Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-06
Old Zeke's Horse.
WHY HE WEARS GOLD MEDAL-A FROM
TIERsMAN's STORY.

TIERsMAN's STORY.
clipper ez er yearlin' colt, an no un w'u'd
b'lieve that hoss wuz 26 var old. Iaas,
I've owned him SEM he wor er colt, an I've
teached him everything that he knows 'ccpt
his meanness. He coined nat'ral by that,
pardner-ht was borned in him.
We had been on hunt through the Noun
tains Of Death after black-tal deer, and in
returning camped here for two days to give
our stock needed rest and grass. On the
evening Of the second day of our stay
an old hunter scout friend of ours rode into
camp and made one Of our partv He had
been out on this extreme frontier for years,
and knew every hole and corner of the
mountains we had just passed through.
Old Leke told good story, and we had been
listening for hours to his thrilling "yaras"
of adventure on the great Prison Plain,
when the murderous Apache and the blood
thirsty Comanche roamed over it at will.
We learned from him that the spring where
we were now camped had been favorite
stopping place for the red men on their
journeys through the country. 1t was the
only water of consequence between the
Mountains of Death and the Sierra Diablo,
there being only small hole on the great
Death Plain, which stretched away at our
feet toward the dim blue ridges of the latter
mountain.
The Texas Pacific Railroad was within
fifteen miles of the spring, and when they
were building the road, water for the great
construction camps was hauled from the
spring in wagons. The road which they
made has not yet overgrown and is the only
evidence of civilization in all this wild coun-
try. The spring lies at the head of mar
row arroyo which branches off from Apache
Canyon, and the Indians used to camp here
for weeks at time. The old sign they
made is abundant, and above the spring on
level plateau are planted several smooth
posts, now fast decaying, where the red hunt
ers used to dress their deer hides Ii has
not been so long since they we're here either
| followed a trail through this canyon less
than two years ago, and in 1880, when Vic
toria swooped down upon the frontier. his
defiant forces passed through Apache Can
yon. Old Zeke is a veritable frontier patr-
arch. He must be at least 20 Years Of age,
but he is as active and strong as many men
at 40, and is good for many years Of hard
service yet. When he was younger man
Comanche warrior shot an arrow into his
right eye and he lost the use Of that mem
Der. From this wound he takes the name
by which he is generally known-"One- eyed
Ieke.' He lives in the mountains all the
time, and since the railroad was put through
has made snug little fortune killing ante
iope. which find a ready sale at good prices
at any Of the stations on the road. He yis-
its the settlements only when he needs ra-
tons or ammunition, and when he goes
down to the railroad with load of antelope,
is regarded with much curiosity by the ten
derteet" passengers. He is good repre-
sentative of that hardy race of plainsmen
who are fast disappearing before the rail
road, is strong OF limb and stout of heart,
Injured to every hardship, honest. quaint OF
speech and simple Of manner. lie told me
once that he had never been sick day IN
his life. lie was for many years a govern
ment guide and could tell YOU thousand
stories Of adventure. His horse is a large
blood-bay animal, who has wicked fashion
Of showing the whites Of his eyes and lay
Ing back his thin ears.
''lie looks 50 much like one Nv them thar
Mexican lions" explained the old hunter,
that named him Cougar" and it is to say
something about Cougar and his many ex-
ploits that this letter was begun. He had
often spoken to me Of this famous animal,
and one dav-I shall never forget the cir
cumstancc-l formed Cougars acquaintance.
At that time | was located at one of the
4
guide. Having occasion to use horse for
few hours one day, | was on my way to
the office Of the quartermaster to get an or
der on the master Of the corral for one Of
Uncle Sans spare cabalios. Nv nearest
route lay through the corral. | was walking
.eisurely along near the centre of the III
closure when screaming neigh, the sound
Of quickly falling hoofs, ard a warning CRY
from one Of the soldiers at the far end Of
the corral, caused me to turn nv head. \
blood bay horse, with proudly arched neck,
flowing name, and tail and head erect, was
coming toward me at a quick gallop. His
thin ears were laid back close to his head
and his red tongue hung from his mouth be-
tween two rows of vicious looking teeth. |
turned and faced the rapidly advancing ami
NAL. The nearer he came the more danger
Gus he looked, and was unarmed. lwouId
have run ovard the row OF stalls on the
worth side Of the corral for shelter, but they
were too far away. | could hear the champ
of his teeth and the sound made cold chills
run down my vertebral column. Fire seemed
10 flash from his eyes, and great hecks Of
foam dropped from his open mouth. When
he was within ten feet of me he reared. evi-
IDENTIFY intending to crush me beneath his
forefeet. shuddered-most any man would
have done 50 under the circumstances
braced my self for spring. The anticipat-
ed shock did not come however. heard
the sternly spoken caution "Hyar :" in the
well known voice of One-eyed Zeke, and the
horse but recently so full of vicious fire,
halted. pricked up his ears and stood meek
" in front Of me. with such an expression
Of innocent wonder on his face that burst
out laughing. He did not like this and laid
back his ears again
"Hyar We rascal shouted his master.
''None NV that.
He walked up to where | was standing
and placed his hand on my shoulder.
This hyar's pardner uv mine. Cougar
he said. Shake y
Cougar who had inclined his head grave
ly, as though listening to his masters words,
lifted one Of his fore feet and extended ii
toward me in friendly manner srasped
the outstretched imb, and since that DAY
Cougar and have been very good friends.
although never cared to presume on our
acquaintance by any undue familiarity. |
was speaking abou, this little incident when
One-eyed Zeke gave utterance to the words
which open this letter. lie glanced toward
the subject of his remarks with an express
sion very much akin to loving devotion in
his single eye, and then began to tell US the
history of Cougars long and eventful life
Although what is known as an "Ameri-
can horse," Cougar was born wild and on the
plains. One day about twenty five years
ago One-eyed Zeke was following an Indian
trail along the Neuecus river. He made