The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-28
ON THE PLAINS In IS.
In Pursuit. OF the FugitiSes We Dis.
covered wild Horses-Wiid Chase.
The Old Trap4er Give. Ne thu Locality
or Antoiope-A DosoIate scene, dc.
BY SERGEANT HOLIDAY.

they swept, ropes flying, picket pins whiz
zing through the air like chain shot-soms
tangled together-now they plunged, blind
ly, into camp, crushing in our dugouts
tearing down tents, falling into sinks and
pits, upsettng everything which lay il
their path, Gripping and mangling each
other, and all this mingled with the shouts
and frightened EXPLANATIONS Of the boys
who were vainly struggling to dodge one
pony only to be knocked down by another,
or save themselves by blows from sabre
and carbine. never expected, nor do !
desire to witness such a scene OF consterna.
ton again. The frantic herd now leave
the bottom and fly TO the bluffs and
we know tina. before many days the
Indians will DO riding our mules and
ponies on the bloody warpath. We take a
look through the ruins and to our surprise,
find but few men hurt and none killed.
Many horses, however, were killed or
rendered useless and had TO be shot. A
small squad OF ponies, during the heat OF
the STAN pede, crossed the river and dashed
away up the stream and soon disappeared
in the distance. We at once organised into
squads and gathering all the stock together
we could find, soon started in pursuit. 1t
was rather q hazardous undertaking for
we well knew that large bands OF hostiles
were lurking in the vicinity Of the post,
and OF course we went well prepared for
defence.
With small but brave syuad Of hall
a.naaaH fha -, I'D ,
in pursusuit Of the fugitives who had gone
to the buttes OF Dakota. We travelled all
day over an unbroken waste prairie as
desolate as the plains oil Arabia, and
about four O'Clock in sight OF beautiful
valley whose wide green bottom spread
out before US and presented splendid
view after days ride over prickly pears
and wild sage. We ride to the top OF an
eminence, and away yonder in the distance
80 small at first that We could not tell
whether they were ponies or autelopes, we
discern drove, we cannot tell Of what.
We 90 down into the bottom, through
deep rich grass which has grown. IN.
touched by man or beast. We lose sight
OF the herd which We have sighted and
are soon compelled TO seek bluff in order
TO get view ofthe vast plains before us.
again We see our herd, and this time see
that they are our runaway stock. We
make haste and soon come upon them.
Great was our establishment to see stand.
ing in the midst Of the gang several large
fat and sleek ponies, all strangers TO Us.
We had been told that wild ponies had
been seen in this vicinity but had not be-
lieyed II. We all az once commenced to
lay claim TO the strays, as We supposed
them to be.
1.-THE black Is mine" said one Of the
boys, as he began to prepare his lasso for
q throw.
1.-THE spotted horse belongs to me-" yell.
ed another, but before we approached
within two hundred yards, they shot out
from among our herd and dashed up the
plain. We started in hot pursuit, all swing.
ing our lariais, but before we ran a mile
the wild ponies were in the bluffs and lost
10 sight. They presented fine contrast as
they stood among our old worn out mules
and ponies. The boys formed q resolution
that they would return and capture them
at some future time. 1t was near day
break when we drove the renegade ponies
across the river and into camp, many Of
these were stiff and so crippled that they
barely made the trip. We lost heavily in
this stampede, and several days passed ere
we had recovered two thirds OF our stock.
When these stampedes occurred we al.
ways found large number oil stray mules
or ponies who got with our stock away out
on the plains where they may have been
running wild for months and perhspsyears.
OF course we were always on the watch for
strays. On this occasion several mules and
ponies were picked up who looked as il
they might have been running wild for
years. A small mule made his appearance
With herd Of stragglers which were
driven in, and from the appearance Of bis
boots which had grown out long, as well as
bis name and tail, concluded he didn't
belong to anybody, so | got partner and
we proceeded at once to capture him. Thu
we found to be an ugly job. We could
not get close euough to him to throw &
lasso. So we took two lassoes and aitel
| tying them together formed large rims
Of the moose upon the ground into whict
we put corn. This would not do, he hac
doubtless seen such traps before. Bu
we nut decoy there We got another ole
mule to draw him on by eating the corn
Finally after we had fed up the rations o
several horses to the old mule who seemed
10 enjoy toe j)ke, the little donkey wa
rersuaded to step " and into the ring
We hauled in both mules. We then threw
A rope over his head and had him fast. w
kept him tied to the picket line for few
days and said nothing. This was custom
ary and was considered legal advertise
ment Of the stray. II no owner called auC
claimed him after the first two or three
DAYS. the title was good-at least as goRC
"a he old rascal down at the rancho caret
about, and he always took in all stock o
this kind when he was sure he would maxi
100 per cent on the investment This mulI
came near costing me my lie.
| determined TO go on q "still hunt" o
rather . lone hunt, with no one with M
but the old mule as q companion, and &C
Icordipply sought out an old trapper whom
n had heard talk Of wonderful hRir'breadtl
escapes and thrilling adventures with red
lskins and grizzly bars in the mountain
beyoud. | found him and at once mad
nv intention known, and asked for 10
formation a. to the best direction 10 tax
and the locality for antelope.
"Wal, II its antelope yer arter, why In
1.-The chap that can shoot yer on bee lin
70 the very spot Yer see youngster "
been in these parts nigh onto twenty year
and I've crossed the length Of this trai
more nor that many times. I've shove
Kit Carson many . trick that be neve
would. have knowed, aud I've saved oil
Bridger from the Indians more nor ons'
| but youngs,er, yer wants to know wher
the critters use, so I'll tell ye
90 yer kent miss tho shoot. Ye
souint that pint to the West, 'bou
1.-Two miles-yer do? all right, 60 thai
Turn tquar to the south and make
straight shirt tail up the canyon fur thre
miles. Then plant yer CARCASS on q mole
and fquint for bucks. Deer? Oh, nc
| deer, injgps, Sioux l mean. Yer see
dom know aa thAF's any skulkin' round
but keep yer peppers open, Oass there lik'
liz Is, seeir' ss the mail coach was strue
y n.