The morning call., 1891-07-05
4 WILD HORSE.
A Tragic Event in One Of The Valleys Down
in Texas.

One morning, when we had been in camp
about week, and just as the sun was rising
out OF the prairie and sending a flood of
golden light into the valley to kiss away the
shimmering dew-drops, we were startled by
shriil neigh and the sound of galloping
hoofs, and we turned out 70 behold one of
the grandest sights OF prairie lfe-a wild
horse, says writer in the New York World
He was all alone, and he had come in from
the open prairie to investigate US and treat
US to such an exhibition as only the Oldest
plainsman ever saw.
He was black as midnight-a sixteen-hand
coal-black horse, with flowing name and
tail, perfect model, with blazing white
star on his forehead; This star, or spot,
was so white by contrast that we at first be-
lieved it to be an artificial mark. He came
laundering down straight upon US until
about two hundred feet away, when he
swerved to the left with a snort of alarm
and ran across the valley. Our horses were
hobbled behind the tent and rs one of them
nelghed welcome to the stranger he came
galloping back. The sight of human beings
was no novelty to him. He came within a
hundred feet this time, and then stopped
suddenly and reared up and snorted and
paved the air. No one thought of doing
him any harm, but every one settled down
to enjoy the sight.
After moment the horse began circuit
about three times as large as circus ring
And for half an hour he pranced, trotted.
cantered aud galloped as if he carried cir
cMs-rider who desired to show off his PAGES
With head held proudly erect, with name
flying on the breeze he created, with tail
sweeping the flowers as he moved he pre-
sented such picture of an ideal horse that
we cheered him again and again. Now he
rushed around the circle he had marked mt
II un1pr the w hin and Of
now ambled and danced-now reared up and
shook his head in playful way and chal-
lenged US to catch him. Our horses neighed
and snorted and strained at their stout hob
pies; anxious TO ENJOY his freedom, and one
would have thought from his actions that he
was haunting them with their bondage
by ana by, as we continued TO watch his
antics, we became aware that q cloud was
rising of the prairie. 1t came up seemingly
from tile green grass, no larger than mans
hand, and even as it climbed up the horizon
II grew IN size very slowly. At sea it would
nave been called an "ox-eye' or souall.
There wash dash of rain in it, and it had
that ugly green look which tells of bolt or
TWO oil lightning stored up to wreak yenge-
ance upon something. We had no fear how
ever, and had turned again to the horse
when he stopped his play and stood facing
the cloud. His head was held high, his ears
worked back and forth and his eyes fairly
DiaZed with excitement as he lifted his right
AN'N po"Su tbC sldSss NedItI CdIlD
the cloud and the horse uttered a snort of
defiance, wheeled around TWO or three times
and suddenly reared up until we thought he
would go over and paved the air.
Crash! Crack! There was fash which
blinded us-a shock which threw every man
TO the earth, and for thirty seconds no one
moved or spoke Then we struggled up.
confused and bewildered, to see the gallant
morse lying prone on the grass, We went
out to him and saw that he was quiverlng in
the agonies of death. The white spot On
his forehead had disappeared-scorched and
wlthered by the thunderbolt which had
aimed for it and found the target.
We could have shot him down as he gam
boiled in front of us, but we would not even
raise stick to brighten him. The thunder
bolt had been merciless-and more: it had
selected one Of natures noblest type of ami
NAL life for its victim and smote him down
at one fell blow.