The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-01-06
San Antonio
Roping Event
An Annual Gathering of Great
Interest to Cowboys and
Marks men.

l
Marks m en-.
Paper Read Before the ChautauQua Circle.
About September 20, of each year
there is held in San Antonio, Texas,
a Cowboys Fair, properly called rop-
ing event and cowboys from Texas,
Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and
Oklahoma gather there to take part in
the sports. This event was originated
about fifteen years ago by the Stock
mems Association of Texas and has |
since be en- conducted under their man.
sgement. OF late years it has become
similar to other Western fairs but at
first 1t was just what the name implies
"a rcping event. The program now
aaays consists of riding, roping and
shooting contests, pony races and many
other amusements. As time does not
permit extended descriptions, only the
principal events will be considered in
this paper.
On the first day there is not much
going on except minor amusements to
which the cowboys pay very little at
tention. Those who intend taking part
in the main events are busy arranging
matters with the program committee
and as cowboys are inclined to be q
little stubborn about doing their stunts
the committee has its hands full in ar
ranging matters to the satisfaction Of
ali. Some one may ask why the COM
mittee does not fix up the program to
suit themselves? Well, that was tried
one year and the riding and roping
events had to be given up for lack of
contestants, so they decided it was bet
ter to let the cowboys have something
to say about those sports.
The second day usually opens with
the roping contest. For this strong
corral has leen erected near large
open field. The steers selected are the
widest ones that can be found on the
range and when turned loose they make
it very interesting for all concerned.
Near the corral chalk line, which the
animal must cross, has been drawn and
one hundred and fifty feet back the
roper sits on his horse with rope un-
coiled but not loOped. As the steer is
"hazed" across the line gun cracks
and they are off. When the pony comes
within twenty feet of thesteer the cow
boy has his rope going and soon makes
a throw. If it settles in the proper
place-over the horns, the pony swerves
to one side and comes to an abrupt stop
which neatly throws the steer on it's
side. While the pony is keeping the
rope tight the cowboy quickly dismounts
and ties the steers hind legs together
with short length of rope. He then
raises both hands to the timer who
holds a stopwatch and calls off the time
to the judges. The usual time is from
thirty to thirtyeight seconds although
some do better and some worse. Mr.
G. J. Macgonigill, who won the cram.
pionship, m d q record-breakine
throw of twenty-five and one quarter
seconds which has not to the writer's
knowledge been beaten. Tony Marte1
!. is credited with twenty-five and one
eighth seconds but it was made in al
unofficial contest in Ell Paso and Cal
therefore not be considered record
In the San Antonio event Martez cam,
third, with thirty and onehalf seconds
:, much to tn 9 disappointment of hi
friends who predicted great things TO
him.
. Prizes are divided into two classe
known as the single steer and numbe
prizes. The former is for the quickes
), time for one steer and the latter fo
the largest number of steers j n tn
shortest time. The first prize is $1,000
u and the title of Champion Roper of tn
It World, the second prize is $3.50 OK
d First prize in the number is 90, set
y ond prize is $4,000 or saddle. Winner
o are not prohibited from taking part i
It both contests SO it sometimes happen
the lucky man makes quite stake