Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-05
THE VANISHING cAYUsE.
The Mustang OF the southwestern
Plains Disappearing Like the
Buffalo.

Twenty years ago, or even ten or
five years since, the mustang and the
jack rabbit were two of the common
est pests in the west. On every plain
and mesa, in each spot where parti-
Gle of green feed found a livelihood,
beneath the shelter of a dusty sage
brush or thorned mesquite, the lit
tie, hardy, shaggy cayuse and the
long-eared, alert and rapid jack rab-
bit browsed in peace and quietude. A
rider across the arid wilds of the
great southwest could count, if he de-
sired, hundreds and thousands of the
wiry, wild horses, and from every bush
jack hurried away from the path
of the traveller, a gray streak, scurry-
ing over the sand and gracefully sail
ing over obstructing brush-the kan
garoos of America, says the Arizona
Republican.
Now not a mustang can be found in
days travel, or a weeks, and only
an infrequent jack breaks in on the
monotony of a desert ride. Ten years
ago 100000 mustangs were scattered
over the ranges in Texas, New Mex
leo and Arizona. AS the bicycle grew
in favor the horse decreased in value,
and the mustang became an outcast
and an outlaw. He intruded on the
cattle ranges and was shot for his
pains, the cowmen intent on the saving
of feed for their stock. He yentured
amid the sheep focks and the coyotes
Toasted on his carcass. Everywhere
he was a worthless reprobate, an in
terloper, and valuable only as a taS-
get for the revolver Of the vanquero.
By inbreeding the species grew small
er, and the mustangs finish was per-
ceivable. The extremely low price of
high grade eastern horses put the
cayuse out of service, and his only
haven of refuge was among the Indi-
ans. The red men harbored him, fed
him and tanned him, and to-day on the
reservations can be found the last of
his race, disappearing as did the buff
falo, but from a different cause. His
determination was rapid and some
what of mystery. Many stockmen
attribute it merely to degeneration,
but closer observers assert that many
thousands of the ponies of the desert
were surreptitiously converted into
canned beef, and are even now bein G
served over eastern tables and army
messes as select product of the cat
tie range. Be that as it may, the
mustang is no more, and has been re-
placed by higher and finer breed
of the equine species. Over plains
where once roamed the vast herds of
mustangs-which, by the way, were
doubtless the offspring of horses
brought over soon after the Spanish
invasion-now feed as fine horsehesh
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 number of fine
stations from Kentucky and Indiana
were shipped to the southwest. The
outgrowth has been that Texas and
Arizona are rapidly becoming known
as important factors in the horse
trade. The offspring has been a we'll
proportional, strong and extremely
hardy horse. Over the rocky hills and
the gravelly 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 southwest the strongest, hardest
and fastest in the rough work of the
Boer campaign. In such esteem, in
deed, is he held that eastern buyers
are securing the horse ranges and pay
ing the highest prices for him, while
British and German army buyers give
their preference to him. In many To-
calities cattlemen are evolving into
horsemen, and the steady demand and
high prices promise well for business
that five years ago was undreamed of.
A NATURAL BORN GAMBLER.