The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-05-17
A WILD BURRO CHASE

A WILD BURRD CHASE
EXCITING HUNT ON THE SLOPES OF
MOUNT ORIzAeA.
A Perilous Ride at Brcnkneck Speed
Oh Well Trained Mustangs That Tn
ders:ood Their BUsincss-Tlisht Of
the LarIat.
We We're high on the slopes of Mount
Orizaba. in California, creeping around
O spur from rock to rock, in the enter
of as wild and remarkable a country as
can be imagined. Th" peak rose above
us almost perpendicularly, the slope CT
rock falling away Oh every side, lost in
the deep canyons thar cut into and sur
rounded the base. One great ridge reach
ed away to the distant ocean, another
rose, a PERCEPTIONS cliff, while still an
other was a mass of rocks and Cacti, i'm
penetrable and impossible except Ey tho
wild goats that made it their home.
From zeal the summit a magnificent
view was obtained. The entire length
of Santa Catalina was at our feet, vita
its mountains, ridges, its deep canyons
a maze of shadows, while to the south
west, low and %forEiddiug, lay San
Clemente and to the north San Nicolas.
a spot on the horizon. To the east the
Sicrras on the mainland raiGed their
slopes, ever changing in tint flcm pinE
TO purple. The higher we ccep<, leading
Cur we'll trained mustangs, the stronger
came the wind, and with it the faint
bleat of the wild goat on some distant
crag. or tho hcarse cry Of the bald head
ed caele that circ!ed 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 rcamed the
central portion CT the island, defyins
capture. The slone OF the mountain
was filed with cactus and rock that had
rolled down from the summit, aud sl:e
slightest carelessness would have created
a fatal slide for horse and rider. At last
we stood on a lofty pinnacle that ever
looked the series of ridges extending to
the west. Almost two miles away Il herd
CT wild goats could be seen 1oving
along over the gray ridges. Immediate
ly below were three deep canyons, and
on a small mesa or slope, extending
down into a grove of ~cottonwoods, wera
three dark objects that in the peculiar
atmospheric conditions looked eno.-
NOUS. They were either wild cattle OF
the wild burros of Cur search and thas
they had seen US even at this long dis
lance was evident, fer they stood a mo-
ment, 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 al ~impenetrabla
slope ~dismounted 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 bad disappeared.
AS we approached we moved with tha
greatest caution and finally, looking
over a ridge, saw before Us a long mesa
reaching down into a green and deep
canyon. The mesa was covered With
loose rocks, ard in the center rose q
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 tie
three strange Objects. There was no
mistakirg them now. They were tbs
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, and then, as they
tIrned, we slipped behind the rocks and
ran our horses at this barrier. But
when we reached it we found that the
cunning burrcs had gone at full speed
400 or 500 yards and were again. stand.
ipg waiting for developments. 4 little
canyon entered the mesa near ns, anG
into this wo walked and ran the borsus
under cover for some distance, then,
looking to the cinches the lariat carrier
taking bis rope in LAID, 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. ox-
actly as before, bat looking fxadly at
the big rock where we bad disappeared.
The wind was from them, and they had
not scented US. The moment we appear
ed they wheeled hike antelopes and
dashed away over the rocks, and there
followed az wild a race as one 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 incomp-ehensible
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 tine greatest ease, now down q
steep arroyo, dashing along the rocky
bottom, up the other side, pounding the
gravel, leaping gullies and Gnally LAX.
ing for the mountain side. Their ma
neuvers showed their cunning, Cor they
invariably selected the rou2aest places,
hoping to discourage the Hurses.
The mustangs followed a breakneck
pace, yet never stumbling, until finally
we began to gain, and then the hIrses
spurted, and we were upon the flying
burros. We had no desire to injura
them and several times could have
touched them by IN extra exertion. The
lariat was now circling, and a moment
later it went whistiing through the air
and dropped over the long ears of a
burro. The broncho stopped, stifened
back upon his launches, and the big
gest Of the trio was suddenly arrested
in his fight. He did not surrender,
however, and finally broke the lar;at
and rushed away, only to be roped
again after a p%itiless chase.-C. f.
Holder in New York Post.