Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-05-08
A Heard of 5000 Horses.
From the Anaconda Standard. ]


Five thousand horses in single bunch,
rearing, running. snorting and shying,
urged on by two score picturesque Indian
and halfDreed riders, sending into the clouds
of dust that envelops and partially conceals
the vast bands of cayuses as the riders with
swish of ropes, with shouts and yells, urged
the surging band of half wild creatures
before them, writes correspondent from
the Jocko Indian agency. 1t is picture
seldom seen now, and only possible in the
unrestricted range of the reservation, a
picture, if seen, never to be forgotten. The
scene has an Incompatible setting. In the
background rise the rugged, majestic peaks
of the Mission range; from their base
stretches forward dense, black area of
timber, and, in the foreground, the rolling
prairie of the valley of the Pend d'Orielle
river. Overhead the sky is clear, but above
the mountains snow clouds hover and
the rocky peaks are already silvered with
the first white covering of the year.
For five days these bronze riders have
secured the northern range Of the reserva-
tion, and driving before them every horse
that was found in this long section OF
country. They have ridden across the
rolling ground of the lower valley; they
have searched the canyons; they have pene-
trated the dense timber of the foothills
they have climed to the open peaks OF the
mountain side. From valley and canyon
and hillside they have driven the half-Wld
horses, and have gathered them on the
banks of the Pend d Oreille river for the
cutting out.
Five thousand tossing eads, 10000 VIC
ious eyes, 10000 tramping hoofs! Almost
as far as the eye can reach are horses
horses, horses. There are steeds OF
every color and of every SIZE
Nearly all of them are the mean, treacher
Gus Indian ponies, some of them shapelJ
and handsome, it is true, but in every eye
there is u flash of wldness that betokens IL
for the mau who attempts to tame the
owner. Here and there is a mass OF horses
that is being urged onward at trot IS
big, fine-looking animal that evidences gooe
breeding. But there are not many OF these
They are nearly all cayuses Of the cayuses1
order.
At one of the RANGES on the banks OF tht
river there are three big, well fenced pas
lures, and here the cutting out Will Of
done. On the reservation there are now
about $4,000 horses. and of these 1t IS es1l
| mated that fully 1000 have no right to the
Indian range. This will be done to improve
the condition Of the range, and 1t IS for thls
purpose that the big roundup has beer
| undertaken. The band of horses now being
driven toward the extemporlzed corrals
have been gathered in the region north OF
the Pend d'Orielle river. AS soon as tht
cutting out has been accomplished tht
riders will cross the river, and Will rounc
the stock between that stream and GRO"
creek. and there will be another separation
at the Allard ranch on Mud creek. In ad
| dition to the removal of all alien horses
! Agent Carter has ordered that all cayuse
stations may be disposed Of in order thai
| there may be some improvement in the
grade OF horses raised on the reserve
Thus, the roundup will accomplish dou
he nurDOSe,