The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-12-06
WILD HORSES
|uene Bell, the "Wild Horse King
on the Mad Chase.
IA Exciting Occupation Now Gone But
Not Forgotten--A Long Race In Which
Brains Count-Peculiar Custom
of Wild Horses.

zxild horse catcher is over. For nearly
1sventy years number of men skilled
1ln the capture Of the untamed, arch
5uecked, mane-fowing denizen of the
great plains have gained livelihood
Isnd even competence. But this once
profitable calling has constantly grown
1nore laborious and less remunerative,
1md this year the horse-catchers have
rome reluctantly at other occupations
! R have drifted to the an-Handle of
j Texas or a strip of country in North
western Wyoming and Northwestern
where few of the fleet
Zequines Of the DESERT still roam in
aecimated bands. There are a small
humber Of these wild horses still to be
found, it is true, on the Republican
liver in Eastern Colorado, and on the
rickaree river, a tributary. But these
ire the sole remnants of what score
4 years ago were noticeable and at
ractive feature of the plains and
anked for numbers almost with the
buffalo. Though valueless when killed
md difficult Of capture except by the
aost experienced, still the horse has
ntlasted its shaggy-coated contempo-
ary but a few years, and soon, with
Ae wild Indian as well as the buffalo,
I'll have become tradition.
At the head of the men who, by the
ztinction of the wild horse, find it
ecessary to now seek some more pro-
PIC occupation is Gene Bell of Brush
ltation, Colo. Mr.. Bell has made his
aselihood for ten years capturing
flese interesting animals. He was
a0rn IN the rear end of a prairie
4Nhooner in 1857 and claims to be the
nst person who can call Colorado his
aatlye State. As he was born on the
gfoat plains he has since lived continu-
susly upon them, and although but a boy
shen he began the difficult calling of
ehorse-catcher he soon reached a pre-
mlnence by skill and endurance that
ave him the title of the wild Horse
Eing.n
50 much has been written of the
aarse OF the plains, which. foaled upon
V dew kissed grass of the prairie, has
Rser known halter or the touch of a
aaos hand, that descriptive reference
1Melr neetness, wariness, and often
meg their graceful beauty, particu-
a.'y among the stations, would at
sis gay lack Interest. But cne curious
aH Is known to but few aside from
aose who have followed them for hun
eus oi miles and studied their habits
0seiy. Il there are enough in a band,
sasse animals group by thirteens. The
suiations Ct the wild horse allow to
1sn male Melve consorts, and. the
snafkaole feature is, no more. They
s,as tne llne at an even dozen. Even
AUa me bands that roamed these
sm ea' plalns, then tenantless except by
go . Wlid Creatures, numbered in the
4. nSleds ard more than thousand
~ peculiar division into families was
1aly noticeable. They kept a little
rr.s and never voluntarily mingled.
saa'iy the occupation of capturing
nsaned steeds was followed by
men working together. They
s,. ,oar Or five hardy, feet, we'll
s'ned horses. When the section of
'Ounsry the wild animals frequented
80 :'scned, the first thing was to select
aole location, at the entrance of a
Il 'ae generally, for a corral. This
"a sa'cners knew how to construct.
sfeaa quantities of rope, very
n ~ Then near this corral, on
ss oss slightly eminence, one man
eo himself. A distance beyond
s.s s 'le apparently most natural run
= !, aaosner man with one of the feet
saaoie horses takes his station.
I OF the most skilled man Of
re then begins. Mounted upon
\ IA sAea =, morse Of the lot, with pair
II ~ J. elasses, a awater-bag, and q SUP
.e q !. .000' ne swings away in the ear
rs~o sn On an easy lope. It may be
{ ~ en'y miles before his keen ewes.
- v NE glasses with which he
,is ss sne broad expanse Of rolling
s, se'e<a = grazing band Of horses.
Oaches them by the easiest