The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-19
OKLAHOMA'S
WILD HORSES
SEEN AGAIN
Band of Mustangs Roam in
Beaver County,
ARE FEWER EVERY YEAR
wild Horse Jim" Formerly
Captured Them.
ARE FEWER EVERY YEAR

Beaver, o. T, May 1s.-The band Of
Wild horses which have been a part Of
this county for years has been seen
often during the past months in the
distance. It seems that the band has
dwindled down from what it was some
months ago bat whether II has been be-
cause the horses have been captured OF
not, is not known This band OF wild
horses has been in this country for years
and until later years was quite a large
band. To be sure they were wild mus
tangs, and when once thoroughly
frightened would run for miles without
stopping.
There was time IN Oklahoma that
the wild horses were captured for profit.
Those days are over though for the
territory has had such rapid growth
that the horses have not had a wide
territory in which to roam. One Of the
original snarers Of wild horses in Okla
homa is J. c. Williamson, Of this city.
and In the arly days was known as
''Wnd Horse Jim" Williamson was
really successful in the business and the
last expedition that he made was IN
1857 and 1889. He secured nearly a
hundred Of the mustangs and they were
taken to Kansas and Colorado where
they sold very rapidly.
Williamson is 2 typical frontersman. A
look at him would denote that, but for
al Of that he is a man Of vast expert
ence. He was a member Of the territorial
legislature last year from this district.
and his appearance in Guthrie, the capital
city, caused much comment.
When Williamson in his wild horse cap
turing expeditions went after a band Of
horses they were nearly captured then.
For he had the determination to STAY
right with them. He usually started out
In the spring Of the year when the grass
was young, and after a winter on the
prairies. the horses were usually thin
End weak. This was what Williamson
wanted, for with horses in that con
dition he was much better able to sue
coed; and succeed he always did.
When a band Of horses was sighted
they were approached in a quiet manner.
but for al Of that It was usually a. run
Of four or five miles before they stoned.
But Williamson persevered an he usually
kept following that band Of horses. until
they were accustomed to seeing him. 1t
was always the largest band Of horses
that could be found That Williamson
pursued, and he always made it a point to
be near when darkness fell. as the mus
tang usually hunts for water at that
time, and win stay near It all night.
However, If frightened. away goes the
band, and the chances are that a twenty
mile ride VIII need to be taken before the
pursuer comes up with the herd
One OF the things which Williamson
practiced in his horse capturing business
vas the teaching of the wild horses to
drive. This seems peculiar, but Just the
same it is the fact The wild horse.
when the driving process begins win tllrr
the opposite direction from which the
driver desires and wiz cross directly in
front Of the drivers path Whenever
Williamson trained those horses 81. that
they would turn the way he wanted them
to, he considered that he had made much
progress in his work.
after the driving process was learned.
then Williamson proceeded to drive the
in a circle and this was kept
up relenuessly- A lariat was placed in
front Of the moving horses in order that
they might become accustomed to fl
After that was accomplished. the lariat
was made, in the form Of a moose and
then the horses were SHARED. What
couldn't be shared We're roped and in this
manner Williamson captured those fleet
Strange as It may seem. this man
has only one leg. He uses
, crutch, but for an Of the fact that be
mas one leg he is not timid about mount
Ing your genuine buoking broncho and
be stays right there too.
One Of the troubles that the early SCI
Her in No Mans Land encountered was
That the wild horses were always leading
the tame ones away. The tame horses
seemed anxious 10 join the bands that
roaned over the country, and when they
once got out, there was no stopping them.
Ihey became just as wild as any fn the /
'and- The stations were mostly RESPONSE /
bic for the driving away Of domestic.
horses, for the mustang stallion is snx-
ous TO increase the harem OF mares. And /
whenever he succeeded I'm getting a do 4
nestle marc to once join the band She is /
gone as lar as her former owner is /
concerned.
The stations were mucn on the fqht I
but they did not keep il ND as do tbo
domestic stations When one stallion
was bested. he knew it and withdrew /
from the contest. which was not the case
With domestic stations. There were l,sl-
ally a number OF old stations on The 1
range. and as matter Of fact these
we've more Ike a band OF stations than
anything else.
Those days arc an passed now ana f
probably this part OF the territory is the +
only remaining place In Oklahoma where .
The Wild horse can roam ana not bc mo- +
ested rs they would be in older parts
Of the territory The time VIII not be 4
.ong. however. until Tho last wild mus .
tang VIII have TO so. and VIII live only 1
n The memory of the former unrelcnt- .
less Dursuer "Wld Horse Jim