The Portland daily press., 1892-01-27
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
ABILENE, Kan, Jan. 21.-It is when
the wild horse wanders far enough from
the Mexican border to be within reach
that the keenest pleasure comes to the
ranchmen. The news that herd of
mustangs is in the neighborhood never
fails to arouse an overwhelming enthu-
siasm, and hunting parties are organized
at once.
It is in winter time that these herds
come wandering northward, though
they seldom reach so high latitude as
to meet severe storms, and it is in win
ter time that the ranchmen have the
time tospend in capturing them. North
ern Texas and the western part of the
Indian Territory see the creatures fire.
quently.
Tho hunters, or "mustangers," as they
are called, when they hear of the ap-
proach of q herd of wild horses, make
their start with the intention Of remain
ing away for days and weeks if neces-
sary. Their work also includes the
building of corral in some locality
near where the herd is discovered.
Taking provision wagon and tents the
hunting party divides the day into three
watches" of eight hours each. One
party sleeps. one drives the wagon and
one "walks" the mustangs, taking turns
in the different tasks.
Crawling slowly over the prairie the
hunters locate the herds in companies of
from twenty-five to one hundred under
sized but sturdy animals. The ponies
once discovered, the hunters prepare for
action The first man leaves the wagon
and takes the trail on foot. He makes
no attempt at overtalling the wild
equines, but steadily and patiently walks
after them for eight hours, when he is
relieved. All the time the follower
keeps the horses on the move and as
much as possible away from water
courses. In the scantily watered regions
this is not difficult.
The theory of tho hunt is to keep the
ponies going night and day without
food or water until they are exhausted
So far as possible they are directed in a
| ClICl0 GpOuI bllS COLl0is w L11CI4 40 44<-
tended for the final goal.
| At the start the gay and festive mus.
tang kicks up his joyous heels and
| losses shaggy name and tail in contempt
for the slow and Flooding pursuer. The
| solitary hunter walks on and on. and at
| last the horses realize that the steadily
marching plodder is not to be shaken
| off and become less and less frisky.
Then they settle to walk and soon are
also plodding along over the prairie.
When the first watch" is finished the
wagon drives up and another of the
| hunters begins his tramp. At its close
number three starts in, and so the day
and night wears away. Another day
and night repeat the programme and the
| chase continues without intermission or
rest until, without having food or water
since the hunt began, except for the
snatches seized as they walk, the starved
and weary mustangs totter along al
most as tame as house dogs. When
| their gay and frivolous nature has been
Slapped their dropping heads are turned
toward the corral. Soon, as unresisting
as sheep, they are driven in. With a
light covering Of snow the task is most
quickly accomplished, as starvation's
| pangs come more quickly.
Another method is to run wild horse
down, but only an Indian can do this, as
| it requires the ability to run o hundred
miles or more without rest or refresh
ment. This no white 'mustanger" can
do. The Indian rides toward a herd,
'cuts OUT or selects his choice and
chases it up hill and down, over hill and
stream, among rocks or underbrush as
relentless as fate. When his own horse
is tired out he pickets him and takes the
| chase on foot. He carries no weapons
and wears the lightest possible clothing.
| When the wild horse is wearied out it is
taken prisoner easily, having been worst
| ed in trial of mere brute strength.
This method, too, is only practicable in
winter, with snow on the ground, in or
der that the trail may be easily followed
if the horse gets out Of sight. Usually
the animal will be run down in the first
seventy-ive miles, but $50 miles is sure
to exhaust his strength.
There is still another plan which sim
gle hunter can follow. 1t is called
"creasing," and can succeed only when
a crack shot pursues it. Selecting ia
vorite watering place of the herd the
"1nustanger" puts himself in ambush,
with rifle ready, awaiting the coming Of
the horses. 1t length the trampling Of
| impatient hoofs is heard, and following
the lead of a stalwart brute the mus
tangs gather about the refreshing pool to
quench their thirst.
Now is the hunters chance, and MAX
ing selection Of some finely propo,
toned animal the rifle comes to the
shoulder, and taking careful aim at the
curved neclzs that bend over the water
course bang goes the weapon and the
pony is sprawling and kicking in the
mud, while its companions go skrrrying
away as on wings Of wind across the
plain.
"Creasing" consists in striking &C
curately and exactly the spinal column
of the horse, and requires not only an
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