Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-03-27
THE WILD MUSTANG.
IN soUTHERN CALIFORNIA HE WAS
ONCE A TERRIBLE PEST.

Corral Was made.
The southern portion Of the great San
Joaquin valley was overrun in the early
days by a species Of wild horse known
rs the mustang, or Mexican wild horse.
They were TO be seen in drovos, not in
frequently numbering several hundred
each. They were too small, "weedy"
and generally worthless for the most
part 10 be Of any value TO the settlers.
On the contrary, they existed in such
numbers as 10 constitute an annoyance
and injury to the settlers engaged in
agriculture. In a single night a band
Of Wild horses would sweep down upon
the cultivated fields and literally destroy
| the crops which It had taken months Of
hard labor to produce. The pioneers
had ample cause 10 wage war upon these
animals. They were undoubtedly n pest
and source Of danger much to be dread
cd. Moreover, whenever a band Of wild
horses came down into the settlements,
they would lure away with them the
domestic horses, leaving the settlers
helpless.
These depredations were so frequent
that, as a matter of self protection, the
pioneer farmers and stockmen Of these
| valleys were compelled to take active
measures. They would inaugurate large
hunting parties, or drives, " IN order
the better and more effectually TO exter-
inmate these animals.
The early methods used in this coun-
try in hunting the wild horse were pc
culiar. When a hunt had been deter
mined upon and q favorable locality se-
lected, the hunters would erect two lines
Of fence, starting them about four feet
apart and continuing parallel for some
distance, then diverging until the ter
minals were several hundred yards
apart. These fences were strong and
high enough at the apex of the triangle
to securely restrain the wild horses from
breaking them down when crowded into
the Enclosure. The fenco completed, tho
hunters, all we'll mounted, would start
out to locate a band Of the troublesome
mustangs. When the objects of their
search were sighted, the hunters grouped
| together, and the order of the drive"
was decided upon. One Of the party
started out on the trail of the band of
wild horses, close enough to keep them
constantly moving. This did not re-
quire as much eKertion as might be sup
posed, as the wild animals would dash
of at full speed, but would seldom con-
tinue any great distance in a straight
line, usually turning and circling so
that the driver" could, by cutting
the angles" keep the band moving
without having to travel half the dis
lance covered by the wild horses.
In two hours or so the first driver"
would be relieved by a fresh man and
horse, the whole party thus taking turns
at keeping the wild horses on the move.
The main object was to so fatigue the
gamo as to wear ont the animals, rem
dering their capture comparatively easy.
Thus hour after hour the wild horses
would have a t~ireless pursuer hanging
ON their trail. Turn which way they
would, be their pace swift or slow, the
solitary horseman ever followed them
as faithfully as their shadows. Night
brought them no rest, as the drives
were made during the full of the moon.
On the second day the drivers would be
kept on duty for short intervals, so that
they might press the now jaded wild
animals. All of the pursuers would
now assemble, and one after another
turn the flight of the wild animals until
they would have them running in a cir
Gle, the puIsuers taking stations at reg
ular distances. Then began the final
roundup" One man would dash aft
or the band and chase them to his near
est companion in that direction, when
that man would drive them as rapidly
as possible to the next, and so on around
the circle, each driver having a shorter
and still shorter distance to ride, until
the band had completed tho entire cir
Gle. Steadily the circles were lessened,
and the horses were worked toward the
open space between the outer lines of
tho corral.
If there were any choice animals in
the band and any one desired to capture
them, this would be his opportunity. II
was the most interesting period of the
drive. The striking, kicking, rearing,
plunging, %squealing and biting of the
wild horse when first lassoed are de.
scribed by those who have witnessed
such scenes as most exciting. After one
lasso had been successfully cast a sec.
ond is thrown about the neck of the ami.
NAL, and the lassos were then drawn II
opposite directions, holding the strug.
Cling captive securely between its tive
oaptors. BY this means it would b.
finally forced into submission.
This work completed, the band would
! be rapidly forced into the inclosure, th,
4 drivers closing up the rear and urging
/ the wearied animals into the corral un
til they were crowded compactly to
gether, with no hope of escape excep
+ through the narrow lane, where certain
death awaited them. Men armed will
strong spears stood on each side of thil
narrow opening, and as the animal
were crowded through 1t received it
coup de grace.
The conditions of tho country havl
changed vastly. The antelope and thu
elk have gone, the wild cattle have beer
forced into the mountains, and only
few of them remain even there. Thi
is also trle Of the wild horse. The will,
horse, however, Ia not as yet wholly ex
tinot in California. Those now founC
} IN this state are, 80 far as l have beer
able to learn, confined to the regions Of
Mount Whitney and Mount William
son.-San Francisco Chronicle.
There are more than 5000 articles 0
various descriptions, that were lost b,
visitors during the Worlds fair season
stored away in a room of the old Servc
? building at Jackson park awaiting claim
ants.