St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-04-18
COVINGTON, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. APRIL 18,
more fled to the hills. defying all pur-

suit.
The wild horse was not again heard
of for nearly three months, when one
morning just after breakfast in midsum-
mer, sentinel on post reported horse
on bluff overlooking the camp, and on
a closer inspection with glasses we saw
it was the veritable wild horse with the
chain still about his neck He seemed
greatly excited, kept galloping up and
down the bluff with head and tail erect,
steadily looking at our horse and mule
herd. which was quietly grazing in the
valley. | gave orders to the soldiers
not to disturb the horse or apparently
notice him, but sent word to the herd
ers to move the herd gently toward the
bluff, keeping well in the background
themselves. The horse presently de-
scended the bluffs and approached the
herd, but suddenly taking alarm crossed
the valley and went up the opposite
hills. As if charmed by the presence of
his own kind, he recrossed the valley
and assumed his old position on the
bluffs. Being assured ne came down.
and. for a minute, joined the mule herd
Then running round and round he
,.
As long as he would run l let him 60,
but seeing he was settling down to cap
ture- our mares started him out on the
hills once more. Part of the herd was
now driven in. a cavalry company and
some team mules saddled up. and we
waited for developments. We could
see the long chain about his neck, dang
ling between his forelegs, and appa-
rently threshing them at every step. In
about an hour the horse, apparently ex-
hausted, came down from the hills and
entered the herd with the mares. l
now ordered the men in twos, threes
and skies, to seize the passes leading
into the hills and to picket the bluffs.
Then began chase the like of which
had never seen before. had sent out
troopers to all the passes, and divided
up a company into squads of six and
eight, with orders to relieve each other
as fast as their horses became blown.
The pursuing party started the horse.
and he made straight for the hills where
he was turned back and driven across
the valley again. Go where he might
soldiers from every canon and on
every hillside emerged with lariats,
ready to lasso him. Like most animals
when closely pursued, the horse ran al.
most in q circle, and soon made no ef-
fort to enter the hills. His only anx-
iety seemed to be to escape the immedi-
ate presence of his pursuers, who grad
ually closed in on him. At first he
easily outran the swiftest horses. but
now some of the fresher ones were
nearly able to keep up with him. The
chain about neck threshed his forelegs
and greatly impeded his onward prog
ress. Suddenly from the wagon cor
raj emerged a teamster mounted on a
tall saddle mule, and at the sight of the
mule and rider the soldiers set up a
great shout. The mule had history,
and was known in the command as Old
Abe Lincoln. He had been the hero of
many a race and won a bet, for not
his ungainly appearance
he had pluck. endurance and speed,
such as rarely falls to the lot of mule.
Stretching himself and shaking his
small whisk tail in the air, Old Abe went |
straight for the wild horse. Placing
himself on the outside of the circle at |
the horses shoulder. Abe stayed with |
him, pressing in and in, until he was |
going around on few acres of land. l
cow saw the capture of the horse was |
inevitable, and the soldiers of the camp |
ran out with guns, sticks and clubs to |
keep him within the circle. BY COM
mon consent Old Abe and his rider were |
allowed to do the chasing, the other |
men merely keeping the horse
in the fatal ring. Abe's rider made one
or two attempts to throw a rope over
the horses head. but he lodged it with |
agility.
"Catch him by the chain! Catch him
BY the chain" the soldiers called out,
and Abe's rider put up his rope and
made desperate efforts to get hold of the
chain that hung from the horses neck.
Once or twice he got it, but the horse
.ore away. Old Abe seemed TO under
stand the business on hand, and was
trying to get ahead of the
1orse He did not seem to know why
ne should be required to keep alongside,
md greatly vexed his rider by his ef-
'orts to pass the horse. At last, how
.ver. the chain was secured, and Abe,
.ither understanding it or being tired
,ut, merely kept at the horses side. As
he soldier tugged at the chain it began
% choke the horse, and finally he stag
yered as he ran. The soldiers now
closed in and threw their lariats at him
IS he passed. One went over his head.
md the soldier hung to it until another
md another came to his help. The horse
,ould go no further, his eyes popped
,ut of his head. his tongue protruded
rom his mouth, and he fell heavily on
he plain. In an instant his forelegs
we're bound together. and at last we
lad the wild horse safe in our hands.
him carefully, and found him
! dark chestnut bay in color. and of
Medium size. The chain had cut deep
nto his neck, making an ugly sore, and
he skin was completely threshed of
lis knees and forelegs by the beating of
he chain. He was broad -chested, with
vide nostrils and q big, bright, fiery
we. The muscles were gathered in
arge knots, and the veins on his neck
md body stood out like whip-cords.
After we had securely hoppled his
egs and tied q dozen long ropes to him
ve took the chain of his neck and let
linn rise. He seemed completely con-
uered. and moved along quietly enough