The times., 1899-10-08
SHE HUNTS HORSES.
One Feminine Nimrod Kills Them for
Their Hides.

Shooting wild horses for a living seems
odd employment especially for woman.
but there is woman in Nevada who earns
her livelihood in just that way. She is
Californian. too, and a young woman, only
twenty-three years old. and her name is
Mrs. Maud whiteman
She is the daughter of an old soldier
who has served his country in both the
Mexican and Civil Wars. He is a tall.
fine looking man of splendid physique. He
is. however no longer young, and the six
ty-five years that have passed over him
have limited his opportunities for work
so he decided to kill wild horses for their
hides. He selected a region known as
Mauds Wells, from the springs that supply
them with water. 1t is situated twenty
three miles from Humboldt in the wilds
of desolate desert, where only sage brush
grows and human beings are as scarce as
ships in mid-ocean. In this place, with
only wild horses and voyotes for neighbors,
he established his new home. 1t is rough
affair of course. Indeed there are two
of them, one located twenty three miles
distant in another direction, where in the
lava beds an abundant spring draws herds
of wild horses. Both of these hab.tations
are used in the pursuit of ho-se-killing.
In this work he is ably assisted by his
! daughter. She is a bold rider and fine
shot, and can bring down horse at a
distance that would win a sportsman's ad-
miration. When engaged in this pursuit
she dresses like a man, donning overalls
in addition to a flannel skirt and man S
soft hat.
Her control OF horses, says the st
Louis STAR" is remarkable. Her own will
follow affectionately about. with difficulty
being turned back at the door of her hum
BILE dwelling. Even such wild ones as have
been added to the stock soon become trac-
table under her management. They, too.
follow her. laying their heads upon her
shoulder as If to beg caress. She handles
! them without shadow of fear. Her child.
| a little blonde daughter. probably three
| years old, climbs en- their legs and runs
about their feet with as much unconcern
as would ordinarily be permitted in the
| case of a trusted family pet. This is not
| because Maud as she is everywhere called.
| is needless mother, but simply indicates
| her utter confidence in these newly domes-
ticated animals.
| Her pluck and endurance are equally re-
markable. She can ride or drive the day
| through without seeming fatigue. For heT
drive of fifty miles day is nothing. nor
the guiding of horses over steep and dan
| gerous roads. She knows all about these
things and can handle four horses as wen
as any man in Nevada.
In appearance Maud is not above the av-
erage size of her sex. Her figure is well
rounded, without stoutness. rather
square face, Drowned by constant exposure;
dark hair. drawn back to keep it out OF
the way, and dark, resolute eyes that look
steadily at you as they do at every task
she gets for herself. make up face which
you would vainly scan to find such quail
| ties as would seem likely TO attract their
| possessor to her present mode OF life. But
her most attractive feature are her per-
feet teeth, white and beautifully nodded
She has fair education and is fond Of
books and newspapers There is not much
! opportunity for reading, however, in the
wilds of Nebraska. Busted with the prim-
| tive cares of an almost savage isolation,
any woman would find occupation for her
! time and in addition to these Maud has
| her business to look after
She makes an average CT So day clear
of all expenses. This is independent of her
fathers earnings Hides are worth about
| 81 apiece.
| The method of killing is ingenious.
| Mounted on horses, the father and daugh-
! ter set out for the task. They keep dis
| creetly in the background. however, While
! dogs drive a small herd of their own hcrs-
es TO the spring. These serve as decoy.
! Gradually wild horses come up, mingling
with the rest. When suspicion has been
| quieted, the man steals near, wounding,
| with a view to disabling the leader OF the
| herd All others of the wild band imme-
diately rush away, but soon they return