The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-02
lotions OF AUSTRALIA.
he Most Prevalent and Most I'M
truthful is That About Wild
Horses.
these Animals are the Offspring
of the Stock Of Early
Settlers.
hey Roam the Great Prairies In Wild
Freedom-M Marvellous Development
and Great Beauty.

hey ROAm the Great Fra1rles IN VIII
Marvellous Development
and Great Beauty.
+ As cells are said to get accustomed to the
rooess of skinning. SO it is to be presumed
aat Australians will one day learn to be-
ONE recouciled to the astounding fctlons
bout themselves and their country which
nd place in the columns of newspapers
n all corners of the habitable earth, says
[arpef's Weekly. The globe-trotter is gen.
tally. and the distinguished visitor" par
cularly. responsible for the major part of
ae misstatements referred to. These fatu-
US beings include Sydney and Melbourne
mong their ports of call, and during
Jay of perhaps ten days or fortnight at
ither place grasp knowledge of the whole
ointment from a few railway excursions
sonfined within radius of fifty miles of
ne postofice, and gather information from
ne gossip on club or hotel veranda.
Jhen the traveller returns "home'' he
Their writes book or inflicts columns of
isiointed and silly Misrepresentation about
is travels on the long-suffering and easily
allied circle of newspaper readers, and i'll
lis way it comes about that among vari-
~ of other developments the Australian
angaroo is gravely described in an Eng
sh book of the class referred to as "bear-
ng close resemblance to huge cricket,
it'll pouch under it's neck. in which it
,metimes carries provisions;" and the wild
sorse of Australia, in an American sporting
,urnal, is let loose upon the reader in
trent of description which might we'll pro-
Ice a feeling of doubt in the mind of any
! d back blocks bushman as to whether he
lmself had ever really seen wild horse, or
I'D merely been the victim of delusion.
These mobs of horses, which are to be
nnd on most of the ''runs'' In the unset
ed districts, and in some instances in the
niger inhabited parts of the country, have
Id their origin in the stray stock of the
arly settlers and from the pioneer camps
new country, from which latter source
teir numbers are constantly being re-
uited, Their haunts are either in the
oxen country of the coast ranges or in
he Uncomfortable scrubs of the interior, &C
riding to the conditions of their first in
oduction; and their increase being unim-
,ded by the restrictions which pertain TO
instant work and partial confinement Is
,turally rapid and healthy. They roam at
,rfeot freedom over the grassy plains and
,eltered valleys of their own particular
M. from which they rarely if ever stray,
lless compelled to do 80 in search of food
water during seasons of drought. Over
,ndreds of thousands of acres on the
Id bred they are undisturbed, save
n an occasional stockman or bound
gy rider in search of cattle or lost
3eep. or possibly of q station horse
5aich has effected it's escape from bondage,
i'd is supposed to have Joined the wild
gob. The presence of cattle or sheep or of
tive game on their feeding ground does
pnsitive to human intrusion, and on the
.ghtest suspicion of danger their heads
8 in the air, and they are off to one or
her of their haunts at pace that bids
fiance to pursuit.
Each mob has its leader in the person of
oking animal out of many, and one who
8 had to fight and win many battle for
9 supremacy he enjoys. Some of them
lie among the grandest specimens of the
uine race, as indeed they we'll may be,
+ many strains of escaped thoroughbred
ock are blended in their veins, and the
metimes, all unsuspectingly, emerges
ON belt of scrub in view
mob of wild horses feeding in
Sucied security is struck with admiration
their marvellous development and
eat beauty. There are few prettler
,hts to be seen, even in Australia, than q
ob of wild horses at the first scent OF
niger, with bean erect, waving names and
wing tails, waiting the signal from the
,der to vanish up some broken gully or
Hop madly for shelter into the nearest
1t of brigalow scrub. NCs
sAs a general rule there is plenty of room
4 them and they are left undisturbed ex-
ut when q search is to be made for stray
tot rt.nrc ny
len. as in dry season, their consumption
grass and water becomes a serious mat
for the stock owner, and cOmpels attten-
IN to their existence. In the latter case it
ound necessary to reduce their numbers,
yarding wild horses is one of the most
citing of the bush sports of Australia.
hen the run of the mob has been ascer-
med, a strong yard is erected in the
,inity of water-hole at which they are
customed to drink. The size of this yard
proportional to the numbers of the ex-
oted capture. It is built of stout, un-
Jared timber, often with five rails to the
mel, and cap, which adds greatly to its
light and strength. From each side of the
ening into it wings of two or three rails
b extended into the bush for perhaps an
nth of mile, comprising an angle of
Dm forty to sixty degrees. From the ter
nation of these wings a wire is continued
the same direction. attached to conven-
mt trees or to driven stakes, for another
If mile or more on each side. and at in
walls of every few feet along these wires
acts of old newspapers or scraps of calico
are securely fastened. When all is
Idy the station hands and black boys,
,unted on the best stock horses,
mp for the night in previously selected
ot near where the wild mob is known to
id. At gray dawn all are in the saddle,
i, most probable directions in which es-
,oe wilt be attempted are blocked by
united men, and at given signal the
ID is partially surrounded, and headed
the direction of the yard. Shouts arise
"a whips crack as the astonished "brom-
80 fy for safety. Over and through all
stacles they go, followed by some of the
rdest and gamest riders in the world,
any of whom, nevertheless, often come
grief before the wild spin is over. But
ce the mob is within the area of the
We it is comparatively easy work. The
ltant the Tapping paper on the wire is
hted on one side a frightened shy is
de in the opposite direction, where they
N com into collision with similar ter
Fear keeps them going in the direc-
n of the yard, and when within short
lance of it the riders gradually close in,
d land them with final rush inside the
closure.
dany break away and escape in the
lrse of the drive, but streak of good
X. backed by sound judgment, a firm
t, and keen eye on the leader of the
,b, generally lands him and a number of
i followers in safety. The slip rails are
lckly secured, the entries and the least
liable of the mares shot, and the others
L for dav or two to quiet down under
combined influences of starvation, fear.
A-~