Year: 1872

Our readers muSC nave uOLlCeQ 1Or SOME
days pasta caravan passing through the streets,
from the interior of which brass band thun-
ders forth strange melodies with much
braying of brazen instruments, while behind
the powerful wagon squad of strangely clad
horsemen gallop to and fro in single file, wear
ing the serapes and huge sombreros of the.
Mexican vaquero or cattle herdsman. These
men ride small, but vigorous and fleet mus.
tang ponies, and are the most daring horse
men probably that have ever visited New
York city. Recently, at the Capitoline
Grounds in Brooklyn, this Mexican circus
company exhibited in presence of small but
select audience. Those who have read Msyne
Reid's highly sensational hunting novels may
have formed some idea Of what these hardy
vaqueros of the debatable land on the Texan
and Mexican frontiers can do in the way of
riding, with or without saddle. Asit is, it is
necessary to see the performance to understand
it. There are nine horsemen in the company,
who have all been bred in Mexico and Texas
from childhood, the principal of whom are
named Thomas, an American-Mexican Mo-
rosco, Carquiero, Kossuth and Lopez Thom-
as was the chief ranchero for President Benito
Jaurez, who had ninety farms in the sister
Republic, and he is certainly one of the most
expert horsemen We have ever beheld. While
dashing at headlong speed on his fiery mus
tang he stopped, without stopping his speed,
and picked up a white handkerchief from the
grass. Leon then was the next to appear on
the scene. A savage and enrsged Texan bull
was brought forth, and Leon successfully threw
the lariat over his horns and brought him up
standing on his hind legs, although he made
desperate efforts to gore the spectators, who
ran out Of his reach. Then Leon jumped
on his back, rode him around the grounds to
the bulls utter discontinue, and all the while
smoked q, Havana segar with the greatest
GOODNESS possible. Carquiero threw wild
mustang complete somerset by the tail while
the latter was going at full speed-a most as
tonishing feat. Four of the riders, while 60
ing at speed that made the spectators dizzy,
in the twinkling of an eye, drew up in an even
line, the mustangs painting and endeavoring
to break loose from the inevitable grasp of
their riders. A smart pony, with as many
tricks in him as Ben Butler possesses, was
lassoed by the riders and brought up stand
ing. Then there was pony race to see who
should own the odd steer, as is customary with
vaqueros in Mexico and no such speed has
ever been seen on race track in America as
was made in squirt of fthree-quarters Of mile
by these wonderful horsemen yesterday. 1t
is pity that these SPLENDID horsemen and
bull riders and bull tanners could not have an
opportunity to exhibit at Jerome Park or at
Prospect Park, where large assemblage of
both sexes might have opportunity to witness
their unexampled feats Of horsemanship. AS
it is, they can remain but a few days at the
Capitoline Grounds, as no other place could
be found large enough for theexhibition. For
grace, management of the horse, simpleness of
riding and perfect agility in the saddle, or
horseback riding they are unequaled. Their
saddles weigh sixty pounds and their stirrups
are very clumsy, but they do not seem to mind
encumbrances whatever. A comical Irishman
offered himself as victim to be lassoed, and
two horsemen galloped their mustangs at full
speed after him, throwing their lassoes with
the greatest swiftness, but the Irishman was
too much for the Mexicans, as he ran all over
the field in such a zigzag manner that the
vaqueros were completely vanquished and the
Irishman raised much laug ghter from the crowd.
1t is very dangerous thing, however, to do,
as it might possibly result in broken neck to
the victim who is lassoed by the wild Mexicaps.
Altogether this exhibition is the most novel
one that has ever been offered to the New
York public by any strangers in the circus
line of business.-Ney York Herald. ''