The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-18
WILD HORSES
Herds Of Mustangs That Despoil
Whole Crops in a Night.
Domestic Mares Kidnapped by the Stall
lions Who Wage Deadly Combat
for the Leadership.
Charles Wesley KYLE. in San francisco

the mustang or Mexican wild horse. They
were to be seen in droves not infrequently
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 con-
stitute 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 liter
ally destroy the crops which ii had taken
months of hard labor to produce. The pi-
oneers had ample cause to wage war upon
these animals. They were undoubtedly a
pest and source of danger much to be
dreaded. Moreover, when a band of wild
horses came down into the settlements
they would lure away with them the do
nestle horses, leaving the settlers helpless
for lack of stock.
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 exterminate these animals.
Last summer 1t was the good fortune of
the writer TO a party led by
Col. w. R.. Shafter. of the regular army,
on a trip to the secluded mountain district
above the h~eadwaters of Kern and Kings
rivers. Fortunately for the success of the
expedition j. II. Powers. a stockman who
Tor more than forty years has lived at the
extreme upper portion OF the valley or the
south fork of the Kern river, was secured
as guide. His ranch is the last one on the
way to the almost inaccessible region lying
about u Mount 1ooI whitney n I ,, Powers Sa nm himself set r9as
from a band of wild animals in this region
only four years ago.
in The hunting sfFsy the RetR %sld h Horse IN we're sRss p ee"nars
When a hunt had been determined upon
end w a dfY0 areet t lSea linss s ef fence the sta hung
them about four feet apart and contin-
uing parallel for some distance; then diI
hundred yards apart. These fences were
strong and high enough at the apex of the
horses f5nnsIe from % Sfbe reaking them down. when
crowded into the Enclosure. The fence COM
pleted. the hunters. well mounted. would
some mustangs. When the objects of their
search were sighted the hunters grouped
decided upon. one Of the party started
out on the trail Of the band Of wild horses,
close enough to keep them constantly NOV
ton as might be supposed, as the wild
animals would dash off at full speed, but
would seldom continue any great distance
in a straight line, usually turning and cir
cling so that the driver could, by "cut-
ting the a=ngles," keep the band moving
INV h1f Aho ~ baAA eAN 49,
covered by the wild horses.
RUNNING THEM DOWN.
In two hours or so the first driver
would be relieved by a fresh mar 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, rendering their
final 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
tervals, so that they might press the now
| jaded wild animals. All Of the pursuers
N Would i now t asse fi9bf, az ana the one Mild at snim ans
until they would have them running in a
| circle, the pursuers taking stations at reg
ular distances. Then began the final round
up" one man would dash after the band
and chase them to his nearest companion
in that direction, when that man would
next, and so on, around the circle, each
driver having a shorter and still shorter
distance to ride, until the band had com
| lassened and the horses were worked toward
the open space between the outer lines Of
the corral.
If there were any choice animals in the
band and anyone desired to capture them
this would be his opportunity. 1t was the
most interesting period of the drive. The
striking, kicking. rearing. plunging. squeal-
ing and biting of the wild horse when first
lassoed are described by those who have
witnessed such scenes as most exciting.
After one lasso had been successfully cast
a second Is thrown about the neck of the
animal, and the lassoes were then drawn In
captive securely between its two captors.
BY this means it would finally be forced
into submission
This work completed the band would be
rapidly forced into the Enclosure, the dri-
vers closing up the rear and urging the
wearied animals into the corral until they
were crowded compactly together, with no
hope OF escape except. through the narrow
Men armed with strong spears stood on
each side of this narrow opening, and as
the animals were crowded through it each
The conditions of the country have
changed vastly. The antelope and the
elk have gone, the wild cattle have been
of them remain even there. This is also
true of the wild horse. The wild horse,
however, is not as yet wholly extinct in
California. Those now found in this State
are, as far as / have been able to learn,
confined to the region of Mount Whitney
and Mount Williamson. In that section
a number of them are known to still exist,
as stockmen who have become accustomed
of late years to pasture their horses and
mules in the high meadows of that dis
trict during the summer will attest. The
loss of domestic horses from the bands
pastured in the high valleys in and about
this region from the cause named has been
quite severe. and losses during the past
season have not been infrequent. The ami
mails chosen by the wild stations are the
mares Of the domestic herd, and hence es-
pecially valuable to stockmen. No matter
how unwilling the selected victim may be
TO leave the band of tame horses, the
equine lord Of the hills will enforce his
right to possession, and, by biting and
striking, will drive away the animal of his
choice.
Powers gave the guide the information
that two Of these wild stations had become
such an annoyance 10 the stockmen in
that region during the past season that
they were compelled to shoot them, as all
attempts at capturing them had proved
of no avail. They were killed at long
range with the heavy rifles used by the
stockmen in the mountains.
BATTLE TO THE DEATH.
No one who has not had the experience
of observation of the wild horse in his
native state can form any adequate con-
ception of the viciousness displayed by
the stations toward each other when con-
tending for the possession of a band OF
mares. Their nature and habits make
them muscular, fleet and strong in a de-
gree not to be found in the domestic horse
An old F~renchman, for years a stock
man in these mountains, gave me this
story OF & fight between two powerful wild
stallions:
/ had been riding all one June day
south and west OF Mount Whitney and
was making my way along a mountain
depression leading up from a little valley