Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-18
A STAMPEDE.


character. A survey Of that portion Of the
Rio Pecos lying in New Mexico was to be
made, and there was to be a military post
located between Pope's wells and the Bonita
river The country between was plain 100
miles long by POO 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 we're 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 a bend OF the Pecos, and
the surveyors and guards had just come in
for dinner There was truce between the
whites and tho Indians at that date, but our
party was 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
staled out on the rich feeding ground With
no more warning than that we felt tremb-
ling Of the earth and heard great chatter, a
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 a bed Of gravel and the horses
were probably ia the habit OF coming here to
drink The herd was led by a 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
10 drive the intruders away, but when they
went two Of our mules and a horse went
with them. The horse was a 5-year-old stall
lion, worth at least $780, and his flight
created instant disnay in the camp. The
mules would not be allowed to ''chump with
the herd anyhow, and could be picked up
after they had tried their legs little, but
the horse might never be seen again. A
score Of US mounted in hot haste and set or
to recapture him. The herd had gone due
west, in which direction rise Of the ground
hid them after a 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 a halt. II 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 70 be
settled at once. The two stations were be-
tween us and the herd, and were already
skirmishing. 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 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 20 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 Al
boxers feint for an opening, so these horse:
Rsirlnished for an advantage. They ap
preached until their noses almost met, anc
then reared mp with shrill neighs, struck al
each other, and came down TO wheel anC
| kick The iron shoes OF our horse hit moth
ing but air, but we heard the double thud Of
the sorrels hind feet as he sent them home
They ran on 20 wheel and come together
| again and repeat the same tactics, and agar
our horse got the worst OF it, He was
headstrong, high strung beast, and his tenn
| per was now up. When he wheeled the thir,
| time he came back with rush, screaming
out in his anger. The sorrel turned end fo
\ end like a fash TO use his heels, but on
champion lodged the kicks and seized hin
by the shoulder with his teeth There was
terrific struggle before the hold was broken
and then they backed into each other an,
kicked with all fury for a few seconds
Every hoof hit something solid, but the iro
shoes OF our horse scored point in his favor
When they separated we could see that th
sorrel had been badly used, especially abou
the legs
When the horses wheeled for the thir
time both were bent on mischief. As the
came together they reared up like dogs an
struck az each other, and for Ave minute
they were scarcely of their hind feet. Som
hard blows were exchanged, and our hors
had the best OF the round Indeed, when ii
sorrel wheeled and ran away he had his bea
down and he seemed to acknowledge defea
He ran OF about twenty rods before whee
ing, and as be stood for a moment l locke
at him through field glass which one OF n
men handed me. His ears lay fat, his ey,
looked bloodshot, and there was bloody foal
on his lips. He had been severely handle,
! but was by no means defeated Indeed, I
had run away for the moment TO adopt ne
. tactics When he moved up again be W,
! the picture Of ferocity. He came at fu
speed reared, and struck right and lef
and the second blow knocked our horse q.
on the ground. IL was knock out bio,
The victor stood over him tor a momen
watching for movement, but as none WI
made be joined the herd, and all went Off
gallop Il was five minutes before o.
house staggered 20 his feet, and be wanted !
= more lighting. He had three bad bit
!. about the shoulders, and his legs we
skinned in dozen places, and it was a we,
before he got his spirit back
Two OF three times during the next I.
: days l saw lone wild horses, and one OF 4
old hunters with us was asked for an expl
nation. He said they were "roguesn-st,
: lions which had been driven from the he
= in disgrace-and that they were always co
. sidercd ugly and dangerous He had know
Of their attacking a single horseman, but {
10 presence Of a large party like ours would
course brighten them Off Two DAYS aft
~ this explanation we were strung out for TIN
N miles along the river, on the march and 81
i vey. Something was lost by an officer, a
,. one Of the troopers was sent hack 20 recoy
!, it. Ten minutes later the article supposed
- be lost was found in one Of the ambulance
and was sent back 70 notify the troop
a He had galloped back to camp, distance
= two miles, and WIS searching around on Il
- when ] arrived in sight. | was about 10 /
~ a shot 10 attract his attention, when IT,
a the cottonwood grove beyond the camp
a. horse came charging out. He was ''rogu
and bent Oh mischief. The soldiers no