Crawford avalanche., 1900-03-29

Now Ire BIr6s Are DextrsssIy Captured y
Well Traised lsdiasG

The only town in the Straits Of Ma
gellan Is Punta Arenas, free port
which was formerly penal colony OF
Chile, and Is now very important
market and supply point for the miners
of Terra del Fuego, the ranchmen OF
Patagonia, and for passing steamers.
II has population of about 12,OOO peo,
pie, representing all the tribes ana
races OF mankind, and 1t Is not safe 10
ask man where he came from on
what his name was before his arrival.
The country back Of Punta Arenas "
pretty well taken up with sheep
ranches, and large amount OF wool
Is shipped to Europe from that place.
Although the climate Is severe, the
sheep seem to thrive, and although un-
cultivated, the wool Is of excellent
quality. A large trade is done In furs
and skins, and the prettiest things to
be bought at Punta Arenas are ostrich
robes made of the breasts of young
birds. Seals are plenty along the rocks
of the coast, but their fur Is not so
good as that of the northern Zones. In
Patagonia ostriches are not bred as at
the Cape Of Good Hope, but run wild
and are being gradually exterminated.
The Indians chase them on horseback
and catch them with a bolas-two
heavy balls upon the end of rope
woven Of leather strings. Grasping one
ball in the hand they gallop after the
ostrich, and whirling the other ball
around their head like coil of lasso,
they let go when near enough to the
bird, and the two balls, still revolving
in the air, If skillfully directed. will
wind around the legs of the os-
trich and send him turning somer-
saults upon the sand. The Indians
leap from their saddles, and if they arr
out of meat cut the throat OF the bird
and carry the carcass to camp; but If
they have no need Of food, they pull
the long plumes from his tail and
wings and let him go again TO gather
fresh plumage for the next season.
The bolas is handled very dextrous-
ly, and well-trained Indians are able TO
bring down an ostrich at range OF
200 or 300 yards. But it is not often
necessary to fire at that distance.
Horses accustomed to the chase can
overtake bird on an unObstructed
plain, but the birds have the advan-
tage of being artful dodgers, and
carrying so much less weight. can
turn and reverse quite suddenly. The
usual mode of hunting is for dozen
or so of mounted Indians to sur
round herd and charge upon them
suddenly. In this way several are
usually brought down before they
scatter, and those that get away are
pursued. AS they dodge from one
hunter they usually run across the
range of another, and the first they
know are tripped by the entangling
boas. People passing through the
straits often stop over steamer at
Punta Arenas to enjoy an ostrich
chase. They can secure trained
horses and guides at moderate prices;
but one who has never thrown the
bolas will be amazed to find how diff
cult it Is to do trick that looks so
easy.
Some years ago a young English
lord who went down to exterminate
tic OStIiCu WY hNoa pS"
ing lynched for manslaughter, as the
first bolas he threw took one of the
half-breed guides under the ear and
laid him out as cold as wedge. His
lordship made suitable provision for
the family of his victim, and the de-
ceased mans partner Immediately
took up with the bereaved widow
without formalifv of n wa6dinp core
mony; the bride and groom omitted
the usual period of mourning and APP
peared to be much gratified at the re-
suits of his lordships visit. OF course
the neighbors were scandalized, but
| the marriage was useful in diverting
public attention from the accident.
| and the reckless scion of the nobility
slipped away without explaining mat
| ters to the courts.