The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-09-15
FOUGHT WITH ROPES
THE LASSO AS A DEADLY WEAPON IN
A COWBOY DUEL.

How Two Desperndoes Who Were
Skilled In HOrsemanship and
Adopts In Flinging the Lariat Shuf-
ned on This Mortal Coil.
81 once witnessed a duel with lasso
ropes between a Mexican and an Amer
ican," said Joe Hampton. TT hap
pened about 20 years ago, and 1t was
about as exciting piece Of work as
ever saw. l was foreman at that time
for the Seven Up q U p horse ranch
In Wyoming. and we We're on our way
from Sydney, Neb.. with a band Of
mares that had been shipped from the
Missouri to Sydney. We had to drive
the animals overland to the home
ranch.
around Sydney, seven Americans and
three Mexicans, tough lot. We start
ed out, and when we got to the Big
Cheyenne river, south of the Black
Hills, we stopped to let the horses rest
for few days. There was one Mexi-
can, Pedro Gonzales, about the most
Ill natured and most quarrelsome man
ever saw. He fell out with an Amer
lean by the name of Dick McAll. an
all around bad man. knew Dick by
reputation. and he had a bad record.
"Well, one day at dinner time Dick
made some remarks about roping a
Greaser down in Texas and hauling
him across the prairie until he was
worn out. The Mexican answered by
saying that man must have been
asleep or dead, for you could not rope
live man and do that. Dick jumped
to his feet and pulled his gun. and Pc
them and ordered them to put up their
guns. The Mexican's black eyes shone
like a rattlesnake's when about to
strike, but he put the gun back in his
belt, and Dick did the same.
81 knew there would be trouble. and
how to avoid it was a question not
easily solved. l ordered the horse
wrangler to fetch up the saddle horses,
for l intended to move on that after
noon. The Mexican spoke to Dick,
and they walked off to one side and
talked in a low tone for few minutes.
When the horses came up, l noticed
both men saddled up their best horses.
"They both unwound their lasso
ropes and stretched them out side by
side. Dicks rope was about As feet
long and Pedro's about 60 feet. Pedro
drew his knife from his belt and cut
his rope the exact length Of Dicks.
Then they coiled up their ropes care
fully, and each man led his horse in
opposite directions until they were
about 100 yards apart. Then they
mounted like flash and rode toward
each other.
81 stood holding my horse by :he
bride and watched every move. will
never forget the look Of hate and mur-
der on the Mexican's face. His lips
were apart, showing his white teeth,
and a wicked smile seemed to play
about his mouth. Dicks jaws were set
tight, and look of mingled fear and
rage combined on his savage face.
''They rode slowly toward each 9TH
er for about so yards, watching each
other like a couple of Gagged panthers.
Then they made dash, and both ropes
shot out like a streak Of lightning
Both men lodged and escaped. In an
instant they had gathered up their
ropes and begun to circle around and
around.
81 could hear the swish of their
ropes as they swung them around their
heads, each man trying to get some
advantage. They charged back and
forth, and finally both threw their
ropes again. 1t was a close call for
Dick, for the Mexican got his rope over
Dicks head, but Dick threw 1t off be-
fore he could pull up the slack.
"In an instant Pedro had gathered
up his rope and threw it again and
caught Dick around the head and one
arm. He drove the spurs into his horse
and started across the prairie. but like
a flash Dicks hand went to his pistol,
and before the Mexican could pull him
from his horse Dick sent a bullet
through his head, and the Mexican
fell to the ground dead.
"But Dick was jerked from his horse
with terrible force, for the Mexican
had made the end Of his rope fast to
the saddle horn. The Mexican's horse
ran a short distance and then stopped,
land before I could get to him one of
the other Mexicans had ridden up and
emptied his six shooter into Dick 8
body. He then put spurs to his horse
and soon disappeared across the prai-
} rie, and that was the last I ever saw
Of him.
"The other Mexican told me that
was the third duel of that kind that
Pedro had fought and always got his
man."-Seattle Post-Intelligencer.