The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-15


"walks" the mustangs. walking" mus
tangs is simple. The theory Of the hunt is
to keep the wild ponies ON the walk night
and day, without food or water, until they
are exhausted. AS far as may be they are
walked in a circle so as to be near the cor
raj intended as the final goal of this go-as-
you-please match against nature. The pro-
cess is this: The hunters with their wagon
drive in sight of the mustangs and the
first man takes their trail on foot. For
eight hours he walks after them, keeping
them constantly on the move, and as much
as possible from feeding and from water.
This last is not so difficult in land where
watering places are exceptional. In the
beginning the foolish mustang kicks up
his Joyous heels and curvetis about, tossing
his name in contempt of this solitary, slow
pursuit: but as the hours wear on and the
dusty ploddcr, sticking like bad habit, is
not TO be shaken OF. the fugitlves become
less gay. They sober down to walk and
are not so prone to light and frivolous ex-
ercises.
CAPTURED BY WALKING"
At the end of eight hours the wagon
drives up and number two of the hunters
begins his eight hour walk. At its close
number three assumes the pursuit and SO,
changing every eight hours, the weary
march keeps on. All that day and night
the ponies are kept moving. All the next
day and night sees the programme repeat
ed, and the work continues until, with
out having had food or water, without
having closed their eyes or rested their
tired legs since the hunt began, the starved
and sleepy mustangs tOtter along, almost
as lame as house dogs, and fairly dead on
their feet. When reduced to this cOndi-
ton. Slapped of that gay, brisk nature
which distinguished them at first, the
hunters turn their dropping, drowsy heads
to the corral and drive them in as unre-
sisting as sheep.
When some solitary hunter is looking to
capture a wild horse and has no aid to as
sst him, a favorite method is "creasing."
The mustanger, finding the watering place
of the band, puts himself in ambush.
With his rifle ready he sprawls in his COW
ert, awaiting the coming down Of the po-
MES. Along toward the close of the hot
afternoon the trampling of the eager hoofS
of the thirsty band is heard. Led on by
some wise stallion, whose name and tail
sweep the grass, and whose sagaciOus eye,
while soft and deep, is full of a cautious
suspicion, born of the responsibilities OF
leadership, they come tumbling down and
bend their free wild necks 10 the element.
This Is the hunters opportunity. Has
tily selecting some young and well mus
cled mare, his rifle comes To his shoulder;
for the part Of 4 second his practiced eye
ranges the sights and then puff of smoke,
"bang!" and a mustang is sprawling and
lei IN, ha
ter. Before it can recover the hunter runs
forward and buckles pair of hobbies on
its fore legs and nocses lariat to its neck.
In two minutes the pony rogains conscious
ness and its feet, but the hobbies and the
lariat make the hunters title sure.
CREAsING AND CoURSING.
"Creasing" requires skill with the rifle
and an accurate knowledge of horse anat-
omv. The bullet is made TO Craze the
spinal column well up on the neck. The
lead must be placed just so or loss results.
II it strikes too low the spine is broken
and the pony is thing o. the past, if too
high it results in nothing but wounded
pony flying with frightened feet, but il
placed Alright the shot simply stuns for 4
few minutes. The pony drops as if struck
in the head with a maui, and will remain
unconscious about two minutes - time
enough 10 secure it.
Indians. afoot and DESTROYS Of a mount,
have been known 10 literally and actually
run wild pony down. They take one by
sheer endurance. There is, Of course, as
great a difference in stamina and staying
powers among Indians as among the
whites, but almost any village or camp
will furnish one or two. or even three
bronze athletes who are good and game at
a DAYS running, to run a hundred miles
from their last repast. y wild pony can
not do this.
Impractical, grass fed asd soft, he shows
no such strength or bottom. Should neces-
sitv point and occasion offer, one OF these
savage Mercurys will undertake a mus
tangs capture on foot. coUrsing him by
sight as zrayhounds course hares. The
dine selected is after a light snow-this on
account of the plain, open trail il shows in
the event Of the pony getting out Of sight
al any time during the chase. Then, again,
the running Indian can scoop MP a handful
of snow as he fiys and make IL take the
place of water.
When such a chase Is arranged for the
Indian or Indians who are 70 do the cOurs-
Ing. camping the night before near the
band Of mustangs, arise in The earliest gray
of morning and. stripped Of everything
but their moccasins, begin the hunt They
select their victim. cutting IL out Of the
bunch" and pursue it straight away.
They never circle II, a. THAI would make
tie Indians run a greater distance Khan
the ponv's AWAY srro~s the coJ!u--y -cez