San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-05
THE DOG cATcHERs.
-Four Hours With the Canine Ropers
OF This CITY

Four Hours With the Canine Ropers.
OF This City.
'Dished" up for the Light by an anna
teur contributor.l
"Andele Humbre, no ia fohas."
An expression often used by one
Mexican to another or to one he
thinks can understand him and which
If not pure Castillian answers the
purpose of telling his amigo to hurry
up and don't be so lazy.
This said Jose to his two negro CO.
ropers who stood leaning against the
dog cart, square bOx-like cage on
wheels, drawn by one horse and into
which dogs that are roped find lodge
ment, through being thrust into an
opening with the top for transporta-
ton to the dog pound.
The driver of the cart plies his whip
to the delapidated pony who ON being
awakened from morning nap gives
sudden start which almost preci-
pilates the Mexican from his high and
lofty seat to the ground below.
He RECEIVERS his equilibrium, how
ever, and the pony, realizing his situa-
ton and the long tramp before him
settle down to a pack-mule walk
They're OFF, in race track parlance on
an errand of small pay and still less
appreciation on the part of the canine
| owner. The start was made from the
west side of Military Plaza about six
In the morning. The writer
| unsuspicioned by the quartette and
| riding a silent rubber tired steed was
in their wake seemingly unconcerned
as to their doings yet jotting down
the incidents of their typical excur-
sions after ''mans best friend" the
dog.
Presently a big yellow cur such as
is generally seen trailing behind an
immigrants wagon came from under
country vehicle loaded with water
melons.
"Ague sta un pero," exclaimed the
Mexican and hardly had he spoken the
word when the negro's lasso had found
Judgment around the dogs neck
| Then such a howl as would startle a
| city boarder in the basement of our
| city hall after having imbibed some
of the tangle foot whisky found on
| the west side of the creek and having
been transported there through the
kindness of a blue coat and an express
wagon. The cur thus suddenly sur
prised, makes a swipe for his tormen-
tor, who stands ready to do all kinds
of lodging Another lasso is seen
flying through space and catches the
dog by the hind legs. This puts him
hors-du-combat, and the two prepare
TO launch the yellow cur into the
cage.
All this has not been going on with
| out a protest from the owner of the
eur, who with threats of humiliation
orders the ropers to turn his dog loose
or he'd do something he might be
sorry for"
\ crowd having congregated by this
time to see the fun, policeman i'm
merges from the city hall, and adj
vancing to the stranger, kindly told
him that the dog not having a license
tag was subjected to be impounded
under the ordinances of the city. The
country farmer pleads ignorance Of
the law and when told that by buying
a tag, the price of which was one dol
lar, the dog catcher would release his
pet, he went down in his trousers
pocket brought up n cart wheel" hand
ed II to the officer of the law who Of
fered TO go up to the collector as soon
as his office was opened and procure
the necessary tag.
Thus ended the first incident In
-four hours with the dog catchers.
They pass along the north side of the
Cathedral; a NANCY cur lies snugly
curled up next the curbing. Don't
rope that thing" exclaimed Steve,
THAR haint nothing in him." and on
they passed.
Near Frost's bank q beautiful En-
glish setter is standing innocently
watching them as they go by. Notie-
ne license, Bill" exclaimed Jose, as
with a graceful throw of his lasso he
places the rope around the dogs neck.
At first the setter tugs and whines,
but being sagacious and realizing that
he was bound to submit he was petted
and gently deposited" as it were in
the reception cage.
pelOne or hairless dog without a
collar was passed as if they had new
er seen him. "El dweno de ell es
MeXicano, no parga NADIA, porque unce
pObre," remarked the Mexican.
Down Soledad street, east on HouS-
ton and turning north, the procession
wendell its way towards the convent.
bridge. \ little shaggy flee ventures
out of the confines of a small yard on
which stands a cottage and banks at.
the ropers. Quick as flash Bill
makes Il sudden turn and throws his
lasSo over the hind legs of the flee.
Then a scene follows. Doors and
windows are thrown open, and from
out of the small cottage came a half
dozen children, some rubbing their
eyes, as though they had just been
driven out of bed, others haE clad,
with the mother bringing up the rear,
all FASTENED to the rescue of their
yelping pet.
On her knees went one little girl
about nine years old in front of one
of the ropers. 20, mister, don't take
my dog, give him back to me-" and
tears trickling down her little cheeks
as she pleaded for her canine friend
and the pet of the household TO be re-
leased With folded arms the negro
,@o0I fhonob m, do Of hlo al mo ,.nla.