The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-12
THE VANISHING CAYUSE.

[From the Arizona Republican,
Twenty years ago, or even ten or hVe
years since, the mustang and the jack
rabbit were two of the connoonest pests
in the west. On every plain and mesa
in each spot where a particle of green
feed found a livelihood, beneath the shell
ter of a dusty sagebrush or a thorned-
mesquite, the little, hardy, shaggy cay
use and the long cared, alert and rapid
jack rabbit broWsed in peace and QuI-
etude. A rider across the arid wilds of
the great southwest could count, if he
desired, hundreds and thousands of the
wiry, wild horses, and from every bush
jack hurried away from the path OF
the traveller, a gray streak, scurryirg
over obstructin5 brush-the kangaroos
of America.
Now not a mustang can be found in
a days travel, or a weeks, and only an
lnfreQuent jack breaks in on the mon
OtOny of a desert ride. Ten years ago
two hundred thousand mustangs were
scattered over the ranges In Texas, New
Mexico and Arizona. AS the bicvcle
grew in favor the horse decreased in
value, and the mustang became an out
cast and an outlaw. He intruded on the
cattle ranges and was shot for his
pains, the cOWnen intent on the
saving of feed for their stock He ven
turedg amid the sheep fOcks and the coy
oteS Toasted on his carcass. Everywhere
he was a worthless reprObate, an inter
lOper, and valuable only as a target
for the revolver of the vaQuero. By in
breeding the species grew smaller, and
the mustangs finish was perceiVable-
The extremely low price Of high grade
eastern horses put the cayuSe out OF
service. and his only haven of refuge
was among the Indians. The red men
barbOred him, fed him and tanned allirn,
and today on the reservations can lac
found the last of his race, disappearing
as did the buffalo, but from a. different
cause. His determination was rapid
ana somewhat of mystery. Many
stockmen attribute it merely to degen-
GRAFTON, but closer observers assert that
many thousands of the ponies of the
desert were surreptitiously converted
into canned beef, and are even now be-
ing served over eastern tabls and army
messes as a select product of the cattle
range. Be that as it may, the mustang
IS no more, and has been replaced by
higher and finer breed of the equine
species. Over plains where once roam
ed the vast herds Of mustangs-whirh
by the way. were doubtless the offspring
of horses brought over soon after the
Spanish inVasion-now feed as fine
horsetesh as can be found anywhere in
the world. Several years ago a great
importation of Oregon mares, the sturdy
stock of the rough northwest, was sent
south.
At the same time a number ST fine stall
lions from Kentucky and Indiana were
shipped to the southwest The outgroWth
rapidly becoming known as important
factors in the horse trade The offspring
has been well proportional, strong and
extremely hardy horse over the rocky
hills and the graveily plains the horse of
the southwest has had his travelling and
developed his strength and capability for
rough work. The dry. healthful climate
has developed his lung power. and in the
South African war English officers found
the American horse of the sout lWest the
strongest, hardest and fastest in the
rough work of the Boer campaign In
such esteem, indeed. is he held that east
and paying the highest prices for him,
while British and German army buyers
give their preference to him. In many
localities cattlemen are evolving into
horsemen, and the steady demand and
high prices promise well for a business
As to that other pest the jack rabbit,
his extinction IS only a matter of great
length of time. Civilization is croWding
him out, and the abOriglne is slaughter
ing him, and between the two fires he
cannot last long. The dogs of the settlers
a popular sport A fleet pair of grey
hounds in a half days hunt have been
known to kill half a hundred rabbits, and
the Indians slaughter them at even q
more rapid rate. Rabbit hunts among
the redskins are frequent occurrences.
and sometimes hundreds of reservation
reds will participate in the chase. Such
a sight is one never to be forgotten by
an leaSterner Usually spreading over a
wide territory, the Indians gradually close
jacks Scurry back and forth they are
either killed by the blunt arrows from
the Indian bows or are finally rounded up
in a. compact mass where they are club
bed to death Sometimes different
method is pursued. and with relays of
killed. In either case the result is the