THE ROUND-UP 



Irwin who rode into the West at Cheyenne through a 

 most unusual accident. The cowboys were running 

 steers across the arena under false throws in the try- 

 outs, to train them so they would make for the exit 

 after being roped in the show. Irwin supposed he 

 had missed and turning, swung his horse away to join 

 his pals who were just leaving the arena. But his 

 unerring skill had made it impossible for him to miss 

 even when he tried. Thus unexpectedly his rope taut- 

 ened with the tremendous pull of the steer. The horse 

 was thrown violently sideways on Irwin in a fatal fall. 

 Irwin was such a marvelous roper that, like Ed 

 McCarthy, he could "down and tie" a steer from a 

 bridleless horse in better time than many good ropers 

 could make with a bridle on. 



A steer is loosed! It's Buffalo Vernon after him— 

 Swish! he is roped — thrown, but the little cow-pony, 

 Spot, too, plays his part well, for now that the steer is 

 down he must hold the rope taut, while Vernon dis- 

 mounts and with surprising dexterity "hogties" the 

 steer, looping a number of half hitches about the hind 

 feet and one fore foot, thus lashing three legs of the 

 steer together. All from start to finish in twenty-two 

 seconds. Busting ! Well ! right under your nose, all 

 through, is proof that the art of the lariat or rope, as 

 your cowboy has it, is not lost. "Down and tying" — 

 the finest wrinkles of the art of the old range, are all 

 there. 



A sudden hush; every eye is focused toward the 

 western side of the arena. The "first-aids" go scurry- 

 ing to cover, as with a fierce snort a rangy Texas steer 

 dashes into the great open space, and with the ease of 

 a greyhound leaps at will the three-foot fence separat- 

 ing race-track from the arena center. As the steer- 



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