Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-10-05
The wild Horses OF America.

From the Philadelphia Times
Occasionally. In battle and otherwise,
these animsl., early brought to the conti-
nent by the Spaniards, escaped from their
owners and wandering forth without check
or hindrance ultimately became the pro-
genitors of our American mustsngs, cay
uses, bronchos and ponies, which are now
to be found from the confines of the Arctic
circle to the limits of Patagonia. By nat
ursl increase the wild stock grew so rapid
ly In numbers that st one time the prsiries
of the west, the table lands of Mexico,
and the psmpss of South America were
literally dotted with countless bands of
these feet fotted creatures. Indeed, at the
present writing, although they have dis
appeared from North America almost ss
rapidly SIS the bison, yet In Mexico and
South America they are still to be found In
considerable numbers. Travellers tell us
that herds 10, 900 strong are to day seen
| feeding on the plains extending from the
Argentine Republic.
In the United Ststates they are almost
| exterminated; and the few bands vet re-
naming wild and free in our country can
be counted on the fingers. Near Great
/ Fslls, Montana, there is q smsll bunch of
| wild bronchoa that have been seen and To-
Gated for at least twenty years. When first
| discovered there were about seventy in the
band, but as they did 60 much damage to
| farmers and settlers By snticing away mares
| and young colts, a warfare has been sys-
temsticslly ws9ed against them until now
they are reduced about to ten or q dc 2 IN.
| The Blackfest Indians who, since the
days of Lewis and Clark, have been esle-
brated for their splendid mounts, obtained
most of their stock from a large body of
land in Flathesd lake known as "Wild
Horse leland" Nearly ninety years sgo
| these Indians who were at war with a neigh
boring tribe, came down Flsthead river,
and following the trail around the lake saw
the horees on the leland. Waiting until
the lake was frozen over, they crossed to
the leland on the ice, and rounding up the
whole herd, drove thsm to their reservation
In the north where they kept them for
their own use. A few are still running
wild in the Blackfeet country, but the
bucks keep q careful eye upon them and
ward Of all intruders.
On the banks of the ssnd bars in North
Carolina that divide the ocean from Pam
lico sound, and just inside Cape Lookout
lighthouse, there is a hardy race of Wild
ponies known a. "bsnkers." These ponies
have lived there as long sa tradition dates
back. Entirely surrounded by deep water
at sill seasons, having no communication
with the main land and barren of yeQe-
tatioD, save a eosnty growth of aedee
grass and scrubs, the bar is practically IN.
Inhabited except by these hardy ponies.
In storms and hurricanes the enterprisipQ
brutes, choosing the protected side OF
sand hillocks, stamp out stalls for tham.
selves, where they take refuge. It is be-
lieved . vessel containing their proyeaitors
was wrecked on the coast. from whence
sprang the tough little bankers, now sc
| numerous.
Not far distant, toward the northeas,
and off the coast of Virginia, Ia Chinco
league island, where another small band
of "bankers"s roam unchecked and nm
caught, as free and as wild "a their cous
ins of the plains. They probably had sheil
, origin from the same shipwrecked vesss
which oast Its cargo ashore near Families
sound.
Our larger and better class of wiiS
, horses, however, are to be found In tn,
west and on the eastern slope eff tn
Rocky mountains, although In Nevada
among tbs Snake and Kawich hills of Whit
: Pine and Nye counties, there hre man
! small bands numbering from twelve to hi
ty, which are veritabie mountain climber
!, and cliff dwellers.