Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1858-12-02
Hunting wild Horace In Kansas.

We notice in the Palarmo Leader an
offer Of a reward Of $500, for the capture
of a CERTAIN milk white Wild mare, now
running at large in Dickenson county
She is described as . "natural trotter,
never breaks her gait time supposed to
be 2:l9!." FL. 8'7'lsA7 '-oA. a.s" 5.'.',
It Is not generally known that Wild
horses are found in several localities in
Kansas. At the time Of the frst settlement
Of the Country they were quite numerous,
but since then many have been captured,
killed and run out until they are now be-
coming quite scarce Several herds still
remain upon the western portions Of the
Delaware Reserve, and some exist in other
reserves and unsettled portions Of the
Territory @
1t is only the poorest and slowest Of
these horses, which fall prisoners to the
wi'es of the hunter. Many Of them defy
alike the swiftest and longest pursuit; BAT
fle the best skill and cunning Of the hun
ter, and generally succeed in showing
clean heels in every attempt to capture.
With them "eternal vigilance is the price
"f liberty:" and possessing sharp and
acute senses of sight and hearing, and al.
most remarkable power of scent, they are
ever on the alert in their use, to guard
against surprise or trickery.
All Of these horses have "natural
gait, either trottins, racing or galloping,
and from these gaits they never break,
even in the swiftest pursuit Many PAGERS
have been found which could outrun the
swittest American horse brought against
| them. '"@
Thes. wild horses have sprung from In
dian Ponies, which escaping into the will
derness and relarsing into wild state,
have produced the present stock.
| In many instances American horses, es,
Gaping from their owrers while crossing
the plains. have joined these herds, and
produced u cross betw cen the two. This
variety is great improvement upon ca ach
of the originals. uniting the indurance Of
I the Indian Pony with swii,ness and grace
of the American breed.
| The capture of the wild horse, besides
being a dangerous undertaking, is one re.
quiring great skill in the use of the lasso
as also know ledge Of the habits of the
animals themselves. The mares will de-
| fend their colts with great ferocity and the
studs will often come to the rescue of a
! comrade in the tolls OF hunter
| A common plan, and one that is often,
times successful, is coraling. This is done
by choosing suitable place, generally in
| the timbers, where the herd are in the
habit of crossing creek, by building a
| co,'ol or pen, some distance from the
creek, with wings extendinn TO the bank
on each side Of ths trail used BY the herd
This being done. party or several parties
of men, mounted upon swift horses will
proceed to hunt the herd Finding them.
they give chase, and endeavor to turn
| them in the direction of the concealed
coral. They are often successful. The
herd will follow their customary trail, cross
the creek. enter the wings, and being pur
sued closely by the horsemcn, are forced
into the coral, when gate is closed on
them by man concealed, ,tor that purpose.
After being securely entrapped they are
starved for some time, in order to render
them gentle, then lassoe6 and taken out.
and easily broken to the saddle or harness,
as their owners may desire.
Another method of capture is sometimes
resorted to. In the summer and fall the
horses are always in good condition. and
to undertake TO run them down is a fruit.
less task. bat in the late winter or early
spring, they are generally in poor condi
ton. During the winter season they sub.
sist upon The dry grass in the bottoms,
aud the bark and buds of tho elm aud
other trees. This is but scant sulslst
ancc and a loss Of flesh, speed and bottom
must be the consequence. The hunters
take advantage of this and often succeed
in running them down; but it is generally
conceded Ihai At least one good horse is
rUlned tor every wild horse captured in
this manner.
| Another method is sometimes tried-the
horse is shot with rife ball in the upper
| part of the neck, about a foot from the
ears. The effect is an instant paralyza
ton of his strength, loss of the use of his
| limbs and an instantaneous tumblng to
the ground. This effect only lasts few
minutes, and the hunter must instantly
seize the opportunity to tie his feet and
otherwise secure him before he RECEIVERS.
The horse is uninjured and If he RECEIVERS
before the hunter secures him, he will es
cape and perhaps show 6ght. This method,
requiring great skill in approaching to the
necessary distance, an unerring aim, and
attended with considerable danger, is not
often resorted to, and is seldom successful.
Continual efforts are being made to cap.
turo these Wild horses, by organized par
ties. They succeed in one way or the
other, and sometimes shoot them when
they fail to take them alive. They have
been thus thinned out, and are fast de-
creasing. The flowers Of the flock only
remain, and the one referred to above is
ona Of this class In a few wears they will