El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-28
A DUEL
With LASSOS


lean, yes. 1t happened about twenty
years ago, and it was about as exciting
q 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 Sidney,
Neb., with q band of mares that had
been shipped from Missouri to Sidney,
Neb.RWe had to drive the amin ais over
land to the home ranch.
"Well, picked up an outfit OF men
around Sidney, seven American and
three Mexicans-a tough lot. We
started out, and when we got to the
Big Cheyenne River, south of the
Black Hills, we stopped to let the
horses rest for q few dsys. There was
one Mexican, Pedro Gonzales, about
the most i'll natured and most quarrel
some man 1 ever saw. He fell out with
an American by the name of Dick Nc
All, an all around bad man. l knew
Dick by reputation, and he had bad
record.
"Well, one day at dinner Tina Dick
made some remarks about ropinR q
'greaser' down in Texas and hauling
him across the prairie until he was
worn out. The Mexican answered by
saying that the man must have been as
leep or dead, for you could not rope 9
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 Mexican's black eyes shone
like q 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 question not easi-
ly solved. 1 ordered the horse wrangl-
err to fetch up the saddle horses, for 1
intended to move on that afternoon.
The Mexican spoke to Dick and they
walked off to one side and talked in
low tone for few minutes. When the
horses came up noticed both men sad
died up their best horses. They both
their lasso ropes and stretch
ed them out side by side. Dicks rope
was about forty-6ve feet long and Pc
dro's about sixty feet. Pedro drew his
knife from his belt and cut his rope the
exact length of Dicks. Then they
coiled up their ropes carefully and each
man led his horse in opposite direc-
tiOns until they were about hundred
yards apart. Then they mounted like
q flash and rode toward each other. 1
stood holding my horse by the bride
and watched them move. l will never
forget the look of hate and murder on
the Mexican's face. His lips were
apart, showing his white teeth, and q
wicked smile seemed to play about his
mouth. 'Uick's jaws were set tight,
and look of mingled fear and rage
combined on his savage face.
"They rode slowly toward each other |
for about fifty yards, watching each |
other like couple of Gagged panthers. |
Then they made dash and both ropes |
shot out like q streak of lightning.
instant they had gathered up their
'opes, and began to circle around and
Lroupd. 1 could hear the swish of
heir ropes as they swung them around
heir heads, each man trying to get
ome advantage. They charged back
nd forth and finally threw their ropes
Igain. 1t was close call for Dick,
or the Mexican got his rope over
Dicks head, but Dick threw off be-
Instant Pedro had gathered up his rope
md threw it again and caught Dick
lround the head and one arm. He
irove his spurs into his horse and
tarted across the prairie, but like 8
lash Dicks hand went to his pistol,
md before the Mexican could pull him
rom his horse Dick sent a bullet
through his head and the Mexican fell
% the ground dead.
"But Dick was jerked from hit
,orse with terrible force for the Mexi
AN had made the end of his rope fass
o the saddle horn. The Mexican
horse ran q short distance and then
topped, and before could get to him
me of the other Mexicsns had ridden
Up and emptied his six shooter into
Dicks body, He then put spurs to
lis horse and soon disappeared across
he prairie, aud that was the last 1
yer saw of him. The other Mexican
old me that was the third duel of that
lind that Pedro had fought, and al
IN VIC r<.< &c |