The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-09
more fled to the hills, defying all pur-

Iher, sentlnel 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 he 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 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, 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. I
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. I 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,
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. Sssd1Gnly from the wagon cor
raj emerged teafnster mounted on
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 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. II
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 horse's head, but he lodged it with |
wonderful agility. ~ - As~
z "Catch him by the chain! Catch him
by the chainr' the soldiers called out, I
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 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
rs 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
put 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. II
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 off |
MS knees and forelegs by the beating of
the chain. He was broad-chested, with
vide nostrils and big, bright, fiery
eye. The muscles were gathered in
arge knots, and the veins on his neck
and body stood out like whip-cords.
After we had securely hoppled his
egs and tied dozen long ropes to him
We took the chain off his neck. and let
him rise. He seemed completely con-
1uered, and moved along quietly enough
Q the stables. The horse was By com
non consent given to me; but / said I