The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-16

than those between the nervy cowboy and
his neet-footed pony on one side and the
wild Texas steer on the other. The roping
contest is peculiarly a Texas institution,
and is participated In principally by men
who learned the use of the larlat while
driving cattle over the plains OF the Lone
Star State. The first exhibitions advert ssed
ms "ropng contests" to attract attention
were those given Mt Seymour, in the Pan
handle Of Texas. at the cowboys annual
reunions, the first of which was held there
twelve or fifteen years ago. The next
place to have cattle roplng contests as fca-
lures Of Its entertainments was San An
gelo, In Tom Green county. San Antonio
followed, and has made the roping contest
one of the leading features Of her great in
ternatlonul fair BeevIlle, Yoakum, Sinner
and other towns In this part OF the State
have pulled off contests during the past
two years. The popularity Of these feats
is illustrated by the fact that the largest
crowds at the San Antonio International
fair last month were drawn by the big rop-
ing contest us was also the case at the
Yoakum street fair Just closed. The largest
crowd ever assembled in Bee county was
that which witnessed the roping contest
during the street fair mere last December
The skilled use of the lariat, as the rope
used TO catch and throw the willy bovine Is
called, is confined almost exclusively to
Texas and some OF the Western States OF
the Union and to the great pampas Of South
America. It is among the cowboys of West.
ern Texas. however, that It's most skgIful
and dexterous users are perhaps found,
though travellers who have visited the Ar
gentine Republic tell some wonderful tales
OF the proficiency Of the cattle herders
there with the lariat. Great skill, good
judgment and long practice nre required
TO become an expert In the use OF the
larlat and, like all other trades or callngs,
not every one who attempts to perfect him.
self succeeds-the failures far exceed the
successes. The horse used by the cattle
roper is also feature He Is often small,
but must be strong, sure-footed and, like
the roper himself, well trained In the bust
ness The intelligence displayed by some
COW ponies In catching a steer is often re-
markabe. and the roper VINO expects to
win in a contest must have the right kind
OF horse.
In roping contests such as those TO be
pulled on In Houston next week, the widest
and ieetest steers possible are secured.
Three. year.olds that arc in medium condi.
tlon and OF the Brnhma breed are usually
used. They can run Ike a race horse, are
tough and wiry. and are hard to keep down
when thrown. A steer for each roper IS
numbered and placed In a pen on the
grounds where the contest is 20 take place.
One ~ these steers at time Is then let
out into a chute and the contestant having
the number corresponding 10 the one on
that particular steer takes his stand ON his
horse near the mouth Of the chute. his
lariat coiled I'm his hand and the short
rope, with which he IS TO tie the steers
feet. around his waist,
When he announces ready the steer Is
given a scare with tin cans, etc. and goes
out OF the chute with his tail In the air
his nostrlls extended and his hoofs sling
Ing dirt behind him. AS he passes between
two stakes, usually placed about twenty
feet apart and thirty feet nom the mouth
Of The chute. the nssman drops . red nsa