St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-11
WILD CATTLE IN CALIFORNIA.
Their Capture Requires Nerve and
the Best HOrsema ns1lip

The youthfulness Of the Coast range
and its typically volcanic origin doubt
less explain the occurrence of localities
which are literally inextricable mazes
OF narrow canyons, leading into and
out of each other; many beginning with
precipitouS waterfall, and ending in
much the same fashion. When it is
borne In mind that in these recent
formations every canyon opening upon
the main valleys and potreros has a be-
wildering number of tributaries, and
every tributary, Subcanyons ramifying
ad infinitum from both sides, each
an exact counterpart of the other the
statement that there is a great deal Of
country among the San Rafael and
Sierra Madre del Sur mountains I'M
trodden by man or horse will be given
ready credence.
Thus it happens that there are wild
cattle running among these labyrinths
which have never seen a human being
and probably never will. Scarcity Of
water and feed drives stock into I'M
wonted places, and a percentage never
finds its way back. The exploration Of
these canyons, therefore, is attended
with constant surprises, mostly I'M
pleasant, as a steer eight or nine years
old, unaccustomed to the sight of man,
is as undesirable a companion in a mar
row gulch as a grizzly.
Fleet as deer and entirely without
fear Of horse or rider, their capture and
subjugation involved display of nerve
and horsemanship surely without par
allel. Tail in the air, the steer would
race up the mountain the moment he
caught sight of the vaqueros. Up the
sleeps, through the brush, over bar
rancas, the vaqueros, neither sparing
horse nor needing obstacles, would sue
coed in heading off the fugitive, who
would Immediately show fight. While
making rush at one rider, as quick as
a fash the steer is lassoed by another
round the horns, and checked with a
jerk which filings it's headquarters sky
ward. Before the astonished animal
can gather it's wits the vaquero who
has his by the horns turns his horse
and begins to drag the steer toward
the main band. Other vaqueros beat
it on the TANKS with their riatas, and
seek to overcome the brute's reluctance
by jostling and kicking it from behind
with their heavy tapaderos-one Of the
multitudinous uses to which the orna-
mental leather covering Of the stirrups
on a Mexican saddle is put. In this
manner, with many wild plunges from
side to side, the open-mouthed bullock
is snaked close to the rest Of the cattle,
lassoed by the hind feet, stretched out,
thrown, and the rope slipped from off
it's horns. AS he rises the steers hind
feet are allowed to free themselves
AS a rule, a refractory beeve, after
such a dressing, will at once join the
main band. Otir nine-year- friend
does nothing of the sort. With bel
low and a rush, seeing every other
channel blocked, he cuts right through
the herd, and is off across the potrero
at a swinging gallon. Before many
yards are covered, he is again ''lass'd,"
dragged back to the herd, thrown and
released. Nothing daunted, with low
cred horns he makes vicious rush at
one of the horses, which is either avoid
ed, or, if unavoidable, received on the
thick leather flap from which the STIR
rups and tapaderos are pendent. Re-
covering for another charge. the now
thoroughly Infatuated brute finds him
self strung up by the head and heels,
and is thrown on his side. This time
one horn is secured to front foot, be-
fore the steer is allowed to rise 1t was
found necessary to handicap more than
a dozen head of cattle In this manner;
many being bronco cows, as wicked in
every respect as steers. Fifty miles
and more they travelled on three legs
and hobble.
While the condition Of the majority
of the stock was Indifferent, a proper
ton being rejected by the butchers
with contumely, the wild cattle were
sleek and fat, their flesh firm, sweet
and and of splendid color.