The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
WILD HORSES IN UTAH.

(From the Denver New


On the undulating sandy desert south OF
Milford, Beaver county, Utah, are situated
the warm springs OF the old wagon road
which freighters used for reaching Phoebe
in her palmiest mining days; and south OF
these warm springs could be seen by these
freighters twenty-five years ago bands OF
wild horses scurrying away at the ap-
proach Of man. and raising a cloud OF dust
as they rushed over the sand dunes and
rabbit-rush hollows.
At that time the freighters we're compell-
ed to pay toll for water at these warm
springs-and perhaps they do still--be-
cause the precious fluid was run into large
shallow wooden tanks buried in the ground
and allowed to cool. For the privileges of
serving their horses and themselves with
the brackish water. and filling the regula-
ton barrel strapped TO the side of the
wagon. the teamsters paid the man in
charge the sum of % cents per man and
team The water that ran away from these
springs in those days formed a soggy pool
below the springs proper, and here was one
Of the watering places Of the bands of wild
horses that we're even then plentiful upon
the desert.
The western edge of the desert was
fringed by very precipitous mountains
which were here and there deeply scanned
with canons which we're simply a mighty
cleft in the black rugged volcanic rock.
Usually these canons ended very abruptly
after their course had been followed for
distance-anywhere from one to three
miles.
Ingenious man at once saw a use for
these canons. and. selecting those which
best suited his purpose, he placed away
up near the abrupt ending Of each of them
a strong gateway OF pine poles. Periodi-
cally the cowboys of that country would
20 out TO replenish their stock OF saddle
horses from among the bands of wild
equines on the desert. So feet of foot
were they. however, and so thoroughly
familiar with the ground over which they
sped when pursued and enjoying the ad
vantage Of being riderless, that they eluded
their pursuers and easily frustrated any
attempt at their apprehension by means of
lasso. This was the incentive which i'm
PEELED the cowboys to seek the aid Of
nature in securing for themselves that
which they most coveted-"the goldarnest,
orneriest, widest kyuse on the hull
darned range"
So it came about that these gateways
were built in the precipitous canons.
Knowing the location of a big band of
the wild horses the cowboys would line
out upon their wiry ponies and gradually
swing the band around in the direction of
one of the canons, UP winch the unsus-
pecting creatures would clatter among the
loose volcanic stones In the bottom OF the
big crevasse, bounding through the i'm
provised gateway. Then the poles were
put up. after the cowboys had ridden into
the natural corral, and the rest was easy.
Usually the horses thus caught were suff-
GENTLY tractable by the time they had
been handled awhile by their captors-
that is, tame enough for a cowboy.
Despite the large number thus caught
in those days, these bands have so in
creased that they are now almost over
running the country. Occasionally, Of
late. the rangers down in Washington,
Sewer. Willard, Beaver, Wayne and Gar
fed have been compelled 20 organize raids
Of determination upon them. These wild
horses are so numerous that they destroy
the range for cattle and sheep and other
more valuable animals.