The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-12-30
'AEW YEARS IN ARIZONA.
Celebrated By the Cowboys with
Much Jollity.
THEIR HORSEMANSHIP.
Chicken Pulling Begins the Fun
Then Follows Horse Racing and
Ropittx Cattle-Barbecued Beef.


R0ughly-lettered posters Of wrapping
paper for weeks had announced that
cowboy tournament and Fiesta Mejicana
would be held on New Years day at
Aqua Caliehte.
Singly and i'll gtoups, OIL horseback and
in f0uf=tittle waguns, newcomers arrive
every infinite. Among them arc few
women, who join the little knot of their
friends gossiping OH the raised veranda Of
the hotel. The; nien naturally grlvitate
toward the nearest bar. After taking the
edge off their chronic thirsts by means Of
dubious whisky, they hand their heavy
pistols to the proprietor, who places them
with pile Of their fellows on bench
behind the bar. This is In accordance
with territorial law. strictly enforced,
which requires everymah to disaiih with
in thirty minutes after entering settle
ment. Some of the men; however; re-
move the guns from their belts only to
trousers, while the cartridge belts and
empty halstefs Dire ostehtatibtlsly worn
as a deluslve ,etideiice Of good faith,
A deputy sheriff, easily distinguishable
by the fact that he Is visibly armed,
mounts an empty soapboX and announces
the commencement Of the sports. A
chickeh-pulling; he says; Is to be the first
event.
In front of the veranlla where the wom-
ell have taken their stand, little hole
has been dug. An unfortunate rooster,
loudly protesting, is placed in this hole,
and the earth is gently stamped to secure
him. leaving only his head and neck above
the surface of the. ground. Fifty yards
back are gathered the contestants, mount
ed on wiry cowponies:
The deputy sheriff raises his hand; a
half-groMh youth clabs his big spurs to his
horses side and star ts at fill speed to-
stirrup he throws himself otit of his saddle,
and supported by the remaining stifrup
and steadied by the other spur, which he
has hooked around the high cantle of his
saddle, he reaches for the chickens head
as he passes it. The head lodges him
cleyerly. The next in turn, an exceeding
ly small boy, mounted on pony of CORE
spending size, is more fortunate. Followed
by the cheers Of the spectators, he gallops
away, waving the futtering bird around
his head.
This game, which certainly is rather
rough on poultry; is continued until the
first contestant, who in the meantime has
secured two chickens, makes a fourth at
tempt He throws himself over, but as
he does so the spur-leather that partially
supports him gives way. To save him
self he clutches at the neck of his pony
this throws him well forward and he falls,
ing hoofs. The little horse tries to stop,
but is going too fast, and tripping OIL the
body of his master, plants both knees full
on his chest. The pony scrambles to his
feet, but the boy lies where he fell. He is
carried, unconscious, into a neishboring
saloon, and finally revived; but the inter
est in this particular sport seems to have
waned. The deputy calls the first race
"to take the taste out of our mouths" he
says.
Those who have horses mount them,
and, the few who have not troop along
Oh f0ot to Il stretch Of s1n-bakea adobe
clay, where a., qddrter=i4le stfaH1ghttawax
that are to run in the first heat are be-
ing led up and down, and already they are
cleared for action. They are all cow
for race has at least the merit of sim
plicity. 1t consists solely in removing the
saddle and tying rope loosely around the
body OF the pony. The jockey, after re-
moving most of his clothing, mounts and
thrusts his knees under this rope. This
gives him very secure seat, and a safe
one, for by the mere Strengthening of his
leg he can instantly free Giinse1f =.
Seven horses are entered for the first
heat. The betting is heavy; even the
poorer Mexicans stake their scanty sup
ply Of silver on the result. The race is
obligingly postponed until all the wagers
are satisfactorily laid.
Then the starter marshals the horses
to the further end of the broad clay path
a411 L.
their .tni1s, toward the finish. Pulling to
1he side, he draws his pistol and raises
it. A puff of peafly s1hoke sh06ts ff0il
it's muzzle, and before the report reaches
those who stand at the finish, the horses
have turned as only cow-ponies can, and
come pelting down the course. The crowd
ye]ls, and SO do the riders. The latter
have been obliged to shed their spurs
when, to prepare for the race, they took
Of attire even more essential, but their
two-tailed quirts go necessarily. Each lit
tie horse is striving frantically; It seems
scarcely an instant before the short course
is traversed, the winner led away to await
the final heat, and u new lot of horses are
In line at the starting point, when the
scene Is repeated.
bttn, ruin, when the faint popping Of d
sixzshobtef, supplemented by IL distuut
roaf IF "Gtub! Uh, gfuB!'' ahh6unees tie
hour for dinner. Spectators and racers
rush back to the plaza.
Back of one of the principal saloons, be-
tween it and the base of the mountain. a
long trench has been dug and filled with
| mesquite wood burned to clear, red Goals.
Over these Goals, resting Oh well-soaked
green poles, quarters of beef have been
| rpasting for the last twelve hotrs. These
| quarters are hung in the different veran.
das;. and from them each man cuts such
portion as seems good to him and retires
| to eat it, together with whatever provis-
| iuns' he Inlay have brought, with him,
while In the b1irnihs siih Of the plaza the
| Indians and dogs dispute for and gorge
| themselves on the refuse.
The next event is to be the roping. For
| this part of the sport several cowboys,
| unable to come before, ride up the plaza.
One of these men is especially noticeable.
With n handsome horse and get-up
more than usually ornate, he has capped
his climax with n derby hat, apparently
quite new, but Of the most pronounced
'ghm-drop" fashion Of ten years ago. He
Processes great admiration for his "hard-
boiled hat as he calls it, and In reply
to the many inquiries as to his reason for
wearing it, says that lie does so in order
that the company, there assembled may