Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-04-03
THE WILD MUSTANG.
" SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Nc WAS
cNce A TERRIBLE PEST.

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The southern portion OF the great Ssn
Josquin valley was overrun In the early
days by q species Ut wild borss known
~ the mustang. or Mexican Wild horss.
They were 10 b seen In droves. not In.
frequently Numbering several hundred
each. They were too small. "wesdy"
and generally worthless for the most
part 90 bs Of any value to the settlers.
On the contrary. they existed In such
numl~n ~ 20 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 10 had taken months Of
hard labor 20 pfoduce. The pioneers
had ample causc 90 wage war upon these
animals. They were undoubtedly pet
and source Of danger much 10 In dread.
I'll. Moreover. whenever q hand of wild
hoisss came down into the settlements,
they would lure away with them the
domestic hors.s. leaving tho settlers
helpless.
These depr~,iations were - frequent
that. o. q matter of elf protection. the
piob~r farmers and stockmen Of thee
valleys were compelled 20 take active
measures. They would inaugurats large
hunting parties, or drives" In order
the better and more eiiectually 10 ertsr.
inmate these animals.
The early methods used In this COM
Try in hunting the Wild bor.e were pe-
culiar. when q hunt had been deter
mined upon and favorable locality So
iecte,i. the hunters would erect two lines
Of fence. starting them about four feet
apart aud containing parallel for some
distance. then divergins until the ter.
minals we're several hundred yards
apart. These fences were strong and
high enough at the spex Of the triangle
To securely r-trsin the Wild horses from
breaking them down when crowded. into
the incio~ure. The fence completed. the
hunters, all well mounted. would start
out % locate q band Of the troublesome
mustangs. When tho objects oi their
search were sighted. the huntep groupesi
together. AMI the order IL the drive"
va. decided upon. One 81 the party
,tarted out on the trail oi the band of
Wild bor-es. clos. enough to keep them
constantly moving. Thi. did not ~.
quire as much excrtion as might be sup
Io-e,i. NJ the wild animals would dash
OH at full speed. but would seldom con.
time any great distance In q straight
line. usually turning and circling ~
that the driver" couid. by "cutting
the angles" keep the hand moving
without having Co travel half the dis
tame. covered by the Wild horses.
In two bonr- 90 - the first driver"
would h. relieved by q fresh man and
hor--. the whole party thus taking turns
at keeping the Wild horses on the move.
The main object was 90 ~ fatigue the
game ~ On wear cut the animals. r.n.
dcring their capture comparatively easy.
Thus houi after hour th. wild horses
would have q tirels-- pur-uer hanging
on their tail. Turn which way they
would. 10 their pace swift ar slow, the
solitary hor.sman ever followed them
q. faithfully ~. their shadows. Night
brought them no r-st. NJ the drives"
were made during the full u the moon.
On the second day the drivers would Ia
kept on duty for short intervals, - that
they might PRESS the now faded wild
animals. All ~ the puru.rs would
now assemble. and one after another
turn the flight Of the wild animals until
they would hsy. them running In cir.
Gle. the pui.u.r- taking stations at rrg.
ular distances. Then began th. dnal
"roundup." One man would dash aft.
o. Oh. hand and chase them o. hts near
est companion IN that direction. when
that man would drive them rs rapidly
as possible a. tho next. and - on around
the circle. each driver having q shorter
and still shorter distance 20 ride. until
the hand hal completed the entire cir
Gle. Steadily the circles were ie--sned.
and the hor>ss were worked toward the
OPEN spac. between Oh. outer lines ~
the cOrral.
II there wee any choice animals In
the hand and any one desired tocapture
them. thi. would H. bis opportunity. II
was the most interesting period 20 the
drive. The striking. kicking. rearing,
plunging. sluealing and biting of tho
. Wild boiss when frat la.-oed are de
scrii-i by those who have witnessed
such scenes as most exciting. After one
laso hal becn successfully cast a sec
ond IL thrown about the heck u the ant.
NAL, and the lss-os were then drawn Ia
opposite directions. holding the sirug'
Cling captive securely between its two
cap,ors. BY this means 70 would bc
finally forced into Submission.
This wUrk completed. the hani would
b. rapidly forced into the Enclosure. the
drivers closing up the rsar aud urging
the wesri,d animals into the corral nm
al they were crowded compactly TO-
getber. with no hope Of escape except
through the narrow lane, where certain
death awaited them. Men aimed with
strong spcais stood on each side Of this
narrow opening. and as tb. animals
wer. crowded through u received IT,
coup De grace.
/ The conditions u the country have
changed vastly. The antelope and The
elk have gone. the wild cattle have been
forced into the mountains. and only
few Of them remain even there. THIS
u also tris Of the wild horrc. The wild
borse. however. Is not rs yet wholly eI'
tinct In California. Those now found
IN this state are. ~ far ~ have been
able 10 learn. continci TO the regions of
Mount whitney and Mount william
| son- San Francisco Chronicle.