Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-21
SOME WILD HORSES
TWO STATIONS FIGHT A DUEL. AND
SOME HERDS HAVE PITCH BATTLES.
Some of Them Show Characteristics
That Are Almost Human They
Have Leaders, and In Their Battles
show Wne Military Tactics.

That Are Almost Human They
Have Leaders, and In Their Battles
show Fwne Military Tactics.
william Jameson Reid. who spent sew
eral years in exploring China and
Thibet, gives the following account OF
the wi horses of Thihet in his Dook
Through Unexpl0red ASIA, which Is
to be issued shortly:
ssWilu horses, called by the Sifanese
Dzerlikadu. are very numerous in the
country to the eastward of Sukulat at
the base of the mountain ranges. They
are generally in large herds. very shy.
and when frightened continue their
flight for DAYS. They are never hunt
ed. owing to the difficulties of the
chase. but are captured by strong noos-
es attached to sunken stakes, distriDu-
ted In the districts which they are
known to frequent, in this manner IN
surfing their capture without injury
These horses usually roam over the
country in groups of fifty TO a hundred.
Each lot Of mares is led by stallion,
the size OF whose family depends on
his age, strength and courage. his IN
dividual qualities Keeping his herd TO-
gsther. Over this he maintains the
most strict watchfulness, for II he de-
series intruders from other herds In
his ranks he rushes to- the encounter
and tries in every way by biting ana
kicking to drive them of. During the
breeding season the males are eXcep-
tionally aggressive. and encounters
among themselves, and even attacks
on human beings, are of frequent oc-
currence,
We rode for some hours. until we had
reached a spot whence we could over
look the plain where we were inform
ed the astonishing wonders OF which
we had been told might be performed.
Suddenly upon the night air resounded
a blood-curdling neigh, as clear as a
bugle call; and Immediately the herd
stopped feeding, and stood with heads
erect, as a mighty army at the call OF
its leader. Another prolonged neigh,
pitched in a somewhat higher key, and
like a whirlwird, the whole herd bolt
ed up the valley, as orderly and regu-
larly as the finest disciplined army,
with he three or four who seemed TO
be the leaders symmetrically arranged
ahead of the main body, and fianking
and rear attachments posted with stu
diouS exactness.
once more they came to a halt and
grazing was resumed. Our attention
had been so drawn in following the &C
ton of this herd that we had not no.
ticed that another fully as large had
come from far down the valley and had
installed themselves on the feeding
grounds Just vacated. The scene in
front was now all-engaging; cold and
fatie ne were alike forgotten in the en-
thralling interest of the moment For
half an hour both herds cropped the
short grass in silence, when a shrill
neigh from the group nearest to us
attracted our attention in their direc-
ton. They had all stopped feeding,
and stood restless and fearful as il
detecting the approach of some terrible
enemy. Suddenly from out the COM
pactly gathered mass sprang gigantic
stallion. who. after paving the earth
and meanwhile neighing fercely, pro-
ceeded at gallop a full half mile up
the valley. stopping every few hundred
feet to repeat his bellicose neighing.
Following his movements we now saw
that another animal was galloping
down in a similar manner from the
other herd, doubtless to accept the
challenge. The newcomer was mag
nificent snow-white, and, with the clear
light of the moon shining upon him, he
presented a gigantic appearance when
contrasted with his smaller antagonist.
When within quarter of mile or
each other the two beasts came to an
other halt and stood facing their re-
spective herds. paving the ground and
neighing fiercely, bending their shape
ly necks much in the manner of two
actors in sword combat making the
preliminary flourish previous to deadly
action.
This overture lasted for fully fif-
teen minutes, when with startling sud
denness both animals leaped around
and rushed at each other with the We
locity of well-aimed projectiles. Near
er and nearer they came in their mad,
onward career, and we were waiting
the moment when the two grand beasts
must come together with tremendous
force. But, no. for when within
twenty feet of each other they came
back on their launches, and eyed each
other cautiously for moment, as Ii
awaiting the necessary opening. And
then, with one last defiant neigh at
each other they leaped to the encoun-
ter.
ITO describe the events of the next
ten minutes would require pages of
hyperbole to give in any measure a
faint idea of the supreme grandeur
and weirdness of this herculean strug-
gle between two giants. They rushed
at each other time and time again
like immense catapults; they fought
with tooth and hoof. The two beasts
could be seen rearing In the air.
locked together like two wrestlers,
their teeth tearing each other and their
great hoofs relentlessly kicking in all
directions with the force of pile-driv-
ers. Both animals were firing per-
ceptibly, when in an instant all was
over. A sharp rally and then the ghost
ly form of the big white stallion rose
alone, and ON the ground lay the pros
trate body of his antagonist. The vic
tor contented himself with giving Ut
terance to short. exultant neighs, and
ever and anon kicking the body of his
defeated foe"