ROUGH RIDING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 216, 10 September 1881, Page 4

ROUGH RIDING.

The Jacksonville-Oregon Sentinel publishes the following occurrence, as related by a prominent cattle raiser of Lake county: — "A year or bo since there was a ' rodeo ' out on Lost Eiver, in Lake county. Ranchmen had gathered for a circuit of eeventy-five miles to claim and brand their young cattle, and when a cordon of men had surrounded a large band, among which was a Spanish bull, a dispute arose about a * mallet heai,' or ealf, that had escaped the spring branding. The discussion grew warm, none of the stockowners being able to set up a valiJ claim or establish an undoubted title. At last, in a spirit of bravado, a rancher proposed that whoever would ride the bull without a saddle or halter should be declared owner ot the calf. There was a yell of approval, but not a general stampede of volunteers, for Taurus waß in ill-humor, and his foaming mouth and blood-shot eyes gave token that whoever rode him would have a ride as wild aa Mazeppa'a, and one that might not end so well. At last a vnquero named Ifrick accepted the challenge, and the wild bull was immediately lassoed and held by a lariat round horn and foot. Digmounting from his horse the vaquero fastened his long rowelled spurs securely, tied a handkerchief round his head, approached the infuriated animal, and, grasping the tail in his hands, sprang lightly on, setting the spurs deeply in its flanks as he settled securely in hia seat. The lariats were Blackened ; the ball gave a roar of rage and terror, and flung his head to the ground ; but the rider had his back to the horns and a firm grip on the tail, and kept his seat. Another roar that shook the ground, a wild plunge, and the now maddened bull shot across the sage plain with lightning speed, his plucky rider twisting the tail that to him was a sheet anchor until the bellowinga were lost in the distance. For over a mile and a-half the race continued, amid the excited cheers of the vaqaero's comrades. Occasionally the bull gave a desperate plnnge through a heavy clump of sage in fche vain attempt to rid himself of his tormentor, but the long rowels only clung more firmly to hia flanks. Sometimes the animal and rider were hidden by undulations in the ground, and beta were even made that Frick would be thrown and gored; but at last the bull, exhausted irom Bheer fright, fell, and tbe plucky vaquero, stepping lightly off returned to claim his prize, which was unanimously awarded."