Wichita eagle., 1888-05-17
A STAMPEDE.

A STAMPEDE.
IN 1851, when / first saw the Rio Pecos
river, which is the right hand branch of the
Rio Grande, the Pecos plains were favorite
grazing ground for vast herds of wild horses.
went into New Mexico with 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 plain 100
miles long by 200 broad, with many small
streams and rich feeding spots. The herds of
horses had been seldom disturbed by white
hunters and whenever the Indians wanted a
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 bend of the Pecos, and
the surveyors and guards had just come in
for dinner There was truce between the
whites and the Indians at that date, but our
party was a strong one, and the surveyors
never went out without protection. A truce
meant that the redskins would not kill if the
other party was the stronger. We had two
ambulances, 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 tremb-
ling Of the earth and heard a great clatter q
drove Of wild horses numbering at least 500
came charging around a heavily wooded
point directly at our camp. The stream in
front Of our camp was about two feet deep
and ran over bed of gravel, and the horses
were probably in the habit of coming here to
drink. The herd was led by sorrel stallion
of magnificent look and limb, and was going
at such pace that the leaders were among
our animals before a man of us moved. 1t
was well we were all together. Every man
rushed for the horses, yelling and shouting
TO drive the intruders away but when they
went two of our mules and a horse went
with them. The horse was 5-year-old stall
lion, worth at least $500, and his flight
created instant dismay in the camp, The
mules would not be allowed to "chumn with
the herd anyhow, and could be picked up
after they had tried their legs a little, but
the horse might never be seen again. A
score Of US mounted in hot haste and set of
TO recapture him. The herd had gone due
west, in which direction rise of the ground
hid them after short ride. 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
settled st once. The two stations were be-
tween us and the herd, and were already
skirnishing. Every one of the horses had
his head toward the pair, and was an inter
ested spectator. At any other time our
presence would have put them to flight, but
under the circumstances they gave us no
attention.
Now occurred a combat the like of which
few men have ever witnessed The horses
were pretty evenly matched for size. Our
champion had an advantage in being shod,
but to offset this the sorrel was the quicker
Their movements showed the broad disparity
between wild and domestic life. Our horse
was agile and smart, as the terms go, but the
sorrel had the suppleness of panther. As
boxers feint for an opening, so these horses
Bkirmished for an advantage. They ap-
preached until their noses almost met, and
then reared up with shrill neighs, struck at
each other, and came down to wheel and
kick. The iron shoes of our horse hit moth
ing but air, but we heard the double thud of
the sorrel's hind feet as he sent them home
They ran off to wheel and come together
again and repeat the same tactics, and again
our horse got the worst of it. He was
headstrong, high strung beast, and his tenn
per was now up. When he wheeled the third |
time he came back with rush. screaming
put in his anger. The sorrel turned end for |
end like q fash to use his heels but our
champion lodged the kicks and seized him |
by the shoulder with his teeth There was a |
terrific struggle before the hold was broken,
and then they backed into each other and |
kicked with all fury for a few seconds |
Every boof hit something sold but the iron
shoes Of our horse scored point in his favor. |
When they separated we could see that the |
sorrel had been badly used, especially about |
the legs.
When the horses wheeled for the third |
time both We're bent on mischief AS they |
came together they reared up like dogs and /
struck ut each other, and for five minutes .
they were scarcely off their hind feet. Some
hard blows were exchanged, and our horse /
had the best of the round. Indeed, when tho .
sorrel wheeled and ran away be had his head |
down and he seemed TO acknowledge defeat
He ran off about twenty rods before wheel
ing, and as he stood for a moment looked |
at him through q field glass which one of the
men handed me His ears lay fiat, his eyes
looked bloodshot, and there was bloody foam
On his lips. de had been severely handled,
but was by no means defeated Indeed, he
had run away for the moment to adopt new
tactics. When he moved up again he was
the picture Of ferocity. He came at full
speed, reared, and struck right and left,
and the second blow knocked our horse fat
on the ground. It was knock out blow
The victor stood over him for a moment,
watching for a movement, but as none was
made he joined the herd, and all went off on
gallop. IL was five minutes before our
house staggered to has feet, and he wanted no
more fighting. lie had three bad bites
about tho shoulders, and his legs were
skinned IN a dozen places, and 1t WAS week
before ne got his spirit back
Two or three times during the next ten
days saw lone wild horses, and one Of the
old hunters with us was asked for an exDla-
nation. He sad they Vef, s'rofrIlss,'-stal