The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-22
Battles with Mustangs.

ABILENE, Kan, Feb. 1S.-The men
who hunt the mustangs of the far west
often experience very narrow escapes.
For several years there has been roaming
the prairies in the vicinity Of No Mans
Land band of horses that has notable
history, and the capture of which was
given up as hopeless by many of the best
mustangers IN the southwest. Its leader
was magnificent white stallion, which
seemed almost of supernatural eudur-
ance, and only last winter was secured
by the hand Of man. Many hunter
tried to tire the beautiful creature out,
but in vain, until finally long, lank
nlinoisan, who had opened a cattle ranch
in southwestern Kansas, determined to
try his hand. In February, when the
snow was deepest, he set out with plenty
of provisions and good pair of snow
shoes.
There was just crust enough to bear
him, while the horse sank through at
every step. Patiently for two days he
chased the creature, until the animal
went up little ravine that followed q
prairie stream. The walls grew sleeper
until the path was almost canyon,
which at last opened out into circular
valley, with no outlet except the ravine.
The stallion realized that he was penned
and madly raced about the Enclosure,
endeavoring to find way Of escape.
There was none except along the twenty
foot bank of the stream, where the
hunter stood swinging his lariat, one
end of the rope being made fast to sap
ling. With bounding steps, feet as a
deer, the horse charged forward. AS he
fairly flew past the mustanger the long
rawhide rope steadily uncoiled and, be-
ing thrown by practiced hand, fol-
lowed the horses motion and settled
silently but surely upon the horses neck
But the battle was only commenced.
The jerk of the lariat threw the horse,
but it also sent the hunter down the
bank and into the water. The horse fol-
lowed, and the two struggled against
the common enemy--drowning. A fiat
rock rose midstream, and on this the
horse clambered while the man regained
the bank. Reasoning that the horses
stubbornness would cause him to jerk
backward, the hunter pulled the moose
tighter and tighter until, strangled, the
animal lay helpless on the rock. Going
across, the hunter soon had the beautiful
captives feet hobbled, and loosing the
moose granted him breath enough to al
low journey to shore. Two days later
the hunter came into camp leading the
wild white stallion captive. The horse
was carefully broken and sold for ten
times the price of an ordinary pony for
shipment east. The remainder of the
herd was not seen again in that vicinity.
Not infrequently it happens that there
Rre small colts in the hunted herd, in
which case the mothers are likely to be
ferocious. On one occasion mustanger
named Joseph Hart saved the life Of
ranchman's child by brave act. He
was on watch and the herd, including
some colts, had become considerably
wearied. One of the colts struggled be-
hind just as the herd came near the
cabin of d ranchman. The horses ap-
parently did not notice that they were so
near civilization and plodded on, the
colt remaining behind. Soon a three
year-old girl came toddling from behind
the cabin and trotted toward the bewil-
dered colt. The animal whinnied loud
" and it's mother, which had been look
ing back undoubtedly, turned and ran to
it's rescue. Catching sight Of the baby,
the mother beast in some way connected
the child with the threatened danger
and reared to strike the little one with
its fore feet. The hunter (Hart was just
within reach, and drawing his revolver
sent bullet crashing through the mares
head. CHARLES MoREAU HARGER.