Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-01-22
The Legend Of the Black Horse.

there was, ranging on the Western
prairies, large cauattonda of wild
ponies that had wonderful leader,
who led them in their reckless races
over the plains from Solomon River
in Kansas to the French River in Ne
braska. He was the monarch of the
wild horses Of the West. His equal
was never known. He has been de-
scribed as large, handsomely formed
and black az q coal--not a white hair
having ever been found on him. When
seen at the head of his band leading
them over the wide, rolling prairies
he looked every inch o king and
spurned every effort Of cowboy or In
dian at his capture.
A reward Of fifty thousand dollars
was offered for his capture alive, and
the writer has heard old plainsmen
tell of the weary days and nights
passed in efforts to "walk him down"
and when it seemed that he must give
up, that flesh and blood could no long
or sustain the travel and excitement
forced upon him, his keen eye would
discover chance Of escape from his
foes when, like some dark spirit from
the neither world, he would break
through theirlinesand with feet so light
they ssemedalmost ospurn the ground,
and Movements graceful beyond des-
cription, would sweep away out st
sight, his flowing name and tail SEEM
ing to wave defiance to pursuit. The
feetest horses on the plains were pig
mics in speed compared to him; and,
strange to say, he was, even when
chased the hardest, never know1a to
break from tie hot--never seen 10 run /
He was one of the mysteries of the
Great West, concerning which there
is the following Indian legend
Years ago, when the red man had
full control of this region, and Kan
sas and Nebraska were almost I'M
known, a family of brave people had
crossed the big Muddy" to push
their way West far up into the Solo
mon Valley.
They had with them considerable
amount of stock, and among the rest
black stallion.
Among the savage tribes roaming
this land was one whose chief was
called Gray Wolf. He was the most
cruel and treacherous chief ever known
in the West.
He one day discovered this little
train and with a few warriors rode
up under the guise of friendship
to find out their strength. Among
the people in the train was a young
lady said by the Indians to have been
beautiful beyond description. No
ticing the eager eyes of the chief fixed
on a large Black stallion tied to one
Of the wagons she stepped out to the
horse and laying her hand gently on
his neck said, prince, and he that
had been before all life, motion and
rsstlessness, became quiet and gentle
as dog. Then facing the interpre-
ter standing by the chief, both Of
whom were awed by her manner, she
said
IF you come in peace we greet you
kindly, Prince and |, and will ever be
friends to the Redmen, But should
you prove false we will come back
from the spirit land and your tribe
shall meet our vengeance"
Gray Wolf and his braves left the
camp promising eternal friendship,
only to return in the early morning
to massacre and plundsr every per-
son, the young lady with the rest be-
ing killed, and all their stock captur-
ed except the stallion.
After this Gray VOLTS band began
to meet reverses. His tribe dwindled
away. Disease and pestilence thinned
their ranks and finally the tribe was
most annihilated and Gray Wolf was
killed by the United States troops.
The story 10 told by few who ss-
capped destruction and assimilated with
other tribes, and it 10 said a member
Of Gray VOLTS tribe never looked at
the black stallion without being over
come with fear, and declaring he
could see the massacred white girl
riding on his back and guiding his ev-
cry movement.
For years this matchless horse
roamed the prairies untouched by
mortal hand, defying constant endsa-
vors to capture him. He finally fell
. victim to human cruelty--just as
did his owners and fair mistress. A
cowboy on the headwaters of the
French River undertook to "crease"