The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-01-04
Ad. Laurence's Ride.

iotate n6u 10 rlbk lllc oimost uhiiy. Inc |
frontier was the scene OF danger, and
deeds of daring were as familiar as house
hold words to those undaunted men who
lived on the border line between ad-
vancing civilization and retreating saw
age:sm. i
In after life, when their courage and
industry had surrounded them with cul-
tiyated fields and vast herds of cattle,
they would tell of the dangers incident
to their early days on the frontier. One
such tale we recently read in book
made up of anecdotes and stories of life
in Texas.
Adam Laurence settled in Texas, near
the head waters of the Trinity River. |
In the summer of 1882, he, with three |
other men, went out on the prairies to
catch mustangs.
In those days, wild horses, or mus
tangs, frequented the vast plains of un-
inhabited Texas, and their capture was
one of the sports of the frontier. 1t
was also profitable hunting.
A few expert riders, mounted upon
strong and fleet horses, would 60 out for
] days mustanging, and return with
| score of wild horses. Each rider carried
strong lasso. On discovering herd
of mustangs, the hunters would carefully
approach to within a short distance of
them. Then making a dash, each man
would throw his lassO over the neck of a
mustang. The contest was sharp and
exciting, but after half an hours battle
of pulling and hauling, the hunter would
generally conquer.
Ad. Laurence, as he was called, and
| l. =. haI - Ton NIL
out on the prairie. Suddenly they dis
covered herd of mustangs feeding,
mile or so distant. Cautiously they ap-
preached the horses, about one hundred
in number, who showed no signs of fear.
Ad. noticed this singular fact, and was
remarking it to his companions, when
suddenly by each pony up sprang an In
dian. At jump they mounted and
rode for the hunters, cOiling their lariats
as they rode.
There was no time for concealment.
The hunters made a straight shoot for
the nearest settlement, about ten miles
off. For the first three miles the hunt
ers held their own, and even gained a
little on their pursuers. Then the In
dian ponies began to show their bottom.
81 tell y0u," said Ad., in narrating
! the adventure, "you've no idea how
, much an Indian can get out of them
mustangs. Instead of being weight to
them, they seem to help them along
J and they kept up such powerful yell.
ing, pears like you might. have heard
them TO Red River"
Suddenly the Indians divided, the hal
, striking off to the left. The hunters
found out the reason, as they came to
the bank of deep ravine, up which, al
it could not be crossed, they must 60
! The Indians knew every inch of thu
ground, and while one party made
straight for the head of the ravine, thu
: other struck in below the hunters, t.
! cut them off in that direction.
"Twas no use talking, said Ad., "w'
9 had to ride about quarter of mile II
= the left, right in their very faces, ant
u head that branch. My nag was still tol
erably fresh. The Others were begin
ming to blow right smartly. 1 rode las
enough to keep the lead. l didn't car
particularly about getting of, withOu
Is knowing what became of my compar
> ions.
r. "Just as I came to the head of tn
If hollow, the Indians were within abou
n one hundred yards, and yelling awfully
n They thought they had us sure. l CAV
@ my mare the rein, and just touched he
D. with the spur, and turned the eorne
"a with about fifty arrows whizzing abOu
IS my ears. One stuck in my buckski
ic jacket, and one entered my mares neck
m you may believe she did not 20 an
N slower for that. For awhile / though
h. she cleared about twenty feet at juml
s. Soon as l got headed right again,
es looked around to see what had becom
ia of the others.
ID "One look showed me. They were a
or down. About half the redskins ha
n. stopped to finish them, and the Othe
il were coming for me. l felt kind of dizz
like for minute. Then j straightene
40 up, and determined to get away if
ne could.
IN 81 hadn't much fear, if l didn't hay
n. to head another branch. could see u
pd timber of Trinity three miles away, al
ia ! gave my mare her own head. She hs
Ia been powerful badly scared, and hs
nv been working too hard, and she was pu
he ing good deal.
or Il managed to pull out the AFRO
"a. which was sticking in her neck. TIL,
|
nv which was Topping about with an ARC
on sticking in it, catching good deal
Ia. wind, and threw it away. kept I
his about a mile further, without gainil
les or losing much. Then l made up n
en- mind to stop and let my nag blow
90 little, because 1 knew if didn't s
Of couldn't hold up much longer.
$50 ] pulled up and alighted, a.
las looked around. Seemed as if the wh(
,m country was alive with redskins. Abo
On forty in a bunch, few hundred var
re- behind, and one not hundred yar
i've off.
al, 81 loosened my saddle-girth so E
ily could breath good, took my bride
be my left hand, and pulled my butch
ng knife into my right. 1t was the on
err weapon 1 had, for l had dropped \
ill rifle when got dizzy.
/ a "The Indian was game. He ney
as stopped until he got within ten feet
of me. Then he jumped of, and came
as me with long knife like mine.
mas "There wasn't time for long figl
in had made my calculations, and he "
eat too sure he had me. / made one bio
The and left him lying there. heard
nto awful howl from the others.
The 81 pulled off my heavy boots, tigl
he ened my girths, and mounted. A
ich minutes more, and 1 struck the timl
on of the Trinity, and made the best of I
way through it to the river.
II knew that for miles up and d0'
. the banks were bluff, and fifteen
twenty feet high. Where l struck I
ice river they were about fifteen. If I
re- mare wouldn't take the leap, had
in do without her. She stopped an
it slant, snOrted once or twice, but heari
cir the savage yell close behind her took
ION jump.
nd, "Down we went, plump into the wat
are We both went under; then she art
ing and struck out for the opposite bar
Jhe with me on her back. Poor creatul
VS. she got two-thirds across, and then ga