Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-07
DUEL FOUGHT BY MUSTANGS.
Wild Stations on the Staked Plain
Terrible Fight to the Death.

Fate of the Victorian Incident of the
Llano Estacado.
New YORK sun.
Before the country was divided by |
wire fences into great cattle pastures |
the staked plain OF Texas was the home |
of the mustang. Hundreds Of bands |
were TO be found there, each led by a
battle-scarred stallion. A wild stallion |
is a Jealous brute, permitting no rival to
linger near his harem. As courageous
as bulldogs, fight between n pair Of
these animals terminates only when one
of the combatants is unable to continue
it. Although of frequent occurrence,
especially in the spring, such combats
were rarely witnessed even by the cew-
boys the keen vision and wonderful sense
of smell of the brutes making approach
difficult. The mares flee at the first
evidences of danger, and the stallicns
follow. Through piece of luck old
Joe Hargran and his mate once had an
opportunity Of seeing hurricane fight
at close range.
1t was in May. 1880, and Hargran and
his mate were crossing the plains from
the south. AS they approached the
headwaters of Yellow Horse Canon,
mustangs became plentiful. The lagunas
further out were all dry, forcing them
in. jogging down shallow draw lead
ing to the main arroyo, old Joe in front,
and his companion few feet behind,
cowboy fashion, in silence, they noticed
| that the old buffalo trail they were fol-
lowing was filled with horse tracks, all
pointing in the direction in which the
men were travelling. Next, from the
| further side of the thicket of blackberry
| bushes came rumble of hoofs, and then
a sound which once heard is never for.
| gotten-the shrill, fierce scream OF
stallion in anger.
| "Mustangsp whispered old Joe,
reaching for the Winchester that hung
under his right leg. sp'
The wild stations had a habit of steal.
ing into the ranges along the rivers occa-
sionally aud drawing off the mares
belonging to the ranchmen, and for this
reason the cowboys waged perpetual
war against them, shooting them down
whenever opportunity offered. With
rifles in hand the two men crept for
ward. A cottonwood tree recently blown
down on the further side of the thicket
offered splendid blind. Crawling to it
they removed their hats and peered
through the dead limbs.
The valley, level as u floor, was not
more than $50 yards in width. Midway
across it, drawn up in Irregular but dis.
tinct lines, were two bands of mustangs,
probably 20 head in each. In the space
between the lines, with noses to the
ground, trotted a pair of stallions a
sorrel and buckskin. A fight was on
hand, and, anxious to see it, Joe's mate
restrained him as his hand sought the
lever of his rifle.
"Hold on, Joe" he pleaded. Lets
see the fight. We can get in our work
after it's over"
"All right" Joe acquiesced slowly, as
if reluctant TO forego the pleasure OF
slaughter for even little. Then after
an inspection of the combatants, "I'll
go yer yearlin' the dun wins it,"
His mate nodded acceptance. In
weight the stations were about equal.
The sorrel was half u hand the taller,
! but what the buckskin lacked in height
he made up in breadth, being the closer
built of the two. Back and forth some
twenty-five feet apart they trotted, each
in front Of his own band, mares and
tillies looking on unconcernedly. Sud.
: denly the sorrel threw his head up until
! level with his breast and made a spring
{ The dun, anticipating the move, wheeled
l on his fore feet and planted both heels
. in his foes jaw. They were terrific
I blows, fairly staggering the recipient
= The sorrel sprang back, the blooC
streaming from his mouth. An ole
: black mare, her pointed ears and Frosted
i front indicating extreme age, whlnel
I her sympathy.
Once more the man9uvring began
: Emboldened by success, the buckskii
c became the aggressor. With head hell
. sideways he lunged forward, aiming l.
:, secure q hold on the windpipe III
z sorrel ducked cleyerly and fastened III
!, teeth in his rivals ribs, the buckski
II bending back and catching a neck hold
It Each struck viciously with his fore fec
e at the others legs. The dun lost hi
+ grip first, the sorrel holding on like
: bulldog. When he was finally throw
a Off the buckskin'S side showed an u5l
il wound, bleeding profusely.
IS Again the Sparring for advantaa
& began. Honors so far We're easy. III
third time they came together both sta
Y lions were on their hind legs strikin
; with their fore feet. Each made II
i. for his rivals throat, but missed. Heel
e. fore feet and teeth were used indlscrim
to nately and in rapid succession. For
ne quarter ofan hour the battle ragged Wit
= out advantage to either. Then Il
o. buckskin secured a hold on the other
y withers, and throwing one leg over ii
m sorreps back forced him 10 bear h
20 weight. II was u clever trick, well OK
III cuted. The sOrrel made desperate effor
to dislodGe him and succeeded only aft
he expanding much strength. From tn
III time the buckskin had the best of
W. He pressed the fighting and allowed h
e. acknowledging antagonist no chance
ne reCuperate. Old Jue's face beamed
aS he saw the turn Of events.
&C. Them ye'rlin's we bet was to
ii, short-horn heifers, warn't tAey2"
% chuckled, nudging his mate with /
~, ~, elbow,
mi Nainly the gallant sorrel sought
;as stem the tide. In spite of all lie Cou
ess do to prevent the disgrace he was Dor
q. back among his mares, aud saw. the
err knocked about by his triumphant adv,
,ty sary. The Duckskin looked like a C,
'.nt tain winner, and il seemed only
ma question of time whan the sOrrcl won
ira have to succumb. But stallion tEl
HE are never decided until one or the OFT
the falls exhausted. With them, us wi
prize lighters, many a battle has be
'sce won by the weaker contestant throu
~ a chance blow. Just after q despcri
"r rally, in which the s1rrel barely Mss
Id. being thrown, the bucEskjn went in
,eC. finish him. With victory in sight
lest became careless and rushed with
bis head neld well IN. The sorrcl saw
on ,i,,,,,,,- ,oode a nr,ss md rour,I,t Nm,