The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-02

Articles, that the Wild horse Of the
plains, so we'll known in the early
days of the West, and about which so
many stories of adventure have been
written and go many romances woven,
is practically extinct.
Don't believe i6.
can take you to range high up
in the mountains Of Nevada, within
thirty miles Of the station of Battle
Mountain, on the much travelled over
land route Of the Southern Pacific
Company, and show you band after
band of as genuinely wild horses as
we're ever creased or lassoed by the
heroes Of the early plains tales, exist
ing under exactly the same conditions
as then and just as difficult to cap
ture. And what is true Of this parti-
cular spot is undoubtedly true of 9TH
er regions. g.
In the case of the wild horses of to-
day in the particular section of Neva-
da concerning which this article is
written, the history of the escaped
war horses Of the early Spsniards has
to considerable degree repeated it
self. They owe their origin to band
Of domestic horses which were turned
loose on the hills and plains back Of
Sheep Creek Mountains, to the north
of Battle Mountain, Nevada, some
thing over thirty years ago by the late
j. A. Blossom, prominent land OWE
er and mining man Of that section.
The,e they have since remained,
breeding and running at will, and un.
til the last two years or so no attempt
has been made to capture them, ex-
cept in rare individual cases.
For more than a quarter of CEN
tury they have worked out their own
salvation, without let or hindrance, in
country as wild as when the conti-
nent was discovered, full Of deep can
ons and maze-like runways and scarce
ly ever touched by civilization. The
conditions are the same as found by
their earlier prototypes and like con-
ditions have brought about like re-
suits.
The country over which these horses
roam is ideal for their freedom, isola-
tion and conoealment. The Sheep
Creek Mountains are comparatively
short range, rising from the valley os
the Humboldt River less than half
dozen miles north from Battle Noun
tain station 80 abruptly that the 1000
to $500 feet to their summit is made
in travelling distance Of scarcely q
mile and half from their base.
In the region noted it is estimated
that there are now in the vicinity of
1000 wild horses, but sheir method
existence and travel in small bands,
numbering from half dozen to twen-
ty head. Each band has e stallion as
its leader and there is practically new
er more than one stallion to a baud.
AS soon as male colt acquires growth
and strength he ;s either driven out
Of the old band or voluntarily leaves
to form band Of his own.
The leader is in every sense and re-
spect the master of the band. The
members Of his family are such by
his will and acquisitions are made on
ly with his consent. The stock on the
range is frequently added to by stray 8
from distant ranches or from some
vaquero camp. This has been parti-
cuiarly true in the past two years,
when effort has been made to capture
the wild bands and cowboy camp
4 has been maintained in the hills for
\ much of the time.
4 I have seen iron-shod saddle mares,
h jacks and even mules as members Of
4 the wild bands, alNapparently as wild
as the stallion leader, but I have never
seen gelding IN such band and am
/ told that they are never permitted to
L join. The few that escape to The
plains and hills may occasionally be
/ seen in bands by themselves and are
Hcertainly wild enough sfter a few
bmonths' running to be classed with
Hany ON the range, but they are ont
casts so far as the majority are CON
6cerned.
When single STRAY, either from
another baad or from q ranch or camp,
Bapproaches wild band there is a
fareful inspection on the part Of the
4eader before permission is given to
foin. Hidden among the sage brush
have watoheda leader leave his
Pand. stop an approaching mare and
hold an apparent oonfab Of ten or IF
eeen minutes before giving a decision.