The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-02
INDIANS And HORSES
Over the Boundless Plain They Yell,
WhOop and Run.
.1rl
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT
The Herds Are Separated and
Those Animals Belonging to 81.
Other Tribes Are f
Driven OFF.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIC
SIGHT

urged on by two score picturesque In
dian and ralf-breed riders. sending in
to the air a cloud of dust That envel-
ops and partially conceals the vast
band Of cayuses as the riders with
swish of ropes. with shouts and yells,
urge on the surging band of hak-wild
creatures before them. 1t is a picture
seldom seen now and only possible In
the unrestricted range Of the reserva-
ton, a picture. IL seen. never to be for
gotten. The scene has an incompara-
BILE setting. In the background rise
the rugged, majestic peaks Of the Mis-
sion range: from their base stretches
forward a dense. black area of timber
and. in the foreground. the rolling prai-
RE of the valley of the Pend dOreille
river. Overhead the sky is clear. but
above the mountains snow clouds how
er and the rocky peaks are already sill
vered with the first white covering OF
the year.
But there is too much stir and ac-
tivity in the group which forms the
central portion of the picture, to per-
NIT of any lengthy consideration of
the wonderful beauty of the scenery.
The whole thing is so unusually pic
turesaue and so attractive that 1t
seems as If it must have been arranged
as a show and the observer forgets the
discomforts of the long, dusty ride
across the reservat ton; forgets that his
throat is lined with dust; forgets that
the color of his clothes is concealed by
the sitting of fine soil that has settled
upon him in the ride from the agency;
forgets that an hour ago he was lame
and weary; forgets all but the inter
esting scene before him.
PICTURESQUE and attractive as IL is,
the affair has not been arranged for
effect. The reservation riders, with
their red shirts and gay blankets, have
not come out for their own amusement
or for our entertainment. They find
no particular pleasure in the dusty
days and chilly nights. aside from the
excitement which attends such a ride
as they are engaged in. They are out
upon serious business and we are for
tunate that we have come upon them
at this point. For five days these
bronze riders have secured the north
ern range of the reservation, driving
before them every horse that was
found in this long stretch of country.
They have ridden across the rolling
ground of the lower valley; they have
searched the canyons; they have PEN
etra:ed the dense timber of the foot
hills: they have climbed to the open
parks on the mountain sides. From
valley and canyon and hillside they
have driven the half-wild horses and
have gathered them on the banks of
the Pend d'Oreille river for the cutting
out. !
Five thousand tossing heads, 10000
vicious eyes. 10000 tramping hoofs, AL
most as far as the eve can reach are
horses, horses. horses. There are
steeds of every color and of every size.
Nearly all of them are the mean,
treacherous Indian ponies, some of
them shapely and handsome Ii is true,
but in every eye is a fash of wildness
that betokens i'll for the man who at
tempts to tame the owner. Here and
there in the mass of horses that is be-
ing urged onward at a trot is big,
fine looking animal that evidences
good breeding. But there are not many
of these. They are nearly all cayuseS
of the cayusest order.
At one of the ranches on the banks
of the river there are three big, we'll
fenced PASTURES and here the cutting
out will be done. On the reservation
there are now about $4,000 horses and
of these II is estimated that fully 1000
have no right TO the Indian range.
Most of these aliens belong to the Nez
Perce Indians of the Umatilla reserva-
ton in Washington and. as they are
cut out. they will be driven westward
off the Flathead reserve. All other
strays will be advertised and sold.
This will do much to improve the con-
ditlon of the range and 1t is for this
purpose that this big roundup has been
undertaken.
The band of horses now being driven
toward the extemporized corrals has
been gathered in the region north of
the Pend d'Orellle river As soon as
the cutting out has been accomplished,
the riders will cross the river and will
round up the stock between that
stream and Crow creek and there will
be another separate at the Allard
ranch on Mud creek. In addition to
the removal Of all alien horses, Agent
Carter has ordered that all cayuse
stations may be disposed of. In order
that there may be some Improvement
in the grade of horses raised on the
reserve. Thus the roundup will ac-
complish a double purpose.
As we watch. the band OF nervous,
frightened animals is driven nearer
and nearer to the fences which are to
enclose them. The horses, many OF
them, have never been driven this way
before Some of them had never seen
a man at close range until the riders
routed them from their mountain pas
lures and hurried them into the vail
ley. They are as wild as deer.
Now and then startled creature
breaks from the band and fairly flies
out across the plains toward his home
in the hills. But. swift as he is, the
agile riders are too quick for him.
Three Of them have crossed his path
and have intercepted his flight almost
before we have realized what has been
his purpose Sullenly he is driven back
TO the herd. Again and again this
performance is repeated. But the drive
is inexorable and the band IS driven
steadily forward.
The riders are the most interesting
feature OF the scene. Quick, keen and
daring in their work. they are here,
there and everywhere at once. They
are a motley lot. Every owner of
horses on the range is represented.
Indians. half-breeds and "squaw men"
are all here. each I'm earnest In the
work. for this is the one useful occupa-