Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-08-07

At last man who had climbed
upon the bank reported that the jack
was not to be seen, and that he had
no doubt gone over the ridge into the
fiat.
All was now excitement among
the men, and two or three of them
were constantly on the river-bank
listening for sounds of the fray.
Presently they cried out that the bat
tie had begun. All hands hastened
to the top of the high, steep bank,
whence was to be had fair view of
the open ground leading up to the
ridge, beyond which lay the flat
where roamcd the fighting horse.
Although half mile distant a terri
bic squealing and braying could be
distinctly heard-cries of rage and
pain from the contending animals.
A great cloud of red dust could be
seen rising from the ridge. This
cloud, that told of the battle, moved
to and fro; sometimes appearing to
approach quite near to the crest of
the ridge, then again to recede. All
this time there was heard the most
fearful squealing and braying imag-
Unable sometimes very distinctly,
again more family, as the varying
breeze waited the sounds, or rs the
scene of the battle shifted.
Looking toward the camp, Joggles
was seen jumping up and down and
running frantically about, evidently
intensely excited. Soon he was OBJ
served to get ladder, and mount
upon the roof of his porch, and then
to climb to the top of his house,
vainly stretching his neck to obtain
view of the fight.
Now the cloud of dust was seen to
rapidly approach the crest of the
ridge, and soon it came whirling
over it. Then were seen two dense
clouds of dust, both rolling rapidly
in the direction of the camp. Wild
snorts and hoarse brays were heard.
Swiftly the red clouds rolled on, and
soon in the foremost the form Of an
animul could be seen. A puff of
wind showed this to be the broncho
Old Pizen. At distance of 800
or 400 yards behind rolled rapidly
following cloud, as we have some
times seen two small whirlwinds in
playful mood. What was in this
last cloud could not be seen, but the
"Buckeye boys'' felt that their jack
ass was thar!
Down into the camp charged the
terrified broncho, snorting with fear
at every jump and occasionally half
turning his head in order to see if
the terrible jack was still in pursuit.
As the frantic horse tore through
the camp with nostrils distended,
name flying in the wind, and tail
sticking out straight behind, Joggles
was heard shouting wildly from the
roof of his house, "Whoa, Pizcn!
whoa Pizen!" But just at that mo-
ment there was no "whoa!" in Old
Pizen. Down through the little
town he came-making directly for
the bar, as though in search of hu-
man assistance.
Straight on he came till he reach
ed the bank of the river, here fully
twenty feet in perpendicular height.
At the brink he halted, hesitating to
take the fearful leap, and with eyes
starting from their sockets took one
long despairing look behind. There
came the venomOus and indomitable
jackass, never breaking his steady
rolling gallop.
With outstretched neck, ears laid
back, and scant tail whipping up and
down with each bound, on he came.
The old broncho erected his tail,
took one more glance at his approach
ing foe, gave Il snort of terror, and
lcaped from the bank down into the
river. Luckily for him the water
was deep. Rising 70 the surface, he
swan to the opposite shore, and came
out all right on bar that put out
from the bank on that side. Here
he halted, evidently feeling himself
safe.
The jack thundered on, and came
near plunging into the river before
aware of its presence. But by brac-
ing all aback till his launches almost
touched the ground, he came to a
halt. But it was only for moment
Seeing the old broncho on the other
shore he stretched out his neck, and
giving diabolical "ye-haw," unhes-
itatingly plunged into the river, and
diligently struck out for the horse.
This reckless and energetic persist
encc on the part of the enemy was
evidently unexpected by the broncho
He gazed for few moments at the
Jack, as he rose to the surface, and
began swimming-gazed as though
thunderstruck at the fearful energy
displayed by the little beast-then
tossing his tail aloft and giving
tremendous snort, he dashed away
down the river at the top of his
speed.
The jack was soon over the narrow
stream. On landing he snuffed tht
ground a moment, then raising hi
head and catching a glimpse Of the
fleeing horse, away he bounded il
keen pursuit.
A bend in the river soon hid the
animals from view. As the mer
were still standing gazing after them
great crash was heard. More than
one voice then cried: "The gulch
the gulch! BY heaven, they have
both gone into Devils Gulch!"
What was referred to as "Devil's
Gulch" was narrow ravinc, with
rocky perpendicular walls, which
put into the river about fifty yards
below the bend.
"Something fell into the gulch
sure" cried the man, "and it must
have either been the horse or jack
or BOTH"
All now started for a crosssine
some distance up the river, in order
to 90 down the other shore and sec
what had happened. Joggles, who
had before this descended from the
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