The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-01-13
SOME HORSE STORIES.
How Bill Hardy Escaped to Pres
colt.

Is it possible for man TO confine
himself strictly to the truth when
speaking upon the feats of his horse?
IuAs said the Arabian horse seller never
pretends to show off the quality of his
animals, but brings them to market
rough and shaggy; nor does he ever
cOndcsccnd to dwell on their merits. 1t
is enough, he thinks, for the purchaser
to know his animal is of pure stock,
for it would be decrying their good
qualities to vaunt their praises like a
common huckster. But that is only
from a commercial standpoint No
doubt the Arab sheil1S speak much
about their horses, and, perhaps, un-
Willingly tell long stories which have
tingc of the romance about their
grand achievements.
The Afghans are probably the most
inveterate horse liars in the world
They have the most marvellous tales at
their tongue tips about the extraordi-
nary strength of their stout-built cobs.
They boast little of their speed, for
that would be useless, as their form
would stamp the speaker as a lu-
matte; but when it comes to strength
and endurance the willy Afghan
will swear by his beard. Allah and all
the prophets that no horse lives which
can equal his animals.
''Sahib," said an elderly gentleman
TO me in praise of his stud, they are
strong-so strong that if one of nv
horses kicked an English horse when
they are drawn up in close order on
parade his leg would go clean through
the English horse and kill the next
Now, come; that's too much to be-
lieve."
"Oh, yes, you say so; but You have
never seen my animals kick"
The argument was unanswerable.
Cowboys in this country are the most
awful fibbers about their horses, and
their tales of buck-jumping show them
to be men of peculiar and inventive
genius No animal, to them, has the
slightest value unless he is possessed of
every vice which horsefesh could pos
sibly be heir to- lie must be a man
eater, a bolter, n buclter and so fero-
cious rs to endanger the life or lives of
entire communities. When gathered
around the campfire after long days
ride with cattle man could hardly be-
hcve those faithful beasts, hobbled and
calmly munching grass, were such in
individual they showed more inteIli-
gcnce than their riders, and certainly
knew their business better.
From the many horses Indians own
it would be thought they loved them.
but l don't believe there exists n race
more cruel to their stock than the
average Indian. They seem TO have no
apprcciative qualities. Very careful
that rhayr do
the human brutes heap on their ami
mails every cruelty. They overload
them; starve them; ride them furious
ly; spur them viciously. 1t matters
not whether their poor beasts are sore
backed or not, on goes a saddle, and
the wretched animal is lashed or
spurred into long continuous gallop
There is not whit of difference be-
tween the Indians of Oregon or those
on the Colorado desert. They are equal
ly cruel.
AS for placing n value upon their ami
mails, they do not for it is not uncom-
mon for them TO ride one to death, and
not the slightest compunction is felt at
the untimely decease. 1t is only when
you want to purchase pony that it
has a fictitious value. What part
with that horse? No, it would be i'm
possible. 1t is SO valuable and such
accounts are given of its speed that
one is inclined to ask whether these
people know about stop watches. The
Modoc Indians placed an extraordinary
price on their beasts, but the Cahuillas
could give their northern brethren sew
eral pointers. 1t is ludicrous to ask
them what they would take for their
wretched stock, whose sole sustenance
for nine months out of the year is dry
sagebrush, for it must be understood
that under no condition could an In
dian think it proper to feed his horses.
Some do raise alfalfa, it is true, but it
is never cut and stored. They will un-
blushingly ask seventy-five dollars and
eighty dollars for a nag that would be
dear at five dollars
Perhaps it is the fault of the whites
for their exalted ideas, for the few
Americans on the desert entertain
great opinions of their horses. The
ancient, one-eyed, spawned nag, whose
age would approach to almost one
hundred years, has been accredited
with such exuberance of spirit in the
buclIing, boiling, racing line that he
is approached until the beauty of his
architecture bursts into view with
greatest caution One sight, however
dispels any illusion that may have
been entertained, and yet his proud
possessor speaks of him and shows him
off as very Nancy Hanks.
Not long ago | was travelling be-
tween Salton and Palm Springs, when
in the smoking-room of the Pullman
| the subject of horseflesh came up.
There were several gentlemen from
Arizona present whose tales were Ger
tainly as strong and rs long-winded as
. their horses, but Mr.. Carpenter, ot
| Yuma, had the best horse stories to
tell.
He listened patiently to the Others