WIRTH'S WILD WEST SHOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8362, 16 September 1890, Page 6

WIRTH'S WILD WEST SHOW

COWBOYS AT WORK. Yesterday afternoon the cowboys who came from America to form part of Wirth Brothers' Wild West Show, proceeded to Greenlane, Ellerslie, to inspect some unbroken horses which Messrs. I'aterson have just had forwarded from the King country. The cowboys all rode out on horses provided by Messrs. Wirth, and were garbed in the full costume of the prairies, while the accoutrements of their steeds were of genuine Wild West type, comprising heavy high-peaked, ornamental, Mexican saddles, and monstrous stirrups, encased in the huge leather flaps that are used to brush aside the high grass when riding on the pampas. On the road out Jack Brown gave one or two exhibitions of his skill in picking up objects at full speed without dismounting, while Charlie Meadows, who was bestriding a local horse he had purchased in the morning, had an impromptu bit of buckjumping on Parnell Rise, owing to his saddle slipping. On reaching Messrs. Paterson's paddocks at Greenlane, a • troop of some twenty horses were found roaming in the field, amongst them being the quintette upon which the visitors were invited to operate. Owing to having no trained "roping" horses with them, they worked. on foot. One wild-looking cowboy, rejoicing in the sobriquet of " Pighead Jim," acted a3 herder and drove the mob past the others, who were standing about the field with their lassoos whirling over their beads. A sturdy bay h ir-e rushed past, and Captain Jack Sutton quickly had a loop round his neck and brought him to a sudden standstill. The horse curvetted wildly, requiring several to hold him. As he bucked, however, George Felton deftly threw a second noose round his hind legs, and he was then almost helpless. A blind was put over his eyes, and then he was saddled and bridled without much trouble. The fun began when one of the cowboys leaped upon his back and he wan set free. The horse dashed hither and thither, bucked, reared, and shied violently, but all to no purpose, as his rider ■while exciting him by voice, thong, and limbs, maintained his seat with ease and grace, and in about five minutes the erstwhile unbroken steed suffered himself to be quietly led to a corner and fastened to the fence by a simple halter. Four other animals were similarly treated, and the thirty spectators who had gathered to witness the fun expressed their admiration of the ease with which the " bronchobusters " dealt with animals which had never previously had even a halter upon their necks. Owing to using new lariats the cowboys were not as certain as usual in their casting, the lines of plaited buffalo thongs being stiff and " kinky," while the absence of trained "runner" horses prevented them working on horseback—a mode which they much prefer. The Indians who have come down to form an important section of the Wild West Show are, as already mentioned, of three tribes—the Sioux, of Dakota ; the Caughnayua, of British Canada; and the Yumas, from Southern Arizona. Rain-in-the-face, the chief of the Yumas, is a fine type of his race, being over six feet in height and 14st in weight. He is a noted warrior, but excels as a long distance runner, having frequently exceeded 100 miles in 24 hours, his record being a performance of 107 miles while carrying a box of candles (251bs) on his shoulders. All these Indians, being brought together for the first time by their common connection with the Wild West Show, are naturally somewhat distrustful and jealous of one another, and they exercise the greatest care in demanding all the ceremonies due to the several ranks, and in wearing all the distinctive features of their natural tribal attire. In their performances with Messrs. Wirth Brothers' Show in the colonies, the Indians will illustrate the primitive, yet happy style in which thsy now live on their reservations, as well as give representations of the fierce frontier feuds, in which they engaged a decade ago, giving representations of the plundering of emigrant trains, tribal fights, death" d ances, buffalo hunts, etc. The date for the opening of the show is not yet fixed, but it will take place during this week. At the site in Welleslev-street, the preparations are already far advanced, the ploughing and levelling work for the two circus rings and a larger outside riding track being almost completed, while the enclosing of a large area with canvas was executed yesterday, and the erection of patent seats to accommodate 5000 people is now being attended to. Messrs. Wirth Brothers have recently made additions to their already complete circus troupe, and the show altogether promises to be one of the most varied and attractive that Australia has ever Been.