The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-08-25
FOUGHT WITH ROPES
THE LAsSo AS A DEADLY WEAPON IN
A COWBOY CusL.

TOW Two Desperndoes Who We're
skilled In 0rsGninnshlp mt.
Adopts In FllnEinE the Larlnt shn,-
fed on This Mortal Coil.
II once Witnessed Il duel With lasso
ropes between Il Mexican und IA .A!Ati'
lean" said Joe Hampton. III lH.r
pened about 20 years ago. and II WNrt
about us exciting a piece Of work ns |
ever saw was foreman At that time
for the Seven Up Il U ~ horse ranch
in Wyoming, and we We're on our way
from Sydn ". Neb. with Il band OF
Mares TINT had been shipped from the
Missouri to sydney. We had to drive
the animals overland to the homo
ranch.
"Well. | picked up nm outfit OF men
around Sydney, seven Americans and
three Mexicans, u tough lot. We stnrt'
ed out. and when we rot to the Fly
Cheyenne river. south OF the Black
Ellis. we stopped to let the horses rest
for a few days. There was n Next.
can. Pedro Gonzales, about ,lm most
III natured and most uunrrplsome man
I ever saw. He fell out with m Amer
lean by the name Of Dick Mc.\ll. IN
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 rOplng q
Greaser down In Texas and hnullng
him across tile prairie until he was
worn out. Tho Mexican answered ly
saying that man must have hern
asleep or dead. for you could not rope
a live man and do TINT. Dick Jumped
to his feet and pulled his gun, and Pc.
dro did the same. rushed between
them and ordered them to put IN their
guns. The Mexlcnn'S black eyes sllone
like a r~attlesnake's when ABOUT to
strike. but he put the Gun back in his
belt, and Dick did thu same.
II knew there would be trouble. and
how to avoid 1t was 4 question not
easily solved. ! ordered the horse
wraDgler to fetch UP the saddle horses.
for 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 a few minutes.
When the horses came up, | 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 10 feet
long and Pedro's about 20 feet. Pedro
drew bis knife from his belt ana cut
his rope the exact length of Dicks,
Then they colled up their ropes care.
fully. and each maj led his horse In
opposite directions until they were
about 100 yards apart. Then they
mounted like q flash and rode toward
each other.
II stood holding my horse by the
bride and watched every move. | Will
never forget the look Of hate and muir.
der on the Mexican's face. Ills lips
were apart, showing his white teeth.
and a wicked smile seemed to play
about his mouth. Dicks jaws We're set
tight. and q look Of mingled fear and
rage combined on his savage face.
'"rhey rode slowly toward each 9th.
or for about 80 yards. watching each
other like a couple Of Gagged panthers.
Then they made a dash, ana 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.
IT 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 II or DO.
fore he could pull up the slack.
"In an instant Pedro had gathered
up his rope and threw II again and
caught Dick around tho head and one
arm. He drove the spurs into his horse
and started across the prairie, but like
a fash Dicks hand went to his pistol,
and before the Mexican could pull him
from his horse Dick sent Q bullet
through his head. and the Mexican
fell to the ground dead,
"Tut Dick was jerked from his horse
with terrible force, for the Mexican
had made tho end Of his rope fast to
tho saddle horn, The M%exlcan's horse
ran a short distance and then stopped,
and before could got to him one OF
the other Mexlcans had ridden up and
emptied his six shooter Into Dicks
body, lie then put spurs to hls horse
and soon disappeared across the prai,
RE, and that WIS tho last | ever saw
Of him. @ ~
1.-THE other Mexican told me that
was the third duel Of that kind that
Pedro had fought and always got his
mar" w6eattle POST Intelligehter,
H- H.. UAABnkRA