Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-01-17
KINGS OF The PLAINS.
Desperate and Fatal Encounter Betwceh
Two Untamed stations.

ANo NhN"hNN ot"iliohSs
Evening comes very gently ON the
plains. The sun creeps downward in
The heavens and gilds all things with
wontfous magniRcehee, leaving in his
wake wilderness of crimson and gold
There he hides his head in slumber
behind the mighty canyons of the
Sierras.
We saw them coming from out the
shadows of the foothills, and at first
they were little more than two black
spechs on the wide waste that lay be-
tween MS. They were miles apart when
first seen, but they converged their
courses as they came nearer, each evil
IDENTIFY making for the same point.
''Them's two bands of horses that
hev been turned out" said Godsey,
after he had regarded the advancing
hosts intently for awhile. They'll
meet bout hyar, an the stallions'll be
apt ter fight"
They came forward, quickly gallop-
ing through the evenings sunshine,
but always in rs perfect order as o
squad of drilled cavaly. When they
approached nearer we could see the
stations of each band rounding up the
tagging mares and exhibiting many
signs of nervous apprehension, but not
until they had arrived within a few
hundred yards of the place were we
had camped was any overt act of hos
tility committed.
A foal broke away from the right
hand troop, circling around playfully
and the mare to whom he belonged
followed him, neighing fretfully. Like
a flash of lightning the stallion of the
opposing band, beautiful bay with
white markings, dashed out from
his stronghold and endeavored tt
round the mare and colt up with his
band. This wa the challenge and
signal for battle, and it did not pas:
unheeded, for powerful chestnut
with flowing name and tail shot for
ward from the right and met the in
truder half way between the bands.
What a spectacle it was as these two
monarchs of the plains in all the glory
of youth and strength met in deadly
conflict while the mellow reflections o.
eventide rung the changers on and in
tensified the beauty of their satir
hides. They advance rearing on theil
launches and paving the air, while
their defiant neighing has been rem
dered shrill by intense anger Now
they meet and strike out viciously, en-
| deavoring to rend each others neck:
and throats with their teeth. Now
they wheel and lash out savagely with
their hind legs, exhibiting throughout
q cat-like agility and generalship thai
is nothing short of miraculous.
1t is desperate encounter, wher,
quarter is neither asked nor taken, ant
it can only end with the death of one
Of the combatants.
For fully an hour it wages will
varying success, but strength and stay
ing powers begin to tell in favor of thu
chestnut stallion, and the bay is grad
ually forced TO his knees. He still
| fights gallantly, but the odds ar,
against him, and his antagonist show
ers blows upon him with his front hoof
that cut his hide into shreds as with ;
knife, while the blood gushes from Q
hundred wounds. For few moments
/ he struggles on, and then, with ;
great gasp, he rolls over on his side ant
| lies motiorless, while the victor limp.
slowly back to the band. In that mel
low twilight king has been lait
low.-Chicago Times.