The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-03-14
hills once more Part of the herd was


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 who re
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 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 a
great shout. The mule had a history,
L., - Il
Abe Lincoln. He had been the hero of
many race and won bet, for not
withstanding 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. |
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 a rope over
the horses head, but he lodged it with
wonderful agility.
'sCatch him by the chain. Catch him
by the chain!'' the soldiers called out,
and Abes 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
tore away. Old Abe seemed TO under
stand the business on hand, and was
constantly 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 at 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 go 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
a 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 off
his knees and forelegs by the beating of
the chain. He was broad-chested, with
wide nostrils and big, bright, fiery
eye. The muscles were 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 l 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 quito
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
30 %a1
Not very long after his capture de-
tachment of Captain Phisterer's COM
pany was going in to Fort Bridger. and
the Captain determined to send the
wild horse in with them. He was
securely tied behind wagon and strict
orders given to guard him night and
day until his arrival at Bridger.
On the second day out we heard from
the detachment that the horse had es-
capped. 1t appeared soldier had taken
him down to the water, using merely q
halter. Whether the horse got
frightened and pulled away, or whether
the soldier for a moment dropped the
halter-strap, no one could tell, but the
horse got away, fled into the hills, and,
of course, pursuit was useless. He was
often seen afterward, but no one ever
could succeed in recapturing him.
The events of which | have been
writing occurred in 1869, nearly sixteen
years ago, and the horse is probably
dead before this time, as he was thought
to be eight or ten years old when we
captured him, but doubt not some of
the descendants of this horse now roam
over Northern Wyoming, and it is prob
able not few of them annoy the cattle
men and horse-growers by stealing
their mares. If the descendants are as
good stuff as the sire they will not
easily be got rid of, and good many OF
them, as well as us, will have cause