Boys' Column. Lassoing a Grizzly.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2018, 13 June 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Boys' Column. Lassoing a Grizzly.

The moon was nearly full. It waa one of those marvellously clear nights such as the countries o£ dry air alone can bliow, when the moon seema like a ball of quicksilver hanging in the sky only half a mile away, when every cliff or scar or jutting crag in the mountain stands out and overhangs the mountain base, aad the deep shadows of the canyons stem solid hills of jet trying to overtop the giant mass beside them. About 2,30 yards away, upon the leeward eido of the dead cow, the party halted and Lied their horses, while some of the men went ahead on foot to reconnoitre. Behind a little knoll, a hundred yards or bo from the bait, they stopped. Over the dead animal half a dozen coyotes were snarling and feeding, but no bear was there. Hours passed away, when thero was a pudden lull in the noise of the coyotes, and they began to sneak away from the bait. The crack of brush was heard, too, in the chapparal, and in a minute a huge mass of shaggy blackness emerged. At nearly 2 o'clock in the morning the bear had finally decided to eat, and started toward the carcass. Quickly the men went baok for the horses. The horse 3 knew as well as their masters what was coming, and each one trembled like a leaf as the great horsehair girth was " clinched " as tightly as the long running strap could draw it. Don Francisco Maohado, one of the owners of the ranche, was selected to make the first throw. They rode quietly up to within about 100 yards and then, like & flight of arrows, the six horses shot forward beneath the impulao of the spurs. If suoh a charge be not " into the jaws of hell " it is very much like it' Certain it is that more men can be found to lead a charge like that of the Light Brigade than to lead such a one as Don Francisco led. At tho clatter of the hoofs the boar rose with a savage growl from his supper. Eight rp to within fifteen feet of tho brute rode Don Francisco, with his brother, Don Ju»n Machado, and a friend close behind him. Another brother, Don Jorfe M&chado, and two other horsemea split oft and pressed upon the othei side o/ tho victim. Wheooo, wheeoo, went the noosa twice around the rider's head as he approached the bear ; whiz went tho nooso as it flew from his hand. With a ' faint j-ip it fell over the bear's head and in a twinkling the other end of tho rope was wound around the horn of the saddle and the noose drawn tight with a sudden jerk, The bear, instead of being pulled off his feot

or trying to loosen the riata, made a rush for Don Francisco, but the quid: horse ho rode sprang forward fast enough to keep the riata tight, and in a moment another noose, from the hand of Don Jose, dropped over the bear's head from behind; but it also went under one foot, making the noone catch over the shoulder. Vainly the horse net himself back upon hia haunches. No horse could hold suoh a hold [as that, and Don Joso had to drop hia riata. Don Francisco now tried to jerk tho bear sideways so as to get him off his feefc or to get him to raise his feet, so that they could be easily noosed by his companions. His horse sprang beneath the spur like a snake from coil, but the riata tightoned on n weight no horse could overthrow. Meanwhile noo/:e af tpr nooze aimed for the brute's legs whizzed through the air. But he would not keep a foot clear of the ground long enough for a eocoessful throw, end his movements were so irregular that it was impossible to base calculations upon them ho as to cast the loop in time. But in a moment more, zip canic aaolLer loop over the bear ' 3 head and fell around hia neck. In the twinkling his paw? were beneath them, in a moment he had them both in hia mouth. Such strength surprised and alarmed his persecutors. Tha air was filled with Spanish ejaculations, and the worat of it waa that both fore paws wera now so protected that neither one could be lassoed. Amid the "Carrajo" and " Carrambas," ona of the riatas, trayedandcut half in two by teeth and claws, parted beneath the strain, and before another cast could bo made the second one gavo way. Tiie great bear was again free, and two of the best hands were empty. But the bear was free but for an instant. The ve/y incarnation of fury, ho made a rush at Don Josa, whose horse wheeled with a whirl that would havo landed an ordinary rider in the claws of the enemy. Just as he rushed upon him, open-mouthed and raging, another noose came with a sudden snap around his head, catching in his mouth and tightening on the instant behind his teeth and behind his ears. Aa ho reared upon bis lest another one fell over hi 3 head upon the top of the first one, and by the two he was jerked over backward, and then there was a wild confusion of horses and men and ropes and bear and Spanish interjections. Before one of his feet could be secured he had so cut the second riata around his neck with his claws that it gave way and had turned himself over and was again upon hia feet. The noose in his mouth still held, and as he raised one paw to get that loose, zip landed another loop right over the paw. In a twinkling that paw was outstretched, pulling the bear so that he raised the hind foot upon tho other side. Quicker than it can be told that foot was caught up by a dexterous fling from Don Francisco and outstretched. Another riata was cast over his head, and by the aid of the two he was pulled backward, while by the riatas on his feet he was swung around. A horseman stood ready in front and another behind, each with riata in short coil and with a small noose ready to pick up the two loose feet. The front one was snapped the first time he raised it clear enough from the ground for the noose to pass under ; and as this paw was outstretched and the bear fell upon his belly the last foot wsb taken in a twinkling and the monster lay spread out; upon the ground as flat and helpless as a dead dog. His hide was on exhibition for months at Los Angeles and was tho wonder of all old bear hunters. His head was more than the strongest man in the party could lift clear of the ground, and hia weight was estimated at 1,800 to 2,000 pounds. — Forest and Stream.