The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-20
ROUGH RIDERS.
Skill and Daring Displayed by Cowboys Of
the Southwestern Plains.

the Southwestern Plains.
The wild steers are brought upon
the grounds before the spectators in
herd and rounded up and held by the
vaqueros near the judges stand, says
the San Jose Mercury. Three judges
are appointed, two tiIRekeepers and q
fagman. The contestant, mounted on
thoroughly trained horse, is stationed
at point twenty-five yards from the
fagman. When all are ready the
vaqueros single out q steer and with a
yell such as only cowboys can give
they start him across the line by the
fagmen at bFeak-neck speed. Just as
he passes the dead line" the fagman
swings his flag down as signal for
the cowboy to start. His spars no
sooner touch the horses tanks than he
is off with a jump and rapidly catching
up with the steer. a whir} or two of
the lariat over his head and then the
nooze darts out and neatly drops over
the head OF the steer. This done the
rider draws the rope along the right
side of the animal and refining his
horse to the left, at right angles to the
course of the animal, brings the
rope across the hind legs of
the animal. The rope is then
wrapped about the pommei Of the sad
die and all slack is taken up. Throw
ing his weight with the horse from the
steer, the animals head is drawn
around TO the right, his hind legs
crowded forward. and almost as quick
as fash be is lying in heap.
This operation is usually performed
so quickly as to be an entire mystery
to the steer as to how he lost his foot.
ing. BY little strain the rope Is
slipped from under the hind legs Of the
steer up to the front legs, which are
then drawn in front Of him and close
to his head. The rope being fast to the
pommel of the saddle, the pony Is set
back on it, and, braeing himself, stands
as firm as post. The rider leaps off,
and in a moment Is binding the feet Of
the PROSTATE steer with a short rope
which he carries about his waist. This
done, he signals TO the judge, and time
is taken from the drop of the flag until
the contestants Signals given. After
not allowed TO return to lis steer SNo
assistant is allowed at any time. Often
when heavy strain is put on the rope
&c breaks and horse and rider have
hard fall. Should the horse fail to
keep the rope tight after the rider
leaves him the steer IS very liable TO re-
gain his feet, and It Is quite frequently
the case that he makes for the rider the
first instant. Il Is always a case of
skill and nerve against strength, and
OF the thousands Of stoeizInen who ars
earning a livelihood in the saddle but
few can tie q Wild steer down without
assistance. The best time In steer ty-
ing was msde by Charley Meadows at
the fair In Arizona in lsss, according
to the territorial rules. He accom-
pllshed the feat In the very short time
OF f9tv-nine seconds and in this the
steer vTas given one hundred yards
start. Doc Gordon afterward tied 4
steer in forty-eight seconds, but with a
ffty-yard start.
Tailing4down Is the funny part Of
the cowboy tournament, and always
creates n1errir,1ent with all. The wild
steer is given good start, and in THIS
event IL is generally desired that the
animal shall be a little hostile, per-
hans killed some fine colts and caused
little folks 20 walk around a quarter
section Of land in order to get home
from school. He comes DOWN the
track on a lively rue and just Is he IS
thinning about turning on the cowboy
and horse and bluE3ns them out, the
cowboy reaches out and grssps the
steers tail. By q magic twist and pUl
Of that appeudage TO one side and then
letting 90 suddenly, the steer seems 70
lose his equilibrium and falls headlong,
sometimes rolling completely over two
or three times. As soon as he RECEIVERS
his feet ne makes plunge, with head
down. az TIE horse AID rider Nearest.
but another cowboy has ridden M in
the rear and takes The irsse steer by
the tail. giving him another tumble.
Three or teslr falls take the VIA from
him AID the steer slowly weTfds his
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