Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-01-28
a Racer of The Plains.

Jack Christy was the drovers name and
he recently arrived at ST. Louis, from
Texas. Jack got behind beer or two a
few nights ago and then and there related
a marvellous story OF remarkable horse.
ready to vouch. The substance Of Jack
narrative was abont as follows: No. very
great distance from Fort COncho, in Texas,
for the last seven years, a wild stallion Of
wonderful speed and endurance has been
seen but during all this period the endeay-
ors of the rsncberos to capture him have
proved unsuccessful. Jack has seen the
horse himself, and says he only stands
about "a hands high, and is coal-black in
color His body is covered with very long
hair, so that in appearance the horse is
rather shaggy. lie has long flowing tail
which trails on the ground, while his name
is at least two or three fee; in length. His
hoofs have grown very long. The animal
eyes are exceedingly bright and fiery, and
when galloping with dilated nnstrils over
the open muskeet prairie, Jack said: 1T
was enough to make your heart glad to see
such noble animal As stated above,
this horse has now haunted the vicinity of
Fort Concho for seven years and it is sup
posed that he is about years old. He was
seen to gallop distance Of three miles on
open prairie in less than four minutes and o
half He dashed out of ravine in the Vic
hita Maintains, and going at headlong speed
he disappeared behind a log hut, which
stood at exactly three miles from the en-
trance to the gully. One of the rancheros
with the party, who was watching the stall
lion from rocky cminence, timed him, es-
timating that the animal made three miles
in 4:50. This would make him the fastest
horse on record, and beats all the racetime
Some four years company was organized
to capture Black Boss. which was the sob
riquet by which the animal was known in
the region. About % ranchers and herders,
mounted on the fleetest of Texan horses and
mustangs, determined TO give chase to the
hitherto uncaptured and untamed steed.
One of the party was the celebrated Mex
ican vaquero Juan Gonzalez, who bears the
reputation of being the greatest expert
with the lasso living. For five days did
they pursue 'Black Boss on Their fleet
footed steeds. Sometimes they would
chase him for hours, when he would gradu-
ally distance them and disappear from sight.
Black Boss actually seemed to enjoy the
sport. He would occasionally stand still
sntil the pursuing party approached him,
then, with loud neigh and toss Of his
powerful head he would at once show them
his heels. The rancheros, however, contin-
ued to stick to his trail, and after a few
hours again came upon him, when he sped
e., 81 id
longer they kept up the chase, but in vain
Gonzlez, who on account of his skill and in
repidity had been chosen Captain, on the
fifth day organized the company into squads
and told them the only hope of success was
to drive him TO Hermosa Gully, which is a
small ravine in the Wichita Mountains, the
Jagged precipices forming a veritable cut
dc sue. If they could succeed in driving
him into the ravine he believed they could
secure him. Three bands were accordingly
formed, and they began to scour the prairie
for 'Bllck Boss Gonzalez company, after
few hours riding, came upon the stall
lion, who Immediately began his antics of
playing with his pursuers. Ii was on this
occasion that Gonzalez made most mary.
elous 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
flanks of his steed, which calamity answered,
and in few moments carried his rider
nearer the flying stallion. The two horses
were now separated by about 225 feet, when
quick as lighting, Gonzalez seized his lasso,
and, with unerrIng aim, threw it. Black
Boss was encircled by the fatal coils and
thrown, but his struggles were fearful. The
shock was too much for Gonzalez and his
horse, steed and rider, rolled over on the
ground. The noble black writhed terribly
in his bouds, which suddenly snapped,
and the horse, once more on mis- feet quick
ly disappeared, dragging the trailing larlat
after HIM. Gonzalez however, was not
discouraged, and he and his band con-
tinued the chase. They where overjoyed
to find that Black Boss was galloping in
the direction of Hermosa Gully, aud this en-
couraged them to keep on. As night ap-
preached they saw the horse canter up the
ravine. whereupon they resolvedto block