The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-17
A Few StiH Left--Methods of Captur.
ing Them.
From the Galveston News.

ing Them.
From the Galveston News
The wild horses which used to roam the
Texas prairies are about all gone. I asked
an old resident what had become of them,
and he told me that only very few re-
manned, and they were in the large pas
lures, and they were being killed. as often
as a shot could be had at them. I asked
him the reason for this destruction, and
he said that they were worthless in the
first place. and in the second they stole
other horses which were good and carried
them off with them. He informed me, also,
that Of all the wild animals, a horse or
mule which had formerly been under the
dominion of man was the widest when
once it became a part of a wild herd. The
stations of the Wild herd were always am
bilious to keep their bunch" filed, and
would steal a mare or horse, or even a
mule from the settlements or COW ranches
when the occasion presented itself. When
once a tame horse or mule got with a
wild herd, he became the widest and most
cunning of them all AS the wire fences
went up the territory of the wild horse
contracted Finally all that remained were
in the large pastures.
l was told that before the pastures came
it was the custom of walk down" the
wild herds and reduce them to servitude.
One coleman l met here told me how this
walking down" was done. He said that
the wild herd which one was determined
TO capture always had a certain range.
This range was known from men who
secuted on the prairies. For instance, one
man may have seen the bunch" for that
&c ,of hor lie al MOI
ticular point in the northwest of the pan
handle. Another range may have seen the
same bunch" 80 mites southeast of where
the first man saw it, Others may have seen
il along the route between the two points
Thus ii would be concluded that the range
was between the two points mentioned
-Four or five men wcaltl~enter~th expedl
ton to walk down the bunch" A man
would be stationed every 20 or 30 miles
along the range route, and then the
bunch" would be started, For the first
day the wild horses would seamper off
throwing their names and tails to the
breeze. making a sight that would whet
the desire of those pursuing them to cap
ture them, for there is nothing prettiel
in the world than a troop of wild horses
at a distance. They look perfection as they
throw up their heads and sniff the wine
aud then scamper away. l have seen one
or two punches myself. The man whI
starts them on their trip follows them fol
a day on a pony, taking his time. His
place is taken about nightfali. presumna
that the bunch was started in the morn
ing. This second man follows them al
night, for the hunt is made when there
is full moon, so that the bunch can bt
tracked at night as well as during tht
day. On the morning of the second dag
the stallion, or master of the bunch /!
behind his herd, bling and kicking the
laggards in IL. The third day, or even tht
evening of the second day, finds the buncl
strung out in straight line, each follow
ing the other In Indian file. They are get
/ ting very tired then.
They are allowed no time to eat or drink
The pursuer, knowing that they are firing
forces them, and thus the chase con
tinues for about five days, when the wholS
herd is so tired that it is easily taken witt
the rope or lasso or can be driven into
corral But, so said my informant, wheT
the work is done and every horse taken
the pursuers are always unanimous II
their verdict that the game was not worth
the labor expended, for the horses taker
are measly set, and never good for any
thing. Here and there a pretty one anC
a good one may be picked up. but thes,
instances are rare. There are stories abou
these horses on the plains something Tx,
the nautical stories about the "Flyini
Dutchman' and the like There was ono,
white stallion that ranged with hi!
bunch from the panhandle to Colorado
Every effort was made to run him dowr
and to "crease" him. but all efforts prov
ed unavailing. II was said that he coult
pace faster than the best tame horse OF
the plains could run, and his herd wa,
exceptionally fast. All sorts of stories ar.
told about his emiftuQsg
There was a very fine stallion down il
the southwestern part of the state which
defied all efforts to reduce him to slavery
Dick Ware, former marshal for the west
ern district, was very desirous of obtain
ing this horse, and he had himself mad,
several efforts TO capture him. Finally
man came along who said he would wall
him down. Ware offered a large sum fo
the animal. The man who knew how t,
walk him down started out after him ant
failed. But he was not to be beaten b,
a creature of the desert, and so he start
ed out after him. this time with a gun
determined to Grease" him. In a dat
or two he got back and bore the anlmali
tail. He explained that he shot too low
and killed the animal. When the ANNA
was alive his tail swept the ground. War
had II a short time ago in his office
"Creasing" means shooting the ANNA
just beneath the name, not low enough 4
break the neck, and yet low enough tina
shock sufficient TO bring DOWN the ami
NAL will be inflicted. II requires the hes
Workmanship to do this, and as the dis
tance at which the shooting must be don
is usually great, very few animals hay
been taken In this way.
-Baggara swords have been sellin,
cheap IN Chelsea and Pirniico. London