The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-18
Exciting Scene Witnessed by a Brit
Usher at a New Mexico
Horse Corral.
The Equine Demon Had Killed Two
Rough Riders and Was
Unframed.
Joe Startling Was sent For and Subdued
the Beast-G raphic Account OF
the struggle.

have personal experience to add weight t.
his arguments, he is generally enauiored ol
some theory which he would apply in ever
case; and is indignant when he hears that .
horse has been trained to obedience in an,
other way. l wonder If any of these goot
PEOPLE. who doubtless have substantial
grounds for their several opinions, eve
saw II broncho of the prairies when he was
first brought into contact with a man. ask
a writer in Macmillan's Magazine.
would, therefore. ask all those who wish tc
understand the task Il western breaker O
horses sometimes has before him. to ac-
company me upon a little journey Of 5000
miles or so, to stand as 1 stood some years
AGO, or the box of an old lumber wagon and
peep into the corral of one Col. Jensen, 1
breeder OF horses in New Mexico.
It was early in the afternoon Of a warm
dsy in August, and business was to begiI
in a few minutes. Col. Jenson's foreman
stood beside me in the wagon, and half {
dozen cowboys were perched on the stable
roof opposite. Below us was the corral, ar
enclosure about fifty yards square. and II
the corral was the horse which was to re-
ceive its first lesson in obedience this day.
He only stood fifteen n high; and wa
lightly built-anything but a formidable
beast to look at. the only distinctive points
about him being a Roman nose and q rest
less eye. -.
/ could not help remarkinR upon his mild
appearance to Ezekiel Yates. the foreman.
/ had been told by Jensen that no better
rougb-rider lived than Ezekiel Yates.
Finally he answered: what dc they teach
folks where you come from? I'll try again.
This bronco will be broke to-day, or killed.
Two bows have tried; one was laid out In
ten minutes, with his chest like an apple
pudding cos the pony danced on him. Tho
other stuck to it longer, but were chucked
at last, and his 5kui hattened agln
the paling there like a bit of soft lead.
Now ye see the chances. It's a job for an
old hand, and even a man who knows may
be tripped by such q demon. So the boss
sent for Joe Starting. to make it sure,
slapped down double stakes. fifty dollars,
and there the matter lays" To set all
doubt at rest, . horssman whom 1 recog-
nizsd IS the person IN question. trot1ed IN
from tho west, and in q very short time ap-
peared with Col. Jensen, stripped to shirt
and trousers and ready for the fray.
had eheard af Joe Starting. He was
one Of the widest characters in the settle
ment; Q daredevil, reckless customer, the
hero and god of lawless men, and the dread
when wanted-of all settlers fond
of ueace and property. We left our places,
and / was introduced to the famous Joe.
whom I found to be a slender long-limbed
parsonage, with sandy beard and keen eyes,
q modest, u~nassuminR manner, and very
eparing speech. l noticed that Jensen, the
burlisst and most jovial Of men. treated
Joe with a Difference which struck me as
odd until I learned from actual observation
what kind of business this man had agreed
to undertake.
The bronco colt Was intersste d by the
proximity of 9 powerful roam mare held by
Joe, and now came close up to the gate and
shifted at US. Joe observed the animal at
tentiyely.
"Hov many hev tried him, kunnel?"
''Two-smashedt'
Likely. II is in his eye. Shall We make
a start?"
He mounted his mare a. he spoke and un-
coiled . rawhide lariat. Then he looked
critically around upon as all.
II want t~hree-Seth Slncup, Bill Corse
and Ezekiel. Put 'em down, boys"
The bars Of the corral gate were drawn
back and Joe paced in. l had returned to
the wagon by this time, with Col. Jensen,
and we had q capital view Of the interior of
the corral.
Joe held his lasso in both hands, his
bride hanging loosely on the mares neck.
She was perfectly trained, and required
neither guidance nor restraint. Slowly
to the furthest corner of the corral,
showing that he we'll knew the significance
of this brown roap, and what
it could do. The mare drew nearer, step
by step and / fancied that l could see a
mockinR smile upon her face. Nearer and
nearer, until with a snort and shake of the
head, the bronco sprang forward. Joe rose
in his stirrups at the same moment, and
swept the moose once around his head. A
quick turn of the mare, q cloud of dust m
q heavy fall, then tbs colt was on the
ground, half choked and helpless. Down
went the bars again, and the three chosen
men rushed in. Two at once sat down in a
firm and unconcernsd manner upon the
head of the fallen one, while Joe and
Ezekiel Yates proceeded TO strap upon his
back a saddle and bride brought in by the
latter. This operation was a delicate one,
for the PROSTATE colt struggled and dashed
out desperately. But the men seemed ut
terly Indifferent to the prospect of being
kicked into eternity, and accomplished
their work in a very few minutes. Joe
frightened his belt.
cit, boys
Away they went, scurrylnR across the cor
raj and though the gate like rabbits to a
hole, the mare having trotted out before
this of her own accord.
watched Joe breathlessly. The bronco,
free now of lasso and men, lay still a mo
ment, then raised his heao II sneezsd.
Two seconds passed; he did lot move, but
snsezed again. Was he hurt? Not he.
Now. with a sound like the scream of a
maniac, he leaped to his feet in one bound
and pun round, open-mouthed to find The
man and seize him in his teeth. But Joe
WAS not to be caught, and when the dust
raised by the colts quick movement had
subsidized. we saw him firmly planted in the
saddle, as if he meant to stay.
Ezekiel rsjoined me now, and laid a hand
upon my shoulder.
Yer have 'em before We, lad. Two devils
Which is the stickiestI All, ah-i bet Oh
the man this time.
cannot give a just idea in pen and ink
OF the excitement of the scene.
The little horse with a wild eye and q
big head was now a fiend incaruate. He
was not trying to rid himself of his rider sc
much as to destroy him. His eyes glowed
like live Goals, and at intervals he repeated
his shrill scream of Ia0e-a challenge to
the man. His first movement, when he
felt the pressure OF Joe's limbs, WAS tt
rear erect attempt to throw hin sell
backward. A blow between the eyes witt
the butt end of a quirt tIexican idips
whip brought him quickly down again
Then be afcled his back like an angry cat
gathered his feet under him and ''let fy"-
a. never saw a horse buck before or since,
The strain upon the gIrths of the saddle
was tremendous, but they were new snc
bore it we'll, while the rider, resting Light,
in his stirrops. held his balance with beau
tifui skill and GOODNESS, and throughou
every twist and turn and jump OF tn
bronco kept a firm grip upon the bride
which lie wound round the horn Of the sad
die az sailors secure a rope to a belayIn
PIN. The bucking continued without re
spite for several minutes, and ended by til
horse rearing a second time, and in this in
stance overbalancing himself and faliinl
heavily backward.
ssTrIck nunher ona3 nauttare6 EyakIa