Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-15
BATTLE OF THE HORSES,
A Band of the Wild Animals Charged
by a Squadron of Army Steeds.


by a Squadron of Army Steeds.
From the Detroit Free Press.
Just at shutdown, and while we were at
supper, a drove of wild horses number
ing lightweight suddenly emerged from
Thatcher's Pass and depioyed on the level
ground of the valley. Three or four were
recognized as cavalry horses abandoned on
the march, and twice that number had col
lar marks to prove that they had STAN
peded from some immigrant train.
When clear of the pass they formed in
line and advanced upon us to within a
quarter of mile. We had seventy-dve
horses at the lariat pins, and for half an
hour we had all we could do to prevent
stampede. The wild horses we're finally
driven down the valley by two mounted
men, but they did not seem to have much
fear of us.
Daylight had come, and the sentinels of
the night were coming into camp, when The
wild horses rushed into view a mile below
us. On the instant we discovered them,
and while four-fifths OF the men were yet
under their blankets, the captains horse
uttered scream which must have been
taken as a signal. He reared up, shook his
head like an angry lion and freed himself
of his halter. In the same instant every
other horse N the command secured his
liberty; some pulled mp the pins, some
worked their heads clear of the straps, and
away went the whole drove down the val
ley.
1t was not a stampede, as We naturally
feared. Even had our animals desired to Join
the ranks of the free they would have been
rebuffed. Our horses were punched, and in
a solid bunch they drove right through the
lines of the wild horses and left four of
them lying crippled on the grass as they
passed. The prairie drove retreated up the
valley half mile and then wheeled about
in a single line. When our drove halted and
there a distance three-Ouar-
tiers of a mile between the combatants We
were ordered to fall in, with view of adj
vancing upon the wild horses and driving
them Off but before we had gotten into line
it was too late.
The sight was a wonderful one. The two
leaders advanced as if they meant to decide
the Issue by fight between them, but when
within forty yards of each other they wheel
ed and returned to their respective lines.
Then we witnessed something which only
cavalryman will credit. Our horses fell into
double line and dressed to the right as per-
fectly as if trooper had occupied each sad
die, and while We looked the lines suddenly
moved forward on charge. When they
sw ept past US the alignment was absolutely
perfect, with the captains horse on the
right and leading by about twenty feet The
line of wild horses bent and wavered, but
did not break until struck.
1t was like striking a drumhead with a
siedge hammer. I believe that fully forty
horses went down under the shock, but all
except four were speedily on their feet
again. From this on 1t was a melee, the
whole drove circlng around, and each morse
biting and kicking and displaying such
ferocity as to astonish us. The mob fought
past us down the valley and back, and right
in front Of the camp the climax came. The
battle had been raging half an hour. when
the spotted stallion hobbled out of it on
three legs and bleeding from half dozen
wounds, and that seemed to take the pluck
out of his followers. Some ran up the valley
and some down, but of the lightweight oIly
fifty-seven got away. When the hottest of
1t was over we dashed in and secured horse
here and there, and in this manner we final
ly got hold of the last one which was the
captains.
OF the seventy-five only five had escaped
scot free Every one of the others had been
bitten and kicked, and twelve of them were
so crippled as to be worthless.