The Grenada gazette., 1888-07-05
CREASiNG A MUSTANG.
The Skill Displayed by Texas Marbmen
in Capturing Wild Horses.

In Capturing Wild Horses.
J. I. Hill, at the present time live
stock agent for the Chicago IL Alton,
and who for many years has been en-
gagged in cattle-raising in Texas and
the Indian Territory, remarked to a re-
porter ''In the early days, of the cattle
business in Texas, from 1857 to 1860,
the ranges were overrln by bands OF
wild horses. These animals were
great nuisance, as they would get
mixed with our Loose horses and run
them off when nay one approached.
As rule they were a rough, i'll
shaped set of beasts, and almost un-
tamable, so that few attempts we're
ever made to catch them, it being con-
sidered best 10 shoot them on sight
and thus get rid Of a disturbing
influence in our horse herds. Some.
times, however, really fine
animal would be seen and the ranch
men would try hard to secure
it, But the ordinary mode of capture,
lassoing, could seldom be used against
wild horses, and these beasts were very
shy, and even a poor horse, carrying
no weight, could outstrip very fine
animal with man on his back. l have
chased wild horses a hundred times,
and have become thoroughly convinced
of the truth of the English racing say
ing that the weight of stable key will
win or lose race.
''In this extremity the Texans used
to resort to means of capturing the
horses which is, believe, exclusively
American. 1t was discovered, / do not
know how, that blow upon a particular
sinew in horses neck, located Just
above where the spine joins the skull,
would paralyze the animal temporarily
without doing it any permanent injury.
In those days the Texans were nearly
without exception fine shots, and at
short range could send rifle ball with
phenomenal accuracy. The horses
could not be approached eX-
cept on foot, and it was
impossible to catch them on
horseback. But, not to be overcome
by any such difficulties, the cowboys
discovered way to capture them.
Taking his rife, hunter would crawI
through the thick chaparral until
within fifty or sixty yards of the horse
he desired to secure. Then, taking
careful aim, he would endeavor to send
bullet through the top of the neck SC
as to strike the sinew. When this wa:
properly done the horse would fall a.
if struck by lightning and remain in
sensible for ten or fifteen minutes. re
covering completely in an hour or two
with no worse injury than a Sigh
wound in the back of the neck tha
soon healed. Of course many bullet;
went astray and hundreds OF horses
were killed, but a good shot would Sc
cure about one horse in three that ht
attempted to GREASE as this mode 0
capture was called. The large calibel
rifles commonly in use were not adapted
to this peculiar mode Of hunting, as i
they touched the sinew they were SURF
to break it, and the wounds tn,
a. or 52-calibre balls inflicted were too
severe. The weapon universally em
ployed in creasing mustangs was th'
old Hawkins rifle. which bullet no
much larger than a pea. had set trig
ger and required but small charge 0
powder. These weapons were wonder
fully accurate up to one hundred yards
but inflicted trihing wound, and thu
bullet was likelytO take course through
soft flesh around any hard object in
stead of tearing through it, as large
ball propelled by a heavier charge o
powder would do. Hundreds of mus
tangs, always the best animals in th'
herd, used to be creased every year
and this practice was kept up until th
herds had entirely disappeared.
''Some of the horses thus secured
we're very tough and feet animals, bu
few were of any practical Use. Nearl.
all were stations, as "A wild mare tha
was good for anything was seldom seel
and the captured horses were nearly
without exception, irreclaimably vi
cious, even when judged from tn
Texas standpoint. Even whe
broken to the saddle they coul
only be ridden by the very bes
horsemen and were alway
on the lookout to do their riders an in
Jury. Strange to say they seldom trie
to kick, but a man had to be continu
ally on the lookout for their fore fee
and teeth. They only used their him
feet when man was about 10 mount
but nearly every one of them had
trick Of kicking forward as soon as tn
rider put his foot in the stirrup, an
unless he was wary he would receive
terrible blow on the leg. | used to ow
a horse that, / believe, could scratc
himself between the ears with his him
foot. his hind leg being apparantl.
made of India-rubber The instant b
felt a foot in the stirrlp his hind hoo
would come forward with the speed O
lightning, in the attempt to intiict
most vicious kick. l gave up mount
ing him in the usual way, and Away