Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-06

AN KxPO9ITION OF INTEREST 10
EAsrERN PEOPLE.
A lasso 10 about forty feet lopg-sel-
dom exceeding fifty fcet--spd out Of that
must be deducted the amount taken 10
making the noose, and the part which ID
retained IN the hand. Thus it 10 seen
that the average cast Il about twenty-five
or thirty feet, and the ''roper" who can
throw any where near fifty feet with 40.
curscy 10 q rarity. In California they
sometimes use rope - long ~ sixty
tlve feet, but there they seem to have Z
habit Of throwing an enormously large
loop-much larger than 10 really neces-
ssry. In actual work, however, it will
be found that mans band IL not large
enough TO properly hold much more
than forty feet OF rope when coiled
ready to throw.
The lasso IL creation of . certain en-
vlronment and need. Its place II on the
broad prairies and grazing LANDS, and lts
chief utility lies In the stock business
by reason OF the distractions sffJrded by
branches and bushes. The finest lassos
are OF rawhlde, cut into thin strips, and
braided six-ply, into rope OF from
three-eightbs to one-half inch In diam
eter. They are quite expensive, q good
40.foot rope costing about 81. On this
account, OF late years hxrd-twisted grass
rope lie used but the rawhide rope Is the
best 10 q wind, AS 1t 10 hea vier, aud when
filed with oil IL IL not affected by wet
weather. A braided rope, also, has less
tendency To kink than = twisted rope
Cowboys have mixture OF tar and bees.
wax with which they dress their hemp
or linen ropes TO keep out dampness,
and also to prevent them from getting
too dry. The most celebrated Of the
genuine "riatas" are made 10 Chicago
which produces an article much superior
10 the rougher ones turned out In
Mexico.
There are three general methods o!
throwing, with many minor varistiou'
Of individual habit. The rope IL held Ia
practically the same way Ia every case
First !, the plain, straight cast, noos,
swinging around above the head from
right TO left, by u rotating wrist move.
ment. Some 'ropers' throw \ small
loop, hard and fast. almost on level
others larger, iszier kind, which never.
theless arrives" For myself, | rather
favor the email loop thrown hard, Ms I,
seems the best xll-sround style, most
effective agxinst the wind or other ad.
verse conditions.
The aim is somewhat TO the right OF
the object 10 be roped-ssy foot and Z
half on twenty We foot throw, the ex'
act instant OF release being governed BY
weight OF rope, wind, velocity OF swing
etc. Judgment comes instinctively with
practice. The rest Of the rope IL held
coiled In the other hand and released n,
fast as desired, two or three coils being
retained.
To "snub" the rope (wind II about the
pommel after casting) In the instant OF
time allowed IL u trick quite a. difficult
a. thro wing properly. The Mexicsns
with their large diameter pommels, hsvs
TO take only one turn; the American
pommels, being smaller, require two
The pommel often smokes from the fric.
ton created, and Is frequently deeply
grooved and almost burned by the rope
The important part played by the train
ed COW pony Il obvious. He IL laugh. tc
settle back on his launches the instsn,
the rope begins TO tighten, and In many
other ways materially to assist his mas
ter.
The second method OF throwing Ia ex'
actly the reverse, that Ia, the moose !,
swung from the left to right above the
head before release. This Ia called the
"Californis throw" and possibly gives &
little greater range. At snv rate, one OF
two Of the longest throwers know Us,
Il. and fnd It 40 myself. II may bt
only = personal result. Any good
"roper" can throw either way.
The third cast is the "corrsl drag,
which, as Its name indicates, Is for use
sfoof, and 10 confined quarters. II con.
sists Ia trailing out the loop on the
ground behind one and Swapping IL for.
ward by an underhsnd motion.
The lssso's greatest effectiveness as a
weapon IA when the wielder IL mounted
When both adverssries are afoot Its value
Ia very slight. With cattle or horses 1t Il
sn entirely different thing. The whole
essence Of the matter Is to tighten the
moose around an opponent with jsrk
sufficient TO dismount him or tske him
of his feet. To that end you may ride
past him swiftly, or, II pursuing him
stop your horse suddenly. Or, II he Il
stationary, and you cannot ride past
him, you can wheel your horse and re-
tire after successful cast. In lsssoinR
q man, II done skillfully, the instant nj
time Is too brief for him either to throw
of the Tightening moose or to cut it
And II Is one OF the most deceptive
things 10 attempt TO dodge.
1t Ia possible TO control the moose OF q
lssso By the remainder OF the rope, but
IL lisa dexterity which few acquire Ia
years. The finest roper know OF, Vim.
cente Oropess, champion Of old Mexico,
can do this TO perfection, and his per.
Torrance IL one Of the sblest things 10
that interesting exposition Of plsinsman'
ship. Oropesa Is an enthusiast. One OF
the Mexicans once told me that one night
the champion dreamed Of a new cast,
and at once got up and went out scant.
lily clad, and In half An hour had mas
nc-... ,klt,.n