The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-03-14

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 he came down,
and. for a minute, Joined the mule herd.
Then running round and round he
worked toward the horses and mares.
As long as he would run | let him 90,
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 saddlcd 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. |
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 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,
70 HI I /,
when closely pursued, the horse ran al
most in circle, and soon made no eff
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
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
withstanding his ungainlv 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 |
now 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
mounted men merely keeping the horse
in the fatal ring. Abe's rider made one
or two attempts to throw rope over
the horses head, but he lodged it with
wonderful agility.
''Catch him by the chain! Catch him
by the chainr' the soldiers called out,
and Abe's rider put ~ his rope and
made desperate efforts 10 get hold of the
chain that hung from the horses neck
Once or twice he got it, but the horse
tore away. Old Abe seemed to under
stand the business on hand, and was
trying to get ahead of the
horse. He did not seem to know why
he should be required to keep alongside,
and greatly veXed his rider by his eff
forts to pass the horse. At last, how
ever the chain was secured, and Abe,
either understanding it or being tired
out, merely kept ut the horses side As
the soldier tugged at the chain it began
to choke the horse, and finally he stag
gered as he ran. The soldiers now
closed in and threw their lariats at him
as he passed. One went over his head,
and the soldier hung to it until another
and another came to his help. The horse
could 90 no further, his eyes popped
out of his head, his tongue protruded
from his mouth, and he fell heavily on
the plain. In an instant his forelegs
were bound together, and at last we
had the wild horse safe in our hands. /
examined him carefully, and found him
dark chestnut bay in color, and of
medium size. The chain had cut deep
into his neck, making an ugly sore, and
the skin was completely threshed oft
his knees and forelegs by the beating of
the chain. He was broad-chested, with
wide nostrils and a big, bright, fiery
eye. The muscles We're gathered in
large knots, and the veins on his neck
and body stood out like whip-cords.
After we had securely hoppled his
legs and tied dozen long ropes to him
we took the chain off his neck and let
him rise. He seemed completely con-
quered, and moved along quietly enough
to the stables. The horse was by COM
mon consent given to me; but | said |
would not have him. and thought he
ought to belong to Old Abe and his
rider. This greatly pleased the soldiers.
and, as Old Abe and his rider belonged
to Captain Phisterer's company, of the
Seventh Infantry, the horse went to that
regiment.
Poor fellow. he seemed glad enough
to be in captivity, and was soon quite
gentle, but they were afraid to ride him
lest he should throw his rider and again
escape to the hills. He would put down
his head to have the sore on his neck
washed and, indeed, behaved so well
we soon ceased to talk about him
Not very long after his capture de-
tachment of Captain Phisterer's com
pany was going in to Fort Bridger. and
Al, H. - Al, q.