The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1898-12-22
ARIZONA NEW YEARS
HOW THE RECKLESS COWBOY cELe-
eRATeS THE DAY.

Ihe Uni 10 Dinncr-IAeip hOuraeli
From Roasted Quarters OF Becf.
Dancing In the Evening.
Roughly lettered posters of wrapping
paper for weeks had announced that n
cowboy tournament and fiesta Meiicana
would be held on Now Years day at
Aqua Caliente.
Two races, each of four heats, have
been run in the morning, when tho
faint popping of a six shooter, supple
mented by q distant roar of "Grubl Oh,
grubp' announces the hour for dinner.
Spectators and racers rush back to tho
plaza.
Back of one of the principal saloons,
between it and the base of tho noun
tain, long trench has been dug and
filed with mesquite wood, burned to
clear, red Goals. Over these Goals, rest.
ing on we'll soaked green poles, quarters
of beef have been roasting for the last
IL hours. These quarters are hung in
the different verandas, and from them
each man cuts such portion as seems
good to him and retiEas to eat it, to-
gether with whatever provisions no may
have brought with him, while in the
burning sun of the plaza the Indians
and dogs dispute for and gorge them
selves ON the refuse.
Soon there is general movement to-
ward corral at the foot of the plaza,
where the principal business of the day,
from sporting standpoint, is to begin.
For week the founders of the feast
have been collecting cattle suitable to
their purpose, and the cottonwood pole
corral is as full Of them as it will hold
Twenty feet in front of the corrals
II long line has been drawn in the sand
then an interval of 40 yards and anoth-
or. A little to one side the timekeeper
watch in hand, sits on his horse. The
first contestant in this case a hand.
some young Mexican, places himself
with bis back to the corral, and the
fore hoofs of hiAapony just toeing the
first line,
The bars are lowered and a long
legged red COW is allowed to escape.
Across the space she runs like a grey
hound. The instant she crosses tho sec
ond line the yaquero plunges in his big
spurs and starts in pursuit, his RATA
whistling around his head The COW
points straight for a growth at scrub,
Us though she knew that no lariat could
be thrown in such place. The little
horse gains ON her rapidly. Before she
has made more than third of the dis
lance to her goal he is at her flying
heels. Then the rope flies out so quick
ly that the eye can hardly follow it,
but the cow makes q quick turn and
gallops on, still free.
The Mexican makes no second at
tempt. The loss Of time caused by his
first failure would prevent his winning
the coveted prize. So he sulkily with
draws, and his place is taken by anoth-
er, who sits with straining eagerness
as gray bull is sent careering across
the dead line.
"Of fore foot, " he cries as his pony
springs forward. Then follows q quick
cast, a couple of turns around the sad
dlehorn, and the horse braces back,
tucking his head we'll down to keep it
out Of the way-while the bull, his
flight suddenly arrested, turns a half
somersault and lands on his back
caught by the leg his eaptor has named
Securing the line, the man dimounts
aud runs toward his prey as fast as his
high heels will allow. 1t struggles
fiercely, but the pony is far too we'll
trained to let the bull rise, and, with q
tightent2g Of the lariat, neatly foils
every attt4Apt. The captured fore leg is
quickly made fast to hind leg-"hog
tied"-and then the cowboy holds up
his hand to show that it is completed.
The judges having pronounced that
the animal is properly secured, the time
taken to accomplish the feat is entered
and another man tries his skill.
The twilight comes at last Dusk is
soon followed by darkness in these lati-
tudes, and hardly has it fallen when the
strains of rude music announce the
opening Of the great social feature of
the day, tho ball. The ballroom is the
whole upper floor Of the hotel. The
walls are of rough adobe, the floor Of
unplaned planks. From the rafters Of
the fiat roof hang all the lanterns that
can be borrowed in the neighborhood-
that is, within radius Of ten miles
and candles burn on bits of board
stuck in the intersticcs of the sun baked
brick of the walls. Benches of planks
laid across boxes line three sides of the
room. At one end of the hall, ON a
rough stage erected there, sit the mu.
sicans. There are three of them, all
Mexicans, one playing Q squeaky fiddle,
the other two guitars. All of them
wear their hats and smoke crooked oiga,
rettes Of brown paper as they play.
There are about 30 girls, many OF
them pretty and all of them dressed
with neatness and taste quite remark
able when one considers their limited
resources. About the same number Of
older women complete the feminine con
tingent, and all are in demand, for the
men number a hundred or more
The men are all dressed for the oeoa
sion, each in the manner that happens
to suit his fancy. Many retain theii
spurs, in which they are popularity sup
posed to sleep. One young fellow is es
peoially swell, wearing white shir'
and red necktio under long blacl
cutaway coat, and clad as to his neither
man in the leather "chaps" of the COW
boy, with tho jingling "petmakers'
still fast to his high heeled boots
Dance follows dance in rapid success
sion. The measured pounding of the feet
as they noisily caper over the rosound
ing boards almost browns the music. II
is thoroughly enjoyed until nearly day
break, when the company disperses
Horses are saddled, blankets unrolled
and soon, save for the snarling Of the
coyotes as they quarrel over the remainl
Of the supper, the little village is silent
philadelphia Press.
The Lord Decides.
No Christian can doubt that the Lort
Of hosts, who cares for right and justice
decides the issues in great battles. Nei
Their the skill nor the power Of man cal
make tho issue of any battle certain