The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-08
WILD HORSES.
Immense Herds Of These Animals
in Former Years.
a Remarkable Duel Between Two STALL
ions-The Ugly and Dangerous Rogue
-Stampedes-A Lucky
Capture,

-SGdLnpcueS-A LUCKY
Capture.
In 1851, when / first saw the RiC
PecOs river, which is the right-hanC
branch of the Rio Grande. the Peco
plains were faYorIte grazing ground
for vast herds of wild horses. Fo,
years later there were plenty of wild
ponies on the Western plains, but in
the days of which 1 write there were
herds of good big horses. some of the
animals standing seventeen hands
high and weighing thirteen hundred
or fourteen hundred pounds. 1 went
into New Mexico with a Government
surveying party, which was of semi
military character. A survey of that
portion of the Rio Pecos lying in New
Mexico was to be made. and there was
to be military post located between
Pope's Wells and the Bonita river.
The country between was a plain one
hundred miles long by two hundred
broad, with many small streams and
rich feeding spots. The herds of
horses had been seldom disturbed by
white hunters, and whenever the Indi-
ans wanted supply they selected the
ponies in preference, believing that
they were the soonest broken and
would stand the hardest riding.
We were well into the plains before
We saw any horses, and the first herd
we saw came very near bringing about
a calamity. We were encamped in a
bend of the Pecos, and the surveyors
and guards had just come in for din
ner. There was a truce between the
whites and the Indians at that date,
but our party was strong one, and the
surveyors never went out without pro-
lection. A truce meant that the red
skins would not kill if the other party
was the stronger. We had two ambu-
lances, three or four wagons, and from
seventy to eighty horses. These last
were staked out on the rich feeding
ground. With no more warning than
that we felt trembling of the earth
and heard a great clatter, drove of
wild horses numbering at least five
hundred came charging around
heavily wooded point directly at our
camp. The stream in front of our
camp was about two feet deep and ran
over a bed of gravel, and the horses
were probably in the habit of coming
here to drink. The herd was led bv a
sorrel stallion of magnificent look and
limb, and was going at such a pace
that the leaders were among our ami
mails before a man of us moved. Moth
ing will rattle domestic horse like the
near presence of his wild brother. A
stampede of bufaloes simply terrifies
him, and in his terror he will act like
a fool. The wild horse excites him and
makes him forget for the moment that
he is mans slave, and he will do his
very best to throw off the yoke of serv-
itude and join the herd.
1t was well we were all together.
Every man rushed for the horses. veil
ing and shouting to drive the intruders
away, but when they went two of our
mules and a horse went with them.
The horse was five year old stallion.
worth at least five hundred dollars.
and his flight created instant dismay in |
the camp The mules would not, be |
allowed to ''chum' with the herd any,
how, and could be picked up after they |
had tired their legs a little, but the |
horse might never be seen again. A
score Of us mounted in hot haste and set |
off 20 recapture him. The herd had |
gone due west, in which direction n
rise of ground hid them after short
run. As we reached this rise every
man of us checked his horse. Below |
us was an almost circular valley about |
half mile across. and in this valley /
the herd had come to halt. 1t seemed |
that the presence of our horse had
aroused the ire of the sorrel leader of
the herd. and that the question of |
championship had come up to be set
tied at once. The two stations were
between us and the herd, and were al
ready skirmishing. Every one of the
horses had his head toward the pair.
and was an interesting spectator. At
any other time our presence would
have put them to flight, but under the
circumstances they gave US no atten-
ton.
Now occurred a combat the like of
which few men have ever witnessed.
The horses we're pretty evenly matched