Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-11-03
The Wild Horse Of the Plains.

A correspondent Cf the Chicago
Tribune writes from the plains:
A few days ago, just after breakfast,
"A sentinel of the camp on POpOagie re-
ported a horse on the bluffs overlook
ing the camps and closer inspection
showed the animal to be the veritable
wild horse. He seemed greatly eX-
cited, and kept gallOping up and down
the bluffs, with head and tail erect.
The commanding officer ordered that
no one shOulC pursue him as long
as he kept running and was in
sight of the camp. The brave horse
finally descended from the bluffs and
ran across the valley with the speed of
the wind, to where a company of cav
airy horses were grazing, but, beeOm-
ing alarmed, he wheeled when near
them and made into the hills. As if
charmed, he soon returned, and taking
wide circuit, passed around the
camps and herds several times. The
rapidity and length of time which he
ran was incredible. We could see
the long chain thrashing about his
fore legs, apparently urging him to
greater eXertiOns. At last he stopped,
near the herd, seemingly exhausted.
The commanding officer, who had the
best of saddle horses saddled up, or
dered them out, and the troopers gall
loped swiftly to their positions at diff
ferent points of the valley. The horse
as had been expected, when pursued
ran nearly III a circle, and as fast as
one trooper came near another he
reigned up, and fresh horse and ri
der took up the chase. At first the
wild horse easily distanced his puT-
suars, and it was with great difficulty
he could be kept out of the hills, bat
the chain thrashing about his legs
impeded his progress and gave him
great p ain. In half an hour the COM
bined str myth of the cavalry horses
began to tell, and several troopers got
near enough to throw their lariats,
but, not being skilled, missed their
mark. The circle began to grow
smaller. and the wild horse showed
evident signs of distress, but the cav
airy horses were also giving out
and the chase yet was doubtful. Al
this juncture, a number of infantry
soldiers and teamsters, mounted Oh
mules, came to the assistance of the
cavalry. The mules ran well, and
their power of endurance was remark
able At times the wild horse would
strike trOt and trOt as fast as any o.
his pursuers. could run; but an at
tempt 10 head him off would break
him up i'm to gallOp. He shook of
the cavalry, but the mules kept VI
with him, and at last rope was GO
over his head by a teamster, and
cavalryman, coming up at the mo-
ment, seized the chain. Both men
hung on well, but the cavalryman
was dragged. from the saddle and lost
his hold. The teamster still clung to
the rope, and as the horse was head
ing for the camp, urged his mule to
his utmost to keep up with him. A
the prospect of capture became GER
tain, the excitement in the fort was
intense. The puFsuers and pursued
had now worked up quite close to the
breastwOrks, and the men of Captain
Phister's company, Seventh United
States Infantry, hurried over the
works and surrounded the doomed
horse on all sides. He made a noble
struggle for his liberty, but ropes.
held by many hands, were quickly
passed over his neck, around his body
and legs, and in a few moments, he
found himself on his back and his
heels in the air. The chain was COW
cred with blood and the skin had lit
orally been thrashed from the poor
brute's fore legs. On the top of his
neck, the weight of the chain had
caused it TO cut into the flesh a depth
of nearly two inches and an ugly fes-
tering wound was formed.
The horse was of dark brown col
or, medium size, broad chested, and
large nostrils. His eye was bright
and piercing, and he had the strong
est limbs l ever saw. The muscles
veins on his neck and body stood out
like whip-chOrds-
After he was securely hOppled we
took off the chain and rope about his
neck and led him into the fOrr. His
wounds began to heel nicely, and he
would suffer his keeper to mount his
back, but would snort, bite and kick
if a stranger came about. The poor
brute would put down his head to
have his sore neck washed with hot
water and soap, and held perfectly
still, though the pain must have been
severe. So well did he behave tina
he was let out with lariat rope and
hOpples on to Craze.
As Captain Phister's men had really
captured him, the horse was turned
over by order of the commanding off /
Ger of the camp-tG the company, and I
the men by common consent gave I
him to their Captain.
The other day 1t was determined t. /
remove the horse to F"rt Bridger, ami !
he was securely tied behind Govern /
ment wagon; but the soldier only sue
ceeded in getting him twelve miles, |
when he broke his rope and escaPet ]
into the hills. So ends the story o 4
the wild horse of Wind river. He i |
nnre more at large, ah i no effort will !
be made by the troops to recapturt
him, for it is the opinion of all that
it had not been for the chain, they
never could have taken him, and now
that he is freed of that incumberaner,
his capture-is deemed impossible.
II IL potv moro than tbraa huu6rpf I