BUCKJUMPING STEERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 86, 7 May 1909, Page 4

BUCKJUMPING STEERS.

The form of amusement known as "buckjumping steers" is described by the Auckland Star as having taken 1»»«"« at the I'ukekohc military .sports. Tinpaper thus' relates what took place at the dose of the ordinary programme: - -The crowd congregated round a stockvard, into which was run from an adjacent pen U voung steer. The nuimal was mounted.'hut after several ineli'eclual attempts had been made to induce it to buck it was released, and another bovine was dragged into the arena. Hnlf- | a-dozeu young giants in uniform hauled on * rope attached to the animal's head, and others pushed behind in the effort to get this 'wild beast' into the stockyard. The animal, a white steer, evi'dentlv hadn't a kick in it, for it rolled on its back and refused to be persuaded to go forth, l'ulled on its' feet, however, and at the same time subjected to the test known as the tail-twist, it rushed into the square. Hoi* two heavy men mounted the steer, and while several youths hung on to th e rope at the animal's head, the two riders dug spurs into the brute's flanks, while others twisted its tail. Once again the steer refused to buck, and got rid of its' tormentors by again rolling on its back. Xo fun being forthcoming from this wild specimen 0/ the bovine tribe, it was ; liberated, and a third was dragged forth. This time the crowd was provided with a little excitement. A rope was passed around the steer's body, thus providing the rider with something to grip. Another rope was passed round t'ie animal's I neck and drawn through its legs', so that three of the four hanging on behind I wei'e able to heave on to its head. A J rider was forthcoming, and with the application of spurs, tail-twist, and a cut or two from a i-opc, the steel', worked into a state of frenzy, careered wildly round the stockyard, making pitiable attempts to rid itself of its persecutor. This it succeeded in doing several times, to the evident amusement of the crowd, but ultimately its 'bucks' became more I feeble, and a successful rider rode the bellowing and frightened animal round and round, receiving the plaudits v l the spectators. A fourth steer was liberated and .driven into the arena, but on this occasion there was a general exodus of those within the enclosure. A warning cry was given to look out, and the animal, evidently more, mild than its , brethren, was given a wide berth, no attempt being made to proceed further ' with this form of amusement."