Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-11

reproductions of wild life In the West.
with its Indians, scouts, hunters and
frontiersmen, will maintain its perennial
astractlveness, to very many the evolu-
lions and exhibitions Of skill, courage and
proficiency of the various horsemen who
form the Congress Of Rough Riders of the
World, Will be specially interesting and
exciting. To horseman the equitat,on
OF the North American Indians will be
both instructive, interesting and aston
ishing. Old and young. they ride equally
well, without style or grace, but with an
agility and tenacity truly marvellous
Rivaling the Indians in approximate
primitive simplicity of riding outfit are
the Gauchos from the Argentine Repub.
lie, representatives of a race of mixed
| Spanish and Indian extraction who are
all herders of horses, cattle and sheep
Ihelr saddles consist of three or four
sheepskins, piled and held in place by
a long rope Of tanned hide which they
| wrap two or three times about the horse
and tie. Loosely thrown across this and
quite unattached is stout strip of leather
with leathern ring at one end into which
two toes OF each foot are thrust. OF course
such stirrups are OF no use for mounting.
Inc rider bounds to the back of his horse,
and then adjusts them for use merely as
toe-rests. He employs no steel bitted bri-
dies, but sort Of leather halter with
very solid bit of raw-hlde. AS all riders
know, 1t is often not easy to get horse to
take in his mouth cold and hard metal
bit. Some animals have an intense aver.
sion for it and will fight against it. But
the Gaucho has trick of rubbing salt
on his raw-hide bit, and the horse having
once tasted 1t Is never again unwilling to
receive it. The Gauchos are believed to
be the best horse breakers In the world,
because they have more patience than any
Others and give more sympathetic study
to the individual disposition of each ami
NAL they take in hand. The Texan cow
boy will take more neck risking chances
and conquer bronco much quicker than
the Gaucho, but the Gaucho will make the
animal docile and obedent which the
cowboy probably will not. Tho Gaucho
wants his horse more tractable, but the
cowboy doesn't particularly care whether
he is or not, being confident of ability to
control him In any event. The Gauchos
use the lariat, but depend more upon the
bolas, two or three leathern bags contain
Ing smooth, round stones, connected by
very pliable strong and long thongs |
This ugly weapon they use most effec- |
lively. 1t has proved highly effective
weapon in South American warfare Here
owing to the peril of It's employment,
its use will only be shown upon tall |
pole painted tor the purpose.
Besides the Gauchos, Cowboys and 9TH
er rough riders, trained horsemen of |
another variety will be seen with the Wild |
West exhibition. Detachments of the finest |
cavalry regiments In the world will appear
in the full uniform of their respective ma
lions. The German Dragon, the French |
Cuirassier, the English Lancer, and the
United States Cavalryman will vie with
one another in showing what training can
do to aid courage and skill in horseman-
ship.
Taken altogether the Wild West show
in its present new and improved form is
a most interesting and useful object les |
son, and one not likely to be given again |
here on Friday, July 49,