The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-03-09
WILD HORSES.
Immense Herds OF These Animals
in Former Years.


In 1851. when ! first saw the Mo
Pecos river. which Is the right-hand
branch of the Rio Grande. the Pecos
plains were a ~favorite grazing ground
for vast herds Of wild horses For
wears later there we're plenty of wild
ponies on the Western plains, but in
The DAYS 81 which / write there we're
herds a good big horses. some OF The
animals standing seventeen hands
high and weighing thirteen hundred
OF fourteen hundred pounds. 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 70 be made. and there was
70 Be q military post located between
Popc's Wells and the Bonita river.
The country between was q plain one
hundred miles long BY two hundred
broad. with many small streams and
rich feeding spots The herds u
horses had been seldom disturbed by
white hunters. and whenever the Indi-
ans wanted a supply they selected the
ponies in preference. believing that
they were the soonest broken and
would stand the hardest riding
We we're well into the plains before
vsnw any horses. and the first herd
veaw came very near bringing about
. calamity. We were encamped in .
bend Of the ecos. and the surveyors
and guards had Just come in for din
ner. There was . truce between the
whites and the Indians Mt that date.
but our party was a strong one. and the
surveyors never went out without pro-
lection A truce meant that the red
skins would not kill II the other party
was The stronger. We had two ambu-
ianees. three or four wagons. and from
seventy to eighty horses. These last
we're staked out on the rich feeding
ground With no more warning than
'la' we felt q trembling Of the earth
Az heard . great clat;cr. q drove Of
wa horses numbering at least five
hundred came charging around a
heavily wooded point directly at ouI
camp. The stream in front Of ON
camp was about two feet deep and ran
over bed Of gravel. and the horses
were probably In the habit Of coming
mere 70 drink. The herd was led BY .
sorrel stallion Of magnificent look and
.mo' and was going at such a pace
'nai The leaders were among our ami
mais before a man Of as moved. Moth.
'ns Will rattle = domestic horse like ths
near presence Of his wild brother. A
stampede Of buffaloes simply tcrrifics
MN, and In his terror he will act like
aiool. The wild horse cxcitcs him ans
makes him forget for the ome tina
heis mans slave. and he will do hi,
very best 10 throw on the yoke Of scrv
'tude and Join the herd.
Il was well We were all together
Every man rushed for the horses yell
ing and shouting TO drive the intruder
away. but when they went two Of on
mules and : horse went with them
lhc horse was . i've year old stallion
worth AZ least i've hundred dollars
and his fight created instant dismay Il
me camp The mules would not b
allowed % s'chum'' with the herd any
now, and could Be picked up after the,
had tired their legs . little. but III
horse might never b seen again.
Score Of us mounted IN hot haste and 81
On 70 recapturc him. The herd In
gone due west. in which direction
Use Of ground hid them after q shor
fun. A we reached this rise ever
man 81 us checked his horse. Bclo,
" was an almost circular valley abou
naii q mile across. and in this vale
we herd had come 20 q halt. Il sccme
WAT the presence o. our horse hs