The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-05
MEXICAN COWBOYS
WITH RANCH IO|
Interesting Anecd0te of Origin
of Rural Guards in President
Diaz' Territory

! Along with the cowboys and cow
! girls and Indians with the 101 Ranch
Wild West, the big amusement under
taking from Bliss, Okla, which will
spread its acres of tents here on We'd
nesday, May 10, is coming a pictures
que delegation from the revolution
ridden republic Of Mexico.
The Vacquero is the cowboy of Mex
leo. In language and personal charac-
teristics he has nothing In common
with his American brother, but the du-
ties of the avocation are alike. Cowboy
and vacquero each spend days and
nights with their herds far from Iu-
man habitation and each attains won
derful proficiency with the lariat and
gun and in feats of horsemanship. A
contingent of the most famous vac
queros of Mexico are with the 1O1
Ranch Wild West. With them are
group of dashing Guardias Rurales,
the mounted police of the country,
whose renown and efficiency rival that
of their prototypes of the far-remote
Canadian border
An interesting comparative study is
exhibited in the competitions of the
representatives Of the two republics
The Mexicans concede no iota of SUI
periority to the cowboys in any of
the feats Of the cattle raising avoca-
tton. They are the equals in all the
practical and fancy maneuvers of the
ldl ldl, they COHlSuu, can rlQO framed
cow-horse or QUICKER with similar
cer0inty and are as sure in aim with
gun or revolver
Like the cowboy. the vacquero is
fond of dress and display His tight
fitting buckskin suit is trimmed with
gold and fancy braid. The inevitable
sombrero is hand-woven from the best
quality palm fibre in double weave,
and it's seven-inch brim is edged in
colors and glittering metals. His
spurs are FURNISHED and chased and
his horse-hair bride CLEANS with silver
conchas and mountings. His lariat is
from the fibre of the Mexican maguey
plant. Arrayed in all this elegance
he is proud and naughty eques-
TRAN figure.
The Guardias Rurales are one of the
most effective military organizations
in the world, noted for their splendid
Workmanship and reckless daring Of
their installation as government peace
guardians, it is related that President
Diaz summoned before him, on prom
Use Of immunity from arrest, the chiefs
of brigandage and notorious leaders
of pillaging bands and ascertained
from them the amount of money their
crimes yielded. The startled outlaws
compiled an estimate. President Diaz
frowningly scanned the figures and
thought deeply. The novel conference
ended by him bluntly offering the
men sum equal to the amount of
their Illicit proceeds, as a settled in
come, If they would constitute them
selves the heads of an honest body
of guards to protect the rural districts.
This was the unique origin of the
Rurales, according to accredited be-
lief. President Diaz has never de-
MED that he took this radical mea-
sure to save the lives and property
of his subjects, and the results have
justified in the popular Mexican
mind, the means to secure the end.
Law and order asserted their author
itt Immediately after the former ban
dts affected their organization. The
reign of robberies, murders and min
Or crimes of savage and wicked nature |
came to an end. The men who had
spread terror and ravage were en-
rolled, every Infamous one, in the
ranks of the new police. None remain |
ed to rob and kill They proved, too, |
their enduring sincerity in their adj |
herence to their compact. Others |
to assume the role of outlaw |
and find only half-hearted opposition |
were run down with a celebrity I'M |
known in criminal quests. Every |
method of htghwayman, every haunt, |
every plan to Illustrate pursuit and |
elude capture was familiar to these