Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-05-10
TENNESSEE, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1894.
A HORSE FIGHT.
The Terrible VicIousness OF stations In the
Wild State.

The Terrible Viclousness OF stations In the
Wild State.
No one who has not had the expert
ence of observation OF the wild horse
in his native state can form any ade-
quate conception of the viciousness dis
played by the stations toward each
other when contending for the posses
sion of band of mares Their nature
and habits make them muscular, fleet
and strong in degree not to be found
in the domestic horse. An old French.
man, for years stoclsman in these
mountains, gave me this story of a
fight between two powerful wild
stations:
81 had been riding all one June day
south and west of Mount Whitney and
was making my way along n mountain
depression leading up from a little
valley where | intended to camp.
AS l neared the opening of the
valley | heard number of piercing
shrieks which l could lillen to
nothing had ever heard. was not
long left IN doubt as to the source, for
on rounding point of rocks l saw in
the nearer portion of the valley two
large wild stations fighting like mad.
Beyond them was a small band of wild
horses quietly grazing as if Indifferent
to the struggle.
"The wild horses did not observe me,
and as ] was to. the leeward of them
they caught no scent Of my presence.
The horses were rearing, plunging,
striking, kicking and biting, whirling
about and coming together with terri
bic force. Then they would rear and
bring down their fore feet upon each
others heads, necks and bodies with
such force that the blows and snorts
accompanying them could be heard for
hundreds of yards. Fighting at close
quarters, they would seize each other
with their powerful jaws and hang
on like bulldogs, frequently break.
ing their holds only when the
flesh give way. Then, whirlinp
quickly, they would deliver q number
of kicks in such quick succession that
neither of them could avoid the terri
BILE punishment thus inflicted. The
favorite point of attack in biting
seemed to be the withers, and once g
good hold was secured | noticed that
the bitten horse would vince and al
most sink to the ground. Sometimes
they would lower their heads and bite
viciously at each others forelegs, ap
parently trying to get hold on the
leg just at the joint above the hoof
One of them gained such hold ant
threw his opponent to the ground, bu
as the hold was broken in the throw
the unfortunate was soon on his feet
After fighting for some time each o
the contestants was covered will
blood, which poured from wounds OF
neck and body, as well as from moutl
and nostrils.
"A terrific kick on the body fnall,
sent one of the horses tottering away
when the other, seeing the advantage
renewed the fighting with increased
vigor and soon kicked his opponent int
helplessncss. The band of mares ha,
disappeared. The victory had cost tn
conqucror all too dearly, as he wa
bleeding quite perceptibly at the nos
trils as he walked away. l shot tn
defeated to put him out of his misery
as found upon examination that tw
or more of his ribs had b cen broker
the pieces of which were protruding.
could have lassoed the victor, but di
not care for SO vicious an animal, be
Sues his being so injured in the figh
as to render him valueless. San Frar
cisco Chronicle.