Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-04-10


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 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 go,
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. 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 ey-
hausted, came down from th 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 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
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 a 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 sw.ftest 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 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 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 a few acres of land. I
now saw the capture of the horse was
sko1 IL v1 bo SOL eR ~
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 chainf' 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
tore away. Old Abe seemed 10 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 90 no further, his eyes popped
! out of his head, his tongue protluded
| 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. I
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 of
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-
4 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 8 company. of the
Seventh Infantry, the horse went to thai
regiment.
i Poor-fellow, he seemed glad enough
to be in captivity, and was soon quite
/ gentle. but they were afraid to ride him
i lest he should throw his rider and agaiI
escape to the hills. He would put dowr
i his head to have the sore on his neck
washed, and, indeed, behaved SO vel
4 we soon ceased to talk about him.
i Not very long after his capture de
tachment of Captain Phisterer's com
j pany was going in to Fort Bridger, ane
H the Captain determined to send til,
i wild horse in with them. He wa!
I securely tied behind wagon and stric
orders given to guard him night ant
j day until his arrival at Bridger.
! On the second day out we heard from
the detachment that the horse had es
capped. Itappeared soldier had takel
him down to the water. using merely
J, halter. Whether the horse go
! frightened and pulled away, or whethe
J the soldier for moment dropped tn
/ halter-strap, no one could tell, but tn
( horse got away, fled into the hills. and
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