Year: 1867




The following amusing adventure Is from Col.
Marcy's "Thiriy Years Of Army Life on the
Border !"


naval officer many years ago made the ex-
pertinent of hunting with the lasso, but bis sue
cess was by no means decisive. The officer
had, it appeared, by constant practice upon the
ship, while making the long and tlresome voyage
around the Horn, acquired very considerable
proficiency In the use Of the lasso, and was able,
at twenty or thirty PAGES, to throw the moose
over the head Of the negro cook OF almost every
cast. 80 confident had he become in bis skill
that, on bis arrival upon the coast Of Southern
California, he employed guide, and, mounted
upon a we'll trained horse, with his laSso proper
ly ooied and ready for use, be one morning set
out for the mountains, with the firm resolve Of
baggiDg few grizzlies before night. He had
not been out great Whilo before be encounter
ed one of the largest specimens Of the mighty
beast, whose terrific aspect amazed him not
littlei bnt as he had come out with firm de.
termination to capture grizsly, in direct OPP
position to the advice Of his guide, be resolved
to show him that he was equal to the OCCASION
Accordingly he seized lasHo, and riding up
near the animal, gave it several rapid whirIs
above bis head in the most artistic manner, and
sent the moose directly around the BEARS neck
at the very first cast but the animal, instead of
taking to his heels and endeayoring 10 run away,
as he mad anticipated, very deliberately sat up
on bis launches, facing his adversary, and com :
menced making very careful examination Of
the rope. He turned his head from one side 10
the other in looking at it; he felt it with his
paws and scrutinized it very closely, as If it was
something he could not comprehend In the
meantime the officer had turned his horse ia the
opposite direction, and commenced applying the
rOWels to his side most vigorously, With the con-
fdent expectation that he was to choke the bear
to death and drag him off in triumph; but to
his establishment, the horse, with his utmost
efforts, did not seem to advance. The great
strain upon the laaso, however, began to choke
the bear SO much that he soon became enraged
and gave the rope several violent saps, frst with
one paw and then with the other; but finding
that this did not relieve him, he seized the lassC
with both paws, and commenced pulling it ii
hand over hand, or rather paw over paw, ant
bringing with it the horse and rider that wer'
attached to the opposite extremity. The office
redoubled the application Of both whip and spurs
but II was all Of no Ryail-he had evidentl!
"caugbta TARTAR" and in spite OF all the effort
Of his horse he recoled rather than advanced
In this intensely exciting and critical juuctur
he cast hnsty glance to the rear, aud, to hi
horror, found himself steadily backing toward
the frightful monster, who sat up with his eye
glaring like balls Of nre, his huge mouth wid
open and frotling with rage, and sending fort
the most terrific and deep toned rOars. He now
for the first time, felt seriously alarmed, sn
cried out Voclferously for his guide to come
his rescue. The latter responded promptly, rod
up, cut the lasso, and extricated the amateu
gentleman from his perlOus position. He We
much rejoiced al his escape, and in reply to ii
inquiry of the guide as to whether he desire
to continue the hunt, he said it was getting
late that he believed he would capture no moi
1 oriyglies that dav