Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1893-06-14
PRINCE CHARLIE WAS AVENGED.
An Eqnine King Ruthi~ssiy Slain by .
HaiEBreed InjIan-Man's Vengeance.

We reached the crossing of the north
fork OF the Big Wichita at about 10
O'Clock in the morning. and from
couple of hunters who had just come
| out OF the Comanche valley we learned
that Prince Charlie and his drove were
not over three miles away. That
name had been given 10 the finest
specimen OF horseflesh which ever gal
loped over the plains OF Texas. For
seven or eight years herd of from
sixty to eighty wild horses, led by a
coal-black stallion. had occupied the
territory now known rs the Big Wich-
iln valley. Captures and deaths had
finally reduced the number to thirty,
and then it came to be generally un-
dcrstood, both by whites and Indians,
that the drove was to he let alone.
The leader carried the name OF Prince
Charlie for years, and Il prince OF the
blood he was.
Three or four men had standing Of
fers OF $5D for him, and on one occa-
sion an expedition was fitted out to
capture him. Relays of horsemen
were stationed all along the valley,
and the horse was followed from the
north fork nf the BraZos river clear up
into the Kiowa county, distance OF
4J0 miles. He did not get five hours
rest. and IL fresh horse was after him
every fifteen miles, and yet he could
not be oyerhaucd. Race horses were
taken from Mississippi and Louisiana.
but he could beat them in canter.
Unless hard pushed his gait was n trot,
and many n man believed he could do
a mile very close to two minutes.
We left the wagons at the river, ten
or twelve OF us, and rode up to the
mouth OF Comanche valley. There.
sure enough, was the drove. and there
was Prince Charlie. Being no longer
hunted and harassed they had lost
much of their fear of man. As VIC
stopped in bunch the whole drove
came galloping down to inspect us.
Five or six of them were sleek and
spring and grace, but the others would
not have tempted n hunter. They cir
clcd twice around us and then came
to a halt, and Prince Charlie advanced
to within 100 feet of us. No man
could say that he had ever seen his
equal. There wasn't burr or tangle
in his tail or name and not the slight
est stain on legs or body. Had
groom worked over him for two hours
he could not have looked tider
While tho remainder of the drove
stood stock still Prince Charlie treated
us to bit OF circus business. He cir
cled us six or seven times, and his an
tics kept us laughing and admiring.
In this circling he showed four differ
ent gaits, and in making the last cir
Gle he passed within thirty feet OF us.
When he rejoned the drove il was to
head it up the valley, but about half
mile above us all stopped, wheeled
about, and began to Craze. We still
had our eye on the horse, when he sud-
denly leaped high in the air, turned
half way round, and then fell in a
heap. He was down before we heard
the report of rifle and caught the
smoke in tho fringe Of bushes on the
right.
He's killed Prince Charlie!" shouted
n voice, and tho next moment tho
whole band was in motion.
We swept by the poor animal at
gallop. His neck WAS Outstretched,
and we could see blood pouring out Of
his ear. No man had cried out for re-
venge. No man had said that some-
thing rs bad us murder had been COM
Mitted. We dashed ut the bushes. now
strung out in II long line to cut off es-
cape, and moment after we struck
them rifle cracked.
The report drew every man to the
center In the cleared spot lay tho
body of a half-breed, shot through the