Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-08-23

THE LAsso AS A DEADLY WEAPON M
A COWBOY DUEL

How Two Desperndocs Who Were
Skilled In Horsemnnship and
Adopts Ia FIinEinE thc Lariat Shuf-
aea on This Mortal Coil.
81 once witnessed a duel with lasso
ropes between u Mexican and an Amer
ican," said Joe Hampton. 1T hap
pened about 20 years ago. and it was
about as exciting a piece OF work as
ever saw. I was foreman at that time
for the Seven Up e U - horse ranch
In Wyoming. and we were on our way
from Syduey. Neb.. with Il band of
mares that had been shipped from the
Missouri to Sydney. We had to drive
the animals overland to the home
ranch.
well. I picked up an outfit Of men
around Sydney. sewn Americans anu
three Mcxicans, n 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 n few days. There was one Mexi-
can. Pedro Gonzales. about the most
Ill natured and most quarrelsO,nc man
I ever saw. lie fell out with an Amer
lean by the name Of Dick McAll, an
all around bad man. l knew Dick by
reputation. and he had bad record.
"We!l. one day Mt dinner time Dick
made some remarks about rOping n
Grcaser 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
n live man and do that. Dick jumped
to his feet and pulled his gun. and Pc
dro did the same. l rushed between
them and ordered them to put up their
guns. The McXican's black eyes shone
like rattlesnakc's when about to
strike. but he put the gun back in his
belt. and Dick did the same.
81 knew there would he trouble. and
how to avoid it was question not
easily solved. ordered the horse
wranglcr to fetch up the saddle horses.
for I 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. ! noticed
both men saddled mp their best horses.
They both unwound their lasso
ropes and stretched them out side by
side. Dicks rope was about A. feet
long and Petlro's about TO feet. Pedro
drew his knife from his belt and cut
his rope the exact length of Dicks.
Then they coilcd up their ropes care
A,,n, IL, 1.,.f 1,f ".
opposite directions until they were
about 100 yards apart. Then they
mounted like flash and rode toward
each other.
Il stood holding my horse by tie
bride and watched every move. l Will
never forget The lock If hGste and muir
ter on the McXican's face. His lips
were apart, showing his white teeth,
and n wicked smile seemed to play
about his mouth. Dicks jaws were set
tight. and n look of mingled fear and
rage combined on his savage face.
''They rode slowly toward each 9th
er for about 30 yards. watching each
other like couple of Gagged panthers.
Then they made a dash. and both ropes
shot out like streak of lightning.
10th men lodged and escaped. In an
instant they had gathered up their
ropes and begun to circle around and
around.
81 could her 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 thrcw their
ropes again. 1t was close e-eall for
Dick. for the Mexican got his rope over
Dicks head. but Dick threw 1t off be-
fore he could pull up the slack.
'Tn an instant Pedro had gathered
up his rope and threw 1t again and
caught Dick around the head and one
arm. He drove the spurs into his horse
and started across the prairie. but like
n flash Dicks hand went to his pistol.
and before the Mexican could pull him
from his horse Dick sent bullet
through his head. and the Mexican
fell to the ground dead.
"Rut Dick was jcrked from his horse
with terrible force. for the Mexican
had made the end Of his rope fast 10
the saddle horn. The Mcxican's horse
ran q short distance and then stopped.
and before ! could get to him enc Of
the other Mexicans had ridden up and
empticd his six shooter into Dicks
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.
1.-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.