Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-06
WONDERS WITH LARIAT
wESTERNERS ARE SKILLED IN
4 THE USE OF THE ROPE.
Art is Dying Out Among Cowboys
Rope Juggling and Jumping
Through the Loop.

Denver Cor New Orleans Times Democrat.
slim young fellow in picturesque cow
boy attire had been doing some difficult
feats in horsemanship for the delectation
of a small but critical crowd in the spright-
ly cow town of Gillette, Wyo,
Now, show us a few stunts with the
rope shouted a capabie-Iooking COW
puncher. who had not been slow to express
his admiration of the others skill.
The boy obligingly unfnstened the plated
rawhide that hung looped at his saddle,
and then began exhibition that delighted
the assembled cowmen and sheep herders.
First the lad. who was called Jim, roped
dog that happened along at an ilI-chosen
moment. One deft twist of the slippery,
snake-like leather. and the dog was free.
One of the boys obligingly took his saddle
off his horse and started the animal down
the street, past Jim, at a rafting pace.
Almost without perceptible effort Jim cast
the rawhide and the obedient moose settled
over the head of the bronco. Instead of
being pulled tight at the neck, however, the
moose was allowed to slip down over the
horses front feet
Another instant and the bronco would
have leaped through the moose, but just at
the psychological moment Jim jerked the
lariat, and the broncho was caught by both
hind feet Quickly and cleverly releasing
the animal before it FELL Jim coiled his
rope and swung off his bronco. Standing
in the middle of the street, he made the
rope describe the most astounding gyra-
lions. 1t writhed and twisted like live
thing, always obedient to his hand and
finally, making shining circle of the rope,
Jim leaped in and out just a juggier
might leap IN and out of great hoop.
Decline of the Cowboy.
In spite of the fact that the COWBOYS
sphere of influence is constantly narrowing,
an se La.
rope than In the days of the great herds
there are many skillful ropers in the west
They appear at nearly all the bronco-bust-
ing entertainments. which prove so pop
ular In the west, and their work is always
one of the chief features of the day
There is something about the deft ham
ding of the rope that fairly fascinates the
average audience, and the cowboys them
selves never tire of watching their cham
pioIis. And the boss roper of every round
up outfit always has his earnest partisans
when he enters a contest.
One of the favorite tricks Of the lariat
experts is to make the lasso whiri about
In perfect circle and then iear In and
by two performers. One will leap into
the center of the moose and will make the
rope play about his waist. Then the other
roper viii stoop and crawl inside the circle
The second man will reach up and take
the rope from the first and the latter will
then stoop and make his way out of the
circle. All the time the rope will be pay
ing about the bodies of the ropers in the
form OF hoop. but not once VIII 1t touch
the clothing of either This Is a feat that
calls fer great strength of wrist. as well
as accuracy of movement.
Battle Royal With Ropes.
Probably the most spectacular game is
a sort OF battle royal. which several skilled
repers enter. The cowboy who gets his
moose over the moose of another contestant
scores point in the game. Each man
whose lasso is thus roped retires from the
contest until finally only one Is left. The
men keep their nooses playing all the time.
and the game is one that calls for the
greatest skill This Is game which the
cowboy spectators enjoy as thoroughly as
the men who take part. and each champion
is heavily backed to win.
The larfat Is Spanish. fhe name being de-
rived from ia reata = hence it Is not sur
prfsing to find many of the best ropers In
the southwest, where the Spanish-American
element is large. These sont hwestern va
queros almost Invariably cling TO the raw /
hide lariat while the cow-punehers Of Wy
ofaing and Montana usually go In for the !
less expensive rope a properly made raw
hide 1arfak will run more smoothly and Is