The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-03-03
BATTLES WITH MUSTANGS.

Q
/ the far west often experience very
( narrow escapes For several years
( there has been roaming the prairies IN
I the vicinity of No Mans Land band
/ Of horses that has a notable history,
and the caDtGre of which was given
up as hopeless by many of the best
mustangers III the southwest. It's
/ leader was a magnificent white sls4
lion, which seemed almost of supernat-
ural endurance. and only last winter
was secured by the hand of man.
Many hunter tried to tire the beauti-
full creature out, but III vain, until f.
nally long, lank Illinoisan, who had
opened a cattle ranch In south
western Kansas. determined to try his
hand La February, when the SLOW
was deepest, he set out with plenty of
provisions and q 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 a little ravIne that followed a
praire stream. The walls grew steep
er until the path was almost canyon,
which at last opened out into circu
lar valley, with no outlet except the
ravine The stallion realizedNthat he
was penned and madly raced about
the enclosure, endeavOrlng to find
way OF escape There was none eX-
cept along the twenty foot bank of the
stream where the hunter stood swing
ing his lariat. one end of the rope
being made fast to a sapling. With
bounding steps, fleet as a deer, the
horse charged forward. As he fairly
flew past the mustanger the long raw
hide rope steadily uncoiled and, being
thrown by a practiced hand, followed
the horses motion and settled silent
" but surely upon the horses neck.
Bat 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
followed and the two struggled
against the common enemy-drOwn-
ding. \ fiat rock rose in midstream,
and on this the horse clambered while
the man regained the bank. Reason
ing that the horses stubbonrness
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 cap
tivc's feet hobbled, and loosening the
moose granted him breath enough to
allow a Journey to shore. Two days
later the hunter came into camp lead
ing the wild white stallion captive.
The horse was carefully broken and
sold for ten times the price of an or
binary pony for shipment east. The
remainder Of the herd was not seen
again in that vicinity.
Not infrequently it happens that
there are small colts IN the hunted
herd il which case the mothers are
likely to be ferocious. On one occa-
sion a mustanger named Josepe 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 behind just
as the herd came near the cabin OF
ranchman The horses apparently did
not notice that they were SO near civil
ization and plodded on, the colt re
maining behind Soon a three-year
old girl came toddling from behind
the cabin and trotted toward the be
wildered colt. The animal whinnied
loudly and its mother, which had been
looking back undecidedly, turned and
ran to its 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,
aud drawing his revolver sent bullet
crashing through the mares head.