The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-02-01
AVID BURRO CHASE
EXCITING HUNT ON TIE SLOPES OF
MOUNT ORlzA5A.

Perilous Ride at Breakneck Speed
a., We'll Trained Hustnngs That In
derstood Their Basiness-Flisht OK
the Lariat.
We were high on the slopes OF Aount
Orizaba in California, creeping around
a sprr from rock to rock. III the center
of as wild and remarkable a country as
can be imagined. The peak rose above
us almost perpendiculariy, the slope CT
rock falling away on every side, lost III
the deep canyons that cut i and sur
rounded the base. One great ridge reach
ed away to the distant ocean, another
rose, a precipitous cliff, while still an
other was a mass of rocks and cacti, I'M
penetrable and impossible except by the
wild goats that made it their home.
from near the summit a magnificent
view was obtained. The entire length
of Santa Catalina was at our feet, With
its mountains, ridges, its deep canyons
"a maze CT shadows, while to the south
! west, low and fcrEidding. lay San
Clemente and to the north San Nicolas,
a,spot on the horizon. To the east the
I Sierras on the mainland raised their
slopes, ever changing in tint from PINK
70 purple. The higher we creep, leading
our we'll trained mustangs, the stronger
came the wind, and with it the faint
bleat Of the wild goat on some distant
cras, or the hoarse cry of the bald head
ed eagle that circled high above tbs
summit.
We were not in search Of the herds
of goats which frequent the summit,
but a rarer game-a small herd of wild
burros, which had for years roamed the
central portion Of The island, defyln2
capture. The slope of the mountain
was filed with cactus and rock that had
rolled down from the summit, and the
slightest carelessness would have created
a fatal slide for horse and rider. Atlast
we stood On a lofty pinnacle that over
looked the series Of ridges extending to
the west. Almost two miles away IL herd
Of wild goats could be seen moving
along over the gray ridges. Immediate
~ below were three deep canyons, and
on a small mesa or slope, extending
down into a grove of co~ttonwoods, were
three dark objects that in the peculiar
atmospheric conditions looked enor
nous. They were either wild cattle or
the wild burros of our search and hat
they had seen us even at this long dis
lance was evident, for they stood a mo.
m,snr, then turned and disappeared
down the slope of Cottonwood canyon.
We jumped into the saddle and skirt
ed the mountain side as rapidly as pos
sible, then coming to an impenetrable
sloped ismounted and led the horses,
sliding over the talus, until the ridge
was reached, then mounted and rode
down into the canyon at full speed,
finally reaching the divide over which
the mysterious game had disappeared.
AS we approached VT moved with the
greatest caution and finally, looking
over a ridge, saw before Us a long mesa
reaching down into a green aud deep
capyon The mesa was covered with
loose rocks, and in the center rose a
great mass of porpbyry, grim and for
bidding. We rode carefully over the di-
vide, when suddenly, changing our po-
sition, we saw not 800 yards away the
three strange objects. There was no
mistaking them now. They were the
wild burros-great brown and black fel.
lows, their enormous ears standing
erect, all facing us and we'll punched.
We stood perfectly still, wondering
if it were possible to get nearer before
making the charge, aud then, as they
turned, we slipped behind the rocks and
ran our horses at this barrier. But
when we reached it we found that the
cunning burros had gone at full speed
4O0 r 500 yards and were again stand.
ing waiting for Developments. \ little
canyon entered the mesa near US, and
into this we walked and ran the horses
under cover for some distance, then,
looking to the cnncbes, the lariat carrier
taking his rope i'll hand, we put spurs
to our horses and dashed up to the di-
vide. Our calculations had been correct.
Not 500 feet away stood the burros. ex-
actly as before, but looking fxedly at
the big rock where we had disappeared.
Liz NluN "SS 4IO@ii tACLb, Al tHSs Z"
not scented US. The moment we appear
ed they wheeled like antelopes aud
dashed away over the rocks, and there
followed as wild a race as Il would
care to indulge in.
The borros ran like deer along the
mesa, while the mustangs, mad with
excitement, simply flew over the field
of rock. 1t seemed incomprehensible
that a burro could distance a mustang,
yet these clumsy creatures, at home in
the rough country, gradually Increased
their speed and plunged over the rocks
with the greatest ease, now down a
steep arroyo, dashing along the rocky
bottom, up the other side, pounding tie
gravel, leaping gullies and finally max
ing for the mountain side. Their ma
neuvers showed their cuEuins, for they
invariably selected the toughest places,
hoping to discourage the horses.
The mustangs followed a breakneck
pace, yet never stumbling, until finally
we began to gain, and then the hyrses
snurted, and we were upon the flying
burros. We had 20 desire to injure
them ard several times could have
touched them by On extra exertion. The
lariat was now circling, and a moment
later it went whistling through the air
and dropped over the long ears Of a
burro. The broncho stopped, stifened
back upon his launches, and the big
sest Of the trio was suddenly arrested
in his flight. He did not surrender,
however, and finally broke the lariat
and rushed away only to lie rcped
again after a pitiless chase,-C. +.
Holder IN New York Post.
Fixed 1t.
Diner-Waiter, 1 find I have just
money enough to pay for tho dinner,
hut II leaves nothing. in the WAY Of a