The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-11-21
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E1 S2ts3.>T 4 hrou e h a
great grove OF
aiye-osks in the San Gabriel valley,
california. They came from a large
ranch down the country, and were go
Ding to Los Angeles for the annual
fiesta. Their saddles were of leather,
richly chased, after the Spanish fash
ion. The pommel of one was of silver,
the rim of the saddle OF the same, and
even the bride was OF silver, the bit
being handsomely inlaid
! The riders wore big, broad-br:nmed
hats, or sombreros, with silver bands,
richly colored trousers and botas,
while each carried a gay blanket, or
serape, which had hole for the neck,
TO be used if occasion required. This,
with long horsehair reata, or lnriat,
tied near the pommel, made up as
picturesque a costume as one could
Imagine.
The country was succession of
parks. with clunpss of fine old oaks,
whose long branches and limbs offered
grateful shade. Occasionally there
were patches of bush and chaparral.
giving way again TO the open spots
where the yellow fox-tail grass
CLEANED like gold, or the wild ost
crippled in the summer sun Through
such scenes of pastoral beauty the
light-hearted horsemen were riding.
passing the time with jokes and ban
ter, when suddenly Jose Salvadea,
who was ahead, stopped 80 abruptly
that his horse fell back on his
haunches. and motioned TO the others
for quiet. All drew rein. and, follow
ing the direction of his pointed finger,
saw a singular sight.
In little clearing, where the alfi-
1aria had been green and rank in win
ter, but was now a chocola ate-colored
mass upon the ground, under four or
five large trees, were two gigantic
birds, SO tall, SO black and ugly with
81, that they might have been carica
tures OF birds. One was tearing at a
sheep, while the other, evidently hsv-
ing dined to its content, stood by, its
enormous wings extended, showing a
spread of nine or ten feet. 1t was one
oe the rarest birds Of America-the
great California condor-caught in the
very act of filching from the owners Of
1.-THE sofia. bird that has the reputa-
tiol of depouring sheep day when
opportunity offered.
The loss of a sheep, or a dozen,
amounted TO little. but it was the sport
of taking the great bird that attracted
the horsemen, and as quietly as posi-
bio they united their reatas, released
and enlarged the coil, and waited for
the word.
! They held the rope in the right hand. !
30 that the moose, about four feet in
length, hung free. and at the word,
given by Juan, they put spurs to their
horses and dashed at the birds.
: The latter were taken completely by
gllrprise. One clumsily attempted
flight and rose a few feet from the
ground, when a reata went whirling
through the air. dropping over its
neck, pull bringing it to earth The /
other bird, stupefed by its stolen |
feast, fell an easy victim, two reatas |
falling over it, one dropping over its !
head, the other securing its wing. As |
the ropes fell the men raised a shout |
The horses, trained in their runs after |
stock, braced back, expecting the !
hard pull which a bullock gives when |
lassoed; but instead came a remark |
able series of struggles The condor |
raught by the head ran a short dis /
tance with a curious, hopping motion,
then with a violent effort beat tie |
ground and the air with its powerful /
wings, raising itself several feet into |
the air. The sight of the enormous |
bird, its waving wings, its uncanny |
appearance, SO demoralized the horsss
that they snorted, bucked and en-
Heavored TO run away. But they
were quickly subdued and the flying
condor was brought down with jerk
and the two birds were surrounded BY
she excited riders.
Then followed a curious exhibition
Uhe two pirds began an e1temporized
GaGce around the circle, hopping like !
eagles, first on one foot, then on the /
bther. utterinS low and vicious hiss.
eround they went, pecling at the
ropes, thrusting forward their bare
snd ugly heads, and apparently sub
6ued.
! But it was only for a moment As
If by concerted plan they hurled them.
selves at the horses, one On one side
and one on the other, coming up
against the animals with great force,
striking them with their ponderous
wings and pecking at them with their
powerful bills.
! This onslaught again demOralized
one of the horses, So that, rearing to
escape the charge, he fell backward
His rider slipped off in time, while the
Sroncho rolled over and over, en-
tangled in the reata. The bird, prob
ably equally frightened, sprang over
his body, and. between a fusillade OF .
kicks from the struggling animal, en-
heavoreG again to fly. But the rope
held it securely. and even 4 California
condor. with a spread of ten feet Of .
wing, could not carry OF a horse; SO
Ii was forced 10 come cluInsily TO the
ground.
The riders. now recovered from their
confusion, amid much laughter-as
this was a rare but famous sport }
among native Californians-began 10 .
take in their reatas. and soon had the /
great birds SO that they were entirely .
submissive; and as they were unin-
iured, ii was decided to carry them to /
Los Angeles. This was accomplished I
by carrying bird between two horses.
the wings spread apart - their full /
rxteat. and the tips OF the pinions tied /
TO the saddles; while beneath the /
birds, to support them So that thev