Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-13
A TROOP OF WILD HORSES.
One OF the Grandest Sights Ever Wit
messed.
From, The Detroit Free Press

From The Uetrcft FREQ Press.
| had camped near the forks OF the
Platte, and was aroused Just at daylight
by footsteps around me. After listening
for q moment felt sure that they were
the footsteps of horses. They seemed to
be circlng around me-nOt at q canter,
not at a trot. but at a moderate walk. 1t
was well that had secured my horse in
a thorough manner, for ! never saw him
so excited. He tugged and pulled at his
larlat, stood up on his hind legs, nelghed
and snorted paved and pranced, and 1t
was his actions that gave me clue to the
identity Of nv visitors.
They were wild horses.
Had they been Indian ponies my train
ed horse would have remained as dumb
and silent as post. Indeed, Indians
would not have approached me in that
manner
Remained very quiet, hoping the horses
would remain in sight until daylight
should give me a good view Of them.
had to wait for a full hour, but when the
light grew strong the spectacle was one
to make a mans blood Jingle. The CIR
Gle had been enlarged until 1t was half
mile across, and my little camp was the
centre. Every horse, and there were l29
of them, steOd with his head TO this cen
tEGs ana bOlQAtlb NOuiN uOD nave tNAth ~
siti0ns on the skrmish line IN more pre-
else order.
pitied my own animal He stood with
the lariat drawn taut, and trembled in
every limb, and be was as wet with sweat
as if had gallOped him twenty miles. l
realized how he must long TO break away
and join the wild rovers, and forever end
his drudgery.
dared not rise to nay feet for fear OF
la ,Ss,t~ & E,r M al /
had a clear view Of each horse. Most OF
them were magnificent animals. Names
down on their shoulders aud tails on the
grass. They were of various cOlOrs, and
they ranged in age from the yearling colt
up TO the veterans 20 year old. the
BAYS predOminated, but every color was
present.
We had been observing each other about
ten minutes, When iet-Olack stallion,
wno was the leader of the herd, gave a
snort, threw up his heels into the air, and
broke OF at gallop, followed by the drove
in single file. They ran in true circle,
and they made the circuit five times be-
fore stopping, Then, at another signal
from the leader, the circle broke and the
horses wheeled into a lOag single line, or
company 'front.'"
Troop horses could not have done bet
ter. | thought at first that the line meant
10 charge me, but at a signal 1t made a
lett wheel and galloped straight of on the
plain for mile. Then it broke, assumed
the shape OF a triangle, and returned.
When the leader was within pistol shot
( he wheeled about and the horses formed
in a square, with the four yearllngs in the
centre. They galloped of for a mile,
broke again, and returned in two ranks.
had an almost irresistible desire to Kill
the leader with u bullet. Indeed,
reached for my rife with that intent but
/ then came the reflection that IT, would be
/ little short OF murder. Such another per-
feet horse | had never seen. His black
/ coat shOne like silk, his limbs and body
were perfec Jon, and he had the speed and
! bottom OF a race horse. Not halt was
made for a full hour. and then it was only
| preparatory to taking swift departure
/ The last mauWuYre was circle att slow
| trOt and each horse whinnied in a coax
ing manner to my own eteed. Poor Sc
| linn lie struggled in the most frantic
! manner to break loose, and when finding
I all his efforts OF no avail he threw himself
down on the grass and actually groaned
. his disappointment
! rose up then and waved my blanket
Instead OF rushing of in alright, as | eX.
pected, the leader OF the band deliberate
lv approached me few rods and stood
and snOrted and paved as If sending forth
I a challenge. Then l set up a shouting
waved the blanket some more, and he
took his place at the head, formed the
band at company front" and they went
of at q gaHop, and maintained 1t as long
as l could see the waving line.