The times., 1901-06-09
TANNING WILD HORSES.
Work Performed by an Experienced
Oklahoma Man.
(From the Kansas City Journal.) }

rom Ine haLsdS Nlly JOufndl-)
In Beaver county. Oklahoma, once cali
ed No Mans Land" is a band of wild
horses about eighty in number. which are
believed TO be the only mustangs now
running at large in the Southwest.
Fifteen years ago wild horses were pur-
sued and captured in Western Oklahoma
for profit. J. c. Williamson. now living
at Beaver City, followed the business so
successfully that he is still called Wild
Horse Jim" by his acquaintances.
His last and mos- successful trips were
made in 1887 and 1859. He captured mus
tangs and took them to Kansas and Col
orado, where he sold them to raEchmen
and farmers. In these round-ups he
caught a total of nearly $50 horses and
sold them fer aDout $1,000
Williamson pursued the largest band he
could find. Notwithstanding great pre-
caution, the horses would take fright at
first and run Tor Ten or twelve miles be-
fore stopping. Williamson tried to Keep
in sight of them if possible, and always
made II a point TO be close to them at
sundown, they sought wa&Sr at that
time, and If not disturbed would remain
near the water all night. If startled, how
ever, they would move. and before morn
ing would be miles away from the spot
( They were going at the first streak OF
dawn. After being followed two or three
days the horses grew less vary, and VIII
| Hanson would begin teaching them 10
drive.
He then began driving them in a circle,
which at first had a large circumference.
AS the horses grew weaker for want of
rest and food. the circle grew smaller,
until its diameter did not exceed a quar-
ter of a mile. Then they were taught an
other lesson. a long lariat was stretched
on the ground. and in the path of the
horses. Wild horses are very sagacious
and quick to suspect a trap. The rope al
ways frightened them greatly at first, but
in time they grew accustomed to it. and
could be driven across it.
Williamson was now ready for busi-
ness. The lariat was strongly anchored
In the ground by tying 1t TO buried log
The best horses of the outfit were brought
out and saddled. Riding as swiftly as
possible, he now started the wild horses
moving in a circle and kept after them
until his own horse was exhausted An
assistant took his place and maintained
the swift pace. Before a great while
centre of the circle, where II would be
Joined by it's mother. n band of wild
horses will not desert one another. and
there was no longer any fear that the
running horses would bolt from the cir
Gle in which they We're moving. In the
free end of the lariat a big running moose
had been tied. As the circle grew smaller
/ the horses would begin running over the
/ moose one of Williamson's helpers kept
close watch and gave a strong pull on
the Iariat when he saw that horse had
stepped into the moose. The horse would
/ fall. shared by the foot. \ heavy log
chain about three feet long was then fast
( eued to one of It's fOrelegs with leather
strap and the horse turned loose Inc
animal would spring to its feet and start
/ awav at breakneck speed, only TO turn a
! somersault caught by the swinging cham
onCirciing its sforelegS-
/ When a half dozen horses had been been
/ caught in this manner the others would
! begin shving away from the moose. which
/ was then abandoned for the time being.
/ Williamson and his men would coil their
/ Iariats and ride straight into the midst of
! the band and rope them, until the Dand
/ was scattered The captured horses We're
/ then rounded up and the lesson OF teach
J ing the others TO pass over the rope was
; resumed After time, when their fear
had abated. they would again pass over
/ the rope without hesltaucy. In this man
ner Williamson caught from seventy-fve
10 eighty horses each season The work
! grew much more difficult as the season
/ advanced: the grass was better, giving
! greater strength TO the wild horses. while
/ his own had become worn ana thin with
( hard service The captured horses soon
grew accustomed tc being driven and
! herded and ii was not difficult to move
them across the plains north into Kansas,
where they were sold. Williamson usually
/ selected the best ones and broke them To
! the saddle, an exciting and dangerous
| business.