Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-03
THE WILD MUSTANG.
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HE WAS
ONCE A TERRIBLE PEST.

ONCE A TERRIBLE PEST.
Settlers Were Compelled to Fake Active
Measures For Self Protection-Exoiting
Drives and Desperate Battles-How the
Corral Was Made.
The southern portion of the great San
Joaquin valley was overrun in the early
days by species of wild horse known
as the mustang, or Mexican wild horse.
They were to be seen in droves, not in
frequently numbering several hundred
each. They were too small, ''weedy'
and generally worthless for the most
part to be of any value to the settlers.
On the contrary, they existed in such
numbers as to constitute an annoyance
and injury to the settlers engaged in
agriculture. In single night 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 to wage war upon these
animals. They were undoubtedly pest
and source of danger much to l'e dread
ed. Moreover, whenever band of wild
horses came down into tho settlements,
they would lure away with them the
domestic horses, leaving the settlers
helpless.
These depredations were SO frequent
that, as 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 older
the better and more etfectually to exter
inmate these animals.
The early methods used in this coun-
try in hunting the wild horse were pc
culiar. When hunt had been deter
mined upon and a favorable locality Sc
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 fence completed, the
hunters, all we'll mounted, would start
out to locate 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. Ono of the party
started out on tho trail of the band of
wild horses, close enough to keep them
constantly moving. This did not re-
quire as much exertion as might he sup
posed as the wild animals would dash
off at full speed, but woald seldom con-
tinue any great distance in straight
line, usually turning and circling so
that the driver" could, by ..'cutting
the angles keep the band moving
without having to travel half tho dis
lance covered by the wild horses.
In two hours or so the first driver"
would be relieved by u 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
game as to wear out the animals, rem
dering their capture comparatively easy.
Thus hour after hour the wild horses
would have a tirelcss pursucr hanging
on their tail. Turn which way they
would, be their pace swift or slow, tho
solitary horseman ever followed them
as faithfully as their shadows. Night
brought them no rest, as thu "drives'
were made during the full of the moon.
On the second day tho 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 cir
Gle, the pu1suers taking stations at reg
ular distances. Then began the final
roundup One man would dash aft
er 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 the entire cir
Gle. Steadily tho circles were lcssened,
and the horses were worked toward the
open space between tho outer lines of
the corral.
If there were any choice animals in
the band and any ono desired to capture
them. this would be his opportunity. 1t
was the most interesting period of tho
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
Iasso had been successfully cast a sec
ond is thrown about the neck of the ami
NAL, and the Iassos were then drawn in
opposite directions, holding tho strug
CLING captive securely between its two
captors. By this means it would be
finally forced into submission.
This work completed, the band would
be rapidly forced into tho Enclosure, the
drivers closing up the rear and urging
the wearied animals into the corral nm
til they were crowd I'd compactly to-
gether. with no hope Of escape except
through tho narrow lane, where certain
death awaited them. Men armed with
strong spears stood on each side of this
narrow OPENING and as tho animals
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