The Portland daily press., 1869-12-15
The Wild Horse of Wind River Valley
An exciting Incident Of Western Life.
Correspondence OF the Chicago Trbune.]
BIG POPOAGIE RIVER Sent ID
CATCHING A WILD HORSE.

F
CATCHING WILD HORSE.
Not long since most exciting chase hap
pened near. the military camp on Big Popoa-
gle River after wild horse l had often
heard the story of the wild horse of Wind
River Valley, but never expected to see that
famous animal alive, much less lay my hands
upon him. His story runs thus: Some years
ago the Cheyenne Indians stole noted horse
in Kansas and sold him to the Sioux, who in
turn sold him to the Utes, from whom he
| was bought or stolen by the Snakes. He be-
came SO vicious that the Snakes sold him to a
white mana Mr.. Gallagher. While he was
being taken to the settlement he got away
| and took to the mountains. All effort to re-
capture him was in vain; he outran the
swiftest Indian horses, and remained at large
| for several months. At last he was surprised
by body OF warriors, surrounded and lassoed
before he could break through them. Sc
curely tied with ropes, he was brought in
to the Indian camp, and beaten and starved
into semi-obedience; but an ambitious Indian
attempted one day to ride him, whom he
threw, and succeeded in getting him into the
hills. lie now had large rope around his
neck, the end OF which dragged on the
ground, and bride and Indian saddle was
on MN. lie was often seen, but defed all
Snoi's W recaPture MN. One DAY an In
uiah, wno was out nslilng, saw him grazing
ti Go th aHu, .uns iariat, crawled TO
l.c euST y. 'lie Jun, anu, WIN unerrihS pre-
eision, 'nlew .ue Iioose over MS nead. once
more tne noDle Druteklound hlmseh captive,
ana tnls Time ne was securely tied to tree
Win log cnan put one OF the links was
broken, and, the chain parting, he made for
tne nllls ana was not seen again.
A lew days ago, just after breakfast, a sem
tlnel OF the camp on Popoagie reported a
morse on the Dluf1s overlooking the camp, and
closer Inspection showed the animal to be
the verltable wild horse. He seemed greatly
excited, ana Kept galloplng the bluffs, with
head ana tall erect. Inc commanding officer
ordered that no one should pursue him as
long as he Kept running and was in SIGHT of
the camp: Ihe brave horse presently de-
scended from the Dluffs and ran across the
vall0 with the speed OF the wind, to where
company OF cavalry horses were grazing, but,
becoming alarmed, ne wheeled when near
them and made into the hills. AS If charmed,
ne soon returned, and, taking wide circuit
passed around the camps and herds several
tlmes. Inc rapldlty and length OF time
Whlcn ne ran was incredible. we could see
tne long chaln tnresnlng ABOUT MS lore legs
apparently urging MN 10 greater exertlons.
AT last ne stopped near the nerd, seemingly
exhausted; Inc commanding ofhcer, who
hau naa the Dest caVaIry norses saddled up,
ordered them out, and the troopers galloped
swiftly 10 their positions at different points OF
the valley. Inc horse, as had been expected,
Wnen pursued ran neariy III circle, ana as
last as Que trooper came near announcer ne
,oineu G t1I "p anu 'n et noi'e anu uluer took
ods;I. W .nS S;,t ood IL; mnoc 'no Mnu noise
oons a;a;a.,It,1 LIS LIS p,IJ 1 ,, %uu ~ was WIN
Sina ,,'t tt, nG 1Iu,u De Nep. ouI VI tne
;odod ,s, ndO ;s :nu ,na.nnas auoo. us ess
Tn hoIf n'b ha,, tt amJ SasS In s.Iat pan,
nnrai, %n hnrsaS hma1, ~ to ,S on .ne
ors not naor oro'1r,, " 20 t,rn 49, a. e,oop
hnt not heing skilled missed the;r ',rr. 1,,nnI,
Tbe nirce ha9an TO Grow snoaliar im nd a1 .lc ~
wild horse showed evident sions of distress but mt
the cavalry horses were also oivinr ont and md
The chase vet was doubtful. Attbis i1nct,,re a
number of infantry soldiers and teamsters
mounted ON mules, came to the assistance Of
the cavalry The muIes ran we'll and tbo;r
mower of endurance was remarkahle A.
times the wild horse would striIe trot ami
trot as fast as anv of his n,rs,orS coniJ ,, %mc
hnt on atton,nt - hoad b;,, otf 1uo''II III, .on
1,, az 49, ,iio ~ I u I'M, ou W1lu oieah
LII ~. ~ t,o snOEM III Ine casai-
~. ~, W. 'nu n noioa Aop. up Will nIin anu AT
,as' s nope was sot over MS head
Wy 0eams'el, anu caVa,ryman' coming
~ al lne noment, selzeu tne cnan.-
1e Doon l lnen nuns On wen, nut t1e cayalyman
MAS Was ulasSeu lroil tne sau.lie anu losC MS Iolu
dne lealnolel fl soi,i SlunS W .ne lope, anu as
.lie nolse was meaGhs III 'ne talP ulseu nls
ht'tie " he1P W WIN nm Ne lue prospect