stead of running the gauntlet singly.
In this way they managed TO grasp
the neck of the gander, but were UNI
able TO hold it. One little fellow,
who made an upward leap, caught
the neck Of the gander and held on
long enough TO lose his horse. which
passed from under him. He landed
on the back of his head. and stunned
and insensible was carried into the
tavern. When brought to his senses
he stared at his right hand and at
his left, then began looking about
the floor.
"What is itP" asked friend.
Where is the gander's head9'
queried the little man.
''On the gander," said the friend.
The sport went on until late in the
afternoon, when, the saloon men and
others interested in the business
having made enough money out OF
it, it was brought to a close. A
man made his appearance mounted
on vicious-looking nag with a great
deal of white in his eyes. The new
conner said he would give the gander
trial. He was the only man on the
ground who wore q white shirt, and
besides in the front of the white
shirt. sparkled diamond about the
size of hazelnut. He looked like
a sport. and was doubtless the getter-
up of the gander-pulljng game.
When this man started down the
line and the switchmen began to ply
their willow rods the white-eyed nag
Immediately baked. He braced his
best and stood stock still.
"Ohol Aha! What is the dodgep
cried the switchmen.
Will ethey were staring and tn us
exclalming, the white-shirted mar