The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1896-12-15
caba lDrs. Wv. sasane de rs1a..

A shipment of Texas horses
for the use of the Spanish caval-
ry in Cuba have recently been
sent to Havana. The MESSEE-
GER scribe knows something
about the Texas horse. There
will be great fun in Cuba the day
the Spanish cavalry mount those
horses, and prepare to take the
field for their country's cause.
The unbroken Texas horse, such
as those which have been pur-
chased by the Spanish govern
ment, is a horse unto himself and
different from any other of his
tribe. He can, when in a rebel
lious mood, climb higher into
the air and come down harder,
sitter and with more different
kinds of a jolt TO the inexperienc-
ed rider on his back than any
animal on the face of the earth.
To maintain a perfect connec-
tion with him requires a long
acquaintance with and thorough
knowledge of his aerial gymnas-
tics, which are as remarkable as
they are diversified. together
with the ability. acquired only
after much practice and many
bruises, to keep pace with his
contortions. A Texas horse that
never had a rope on him but
once in his wild and roaming
career, and that when a fantastic
brand was scared into his right
hip, is a bucker both by nature
and inclination. Some are known
as ''sun buckers," /" and they stand
at the head Of the class, the envy
of the rest of the herd. These
animals can elevate themselves a
sufficient distance above the
ground to enable them to flash
their stomachs in the face of the
sun, reverse ends in an atmos-
pheric waltz, and then, with
hoofs altogether like bunch of
grapes, hit the bosom of mother
earth and produce shock which
is occasionally equalled by the
explosion of q keg of giant
powder. This is the ''sun
bucker's" method of parting with
his rider, and it is generally at
tended with distressing, if not
fatal, results to the latter, but
there are other Texas horses
which have a different way of
saying an reUoir. They merely
leap into the air. stiff and at full
length, and while at the summit
of their fight, bring their heels
and head together after the fash
ion of closing a jack-knife and
and shake themselves with the
nervous force of a wet dog shed
ding water. This performance,
which is invariably executed be-
tween earth and sky, is very
effective and many a promising
young fellow from the effete east
ambitious to become a cowboy,
has been plunged so deep into
the blossoming prairie that the
task of eXcavating grave was
spared his mourning comrades.
As we have before remarked.
there is going TO be q great deal
of fun in Cuba when the herd
from Texas is landed il Havana.
The horses being native born
Americans, sympathize with the
insurgents and can be depended
upon to entertain the troopers
of Spain with a star performance,
and we violate no confidence in
saying that before these intel
ligent animals have exhausted
their repertoire the flower of
Alfonso'S cavalry will be scat
tered over a broad expause of
territory, and there viii be an
urgent demand for additional
hospital accommodations. The
field on which the Texas horses
operate viii look as though hos
tile armies had engaged in fierce
contention. The dead and the
wounded viii lie in heaps, and
for miles the ground VIII be
Istrewn with hats, boots, carbineS,
swords, pistols. false teeth,
epaulettes, canteens. field glasses
and garlic. But this is not all
From the surrounding hill tops
the delighted followers of Maceo
! will shout Cd5a li6re. Fira
cabaHo de Terds Once the con-
uection is made between the
Spanish trooper and the Texas
horse, Cuban independence is
assured, and the star of new
republic viii blaze in the firm
ament of nations.