The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-10-04

Ask over and over,
As il they were surer when told.
There close at her side,
do you love mer' cried;
She lifted her golden -eEOwed head,
ShOne in her gray eyes
why, that's why kiss you," she said.
A WILD STEED OF THE PRAIRIEs.
The FruitIess Efforts of Rancheros to
Capture a Flyer of Lightning
Speed.
St Louis Evening Post.
During the present week an Evening
Post reporter has had several occasions
to visit the National Stock Yards in
East st. Louis. On one of these reporto-
rial trips he became acquainted with a
Texan cattle drover, big, burly fellow,
very jovial and cOnvival, although, per-
haps, a trit1e more free and easy in man.
ners than would suit a drawing-room.
Jack Christy was the drover's name,
and he had arrived last Friday from
Texas with 300 head of cattle by rail.
Last Tuesday evening the reporter drew
from Jack many of his Texan experien-
ces, and among the rest he related mar
velous story of remarkable horse, for
the truth of which Jack said he was
ready to vouch. The substance of Jacks
narrative was about as as follows:
Not great distance from Fort Con-
cho, in Texas, for the last seven wears, a
wild stallion of wonderful speed and en-
durance has been seen, but during all
this period the endeavors of the ranch
eros to capture him have proved unsuc-
cessfu1. Jack has seen the horse himself,
and says he only stands about fourteen
hands hioh on6 GOAL hlanH in
His body is covered with very long hair,
so that IN appearance the horse is very
shaggy. He has long flowing tail
which trails on the ground, while his
name is at least two or three feet in
length. His hoofs have grown very
long. The animals eyes are exceedingly
bright and fiery, and when galloping
with dilated nostrils over the open mus
keet prairie, Jack said: at was enough
to make your heart glad to see such a
noble animal" AS stated above, this
horse has now haunted the vicinity of
Fort COnchO for seven years, and it is
supposed that he is about nine years old
He was seen to gallop distance of three
miles on open prairie in less than four
minutes and half. He dashed out of a
ravine in the Wichita Mountains, and
went at headlOng speed until he disap-
peared behind a log hut, which stood at
exactly three miles from the entrance 10
the gully. One of the rancheros with
the party, who was watching the stallion
from rocky eminence, timed him, esti-
mating that the animal made three miles
in 4 30. This would make him the fastest
horse on record, and beats all the per
formances of the best thorougbreds on
the race track.
Some four years ago company was
organized to capture Black Boss. which
was the sobriquet by which the animal
was known in the region. About twen-
ty-five ranchers and herders, mounted
on the f1eetest of Texan horses and mus
tangs, determined to give chase to the
hitherto uncaptured and untamed steed
One of the party was the celebrated
Mexican Vanquereo Juon Gonzalez, who
bears the reputation of being the great
est expert with the lasso living For
five days did they pursue Black Boss on
theig fleet footed steeds. Sometimes
they would chase him for hours, when
he would gradually distance them and
disappear from sight Black Boss actu-
ally seemed to enjoy the sport He
would occasionally stand still until the
pursuing party approached him, then,
with loud neigh and toss of his power
full head, he would at once show them
his heels. The rancheros, however, con-
tinued to stick to the trail, and after a
few hours again came upon him, when
he sped away from them like wind
-Four days longer they kept up the chase,
but in vain. Gonzalez, who on account
of his skill and intrepidity has been
chosen captain, on the fifth day organ
lied the company into squads, and told
them that the only hope of success
was to drive him to Hermosa Gully,
whish is small ravine in the Wichita
mountains, the jagged precipices form
ing verittable cul de sac. If they could
succeed in driving him into the ravine
they believed they could secure him.
Three bands were accordingly formed,
and they began to scour the prairie for
Black Boss. Gonzalez's company, after
few hours riding, came upon the stall
lion, who Immediately began his antics
of playing with his pursuers. 1t was on
this occasion that Gonzalez made most
marvellous throw with the lasso. He
managed to approach pretty close to
Black Boss, who at once snOrted and
bounded away Gonzalez stuck his
spurs deep into the TANKS of his steed,
which he gallantly answered, and in a
few moments carried his rider near the
flying stallion. The two horses were
now separated by about 225 feet, when,
quick as lightning, Gonzalez seized his
Black Boss was encircled by the fatal
coils, and was thrown, but his struggles
were fearful. The shock was too much
for Gonzalez and his horse, and steed
and rider rolled over on the ground. The
noble black writhed terribly in his
bonds, which suddenly snapped, and the
horse, once more on his feet, quickly dis
appeared, dragging the trailing larfat af-
ter him. Gonzalez, however was not
discouraged, and he and his band con-
tinued the chase. They were .overjoyed
to ind that Black Boss was galloping in
the direction of Hermosa Gully, and this
encouraged them to keep up. As night
approached they saw the horse canter
up the ravine, whereupon they resolved
to blockade it and wait until morning
and the arrival of the two other bands
before selzing their prey. During the
night the whole company were reunited,
and early at daybreak began cautiously
to enter the gully. Presently they espied
Black Boss, who neighed, threw up his
head, and started for the end of the gull
ly terminating in the cul de sac. Con
zalez and his party followed close be-
brought to bay. The lasso was once
more brought into requisition, and Black
Boss was prisoner. Having, as they
deemed, securely fastened him, he was
freed from the coils of the lariat. With
immense fury the horse turned upon the
man who held the improyised halter,
bit him severely in the shoulder, and
with his heels and teeth soon scattered
the whole party. Not one of them
would shoot him, as they priced him too
highly. Three men were badly bitten,
and several injured by his savage kicks
Suddenly the horse darted at Gonzalez
who he seemed to recognize as the chief
of those attacking him, seized him by
the shoulder with his teeth, and set off
with him at full gallop down the gully,
dropping him only after he had dragged
him a distance of so yards. Gonzales
shoulder was terribly hurt, and it was
long before he recovered The Aboysr
were thoroughly disheartened, and gave
up the pursuit Black Boss was not
seen in the neighborhood for twelve
months after, when he again appeared
Time and time again have the expedi-
tons been formed to capture him, but
he always managed to elude all pursuers
His experience with Gonzalez also seem
ed TO have taught him something; he
no longer waits for his enemies, and
never allows them to get near enough to
have chance of lassoing him. None of
the rancheros In the vicinity viii shoot