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William H. Emory (1811-87) http://tinyurl.com/WEmory

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Trailing Lazos

From Notes of a Military Reconnaissance, 1848. Read Online Download PDF

Reader: Wm Leslie Howard

Cattle ranching has a long history in California, a legacy built of hard work, unpredictable rewards, and the almost sublime skills of the California vaquero.

Serving under General Kearny on his march to California, Lieutenant William H. Emory observed the vaqueros with interest and recorded his impressions.

"The Cow Boy," photograph by John C H Grabill, 1887. Larger.

It is a saying in Chihuahua that "a Californian can throw the lazo as well with his foot as a Mexican can with his hand," and the scene before us gave us an idea of its truth. There was a wild stallion of great beauty which defied the fleetest horse and the most expert rider. At length a boy of fourteen, a Californian, whose graceful riding was the constant subject of admiration, piqued by repeated failures, mounted a fresh horse, and followed by an Indian, launched fiercely at the stallion.

His lareate darted from his hand with the force and precision of a rifle ball, and rested on the neck of the fugitive; the Indian, at the same moment, made a successful throw, but the stallion was too stout for both, and dashed off at full speed. . . . The lazos were now trailing on the ground, and the gallant young Spaniard, taking advantage of the circumstance, stooped from his flying horse and caught one in his hand. It was the work of a moment to make it fast. . . .

William H. Emory was a member of the Topographical Engineers Corps. His report Notes of a Military Reconnaissance appeared in 1848.