Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-08-10
FIGHTING HORSES.
Fierce Encounter Between Two Stall
ions and n Jack.

/ a tlcrCe encounter BetWeon Two Stan
ions and Jack.
Some horses. of course, are almost
mcurably vicious, and must be con-
qucred by main force. Olo pleasing
brute on my ranch will at times rush
at man open.mouthed like wolf,
and it is n regular trick of the range
stations. In groat many-indeed.
In most localities there are wild
horses 10 be found. which although
invariably Of domestic decent being
either themselves runaways from
some ranch or Indian outfit, or else
claiming such for their sircs and
dams, yet are quite as wild as the an
telope on whose domain they have in.
trudo6. Ranchmen run in these wild
horses whenever possible. and they
are but lhtlo more diflic ult TO break
than the so-caled tame animals
But tho wild stations aro. whenever
possible, shot; both because of their
propensity for driving off the ranch
mares. and because their incurable
viciousness makes Them always un-
safe companions for other horses still
more than for men. A wild stallion
fears no beast except the grizzly, and
will not always finch from an en-
counter with 1t; yot it is n curious
fact that jack will almost always
kill one in fair fight The particu-
lars of fight of this sort were related
TO me by cattle man who was on.
gagged in bringing out blooded stock
from the East, Among the animals
under his charge were two great STALL
ions. one gray and ono black and
fine jackass not much over half the
size of either Of tho former The ami
mails were kept in separate pens, but
one day both horses got into the same
inclosure. next 10 the jack pen, and
began TO fight as orly enragod STALL
ions can, striking like boxers with
their forefeet and biting with their
teeth. The gray was getting the best
of it; but while clnched with his an
tagonist in one tussle they rolled |
against the jack-pcn, breaking it in,
No sooner was tho jack at liberty |
than, with ears laid back and mouth
wido open, ho made straight for the
two horses. who had for the moment
separated. The gray turned to meet
him. rearing on his hind legs
and. striking at him with his
Fore.fect; but the jack slipped in.
and In minute grasped his antago-
mist by | he throat with his wide-open
Jaws, and then held on like bulldog.
NIL four feet planted stiflly in the soil.
The stallion made tremendous efforts
10 shake him of; ho would try to whirl
round and kick him. but for that the
Jack was too short; then he would rise
ip. lifting the Jack off the ground.
and strike at him with his fore feet;
but nll that ho gained by this was to
skin his foo's front legs without max
ng him loose his hold. Twice they
ell, aud twice tho stallion rose, by
main strength dragging the jack with
iim; but all In vain. Meanwhile tho
lack horse attacked both tho combat
luts with perfect impartiality, strik-
ng and kicking them with his hoofs.
while his teeth, MS they slipped off tho
ough hides, met with snap like that
# bear-irap. Undoubtedly the ] ack
would have killed at least one of the
'orses la not tho men como up. and
With no small difficulty separated the
naddoncd brutes. -7hcoaors Rosoevelt
u Century