The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-02
HERDS OF WILD HORSES STILL
Hundreds Of Them Range the Big Nevada
Hil1s.

difficult work. Among the men en-
gagged in it the work is called "run-
ming wild horses aud that is what it
amounts to. The valueros run them
down by superior skill rather than by
speed and endurance and force them
into some corral or some baLd of gen
tie horses, where they can .e handled
for market. Some two years ago r.
G. Blossom, son of j. A. Blossom,
and the present owner, started to
round up this wild stock and turn
them to some profit.
TIE work had been difficult in the
extreme, owing to the character of
the country, the resources Of the
horses themselves and their great en-
durance. The principal thing neces-
sary is to keep the horses on the run,
giving them no chance to rest, and
finally rounding them up when in an
exhausted state. The sight of man
on horseback is frequently enough to
start wild band going for the entire
day.
| Working upon the knowledge of
this fact Mr.. Blossom last year tried
the device Of mounting a lot of dunn.
mics upon captured horses and turn
ing them loose, counting upon fright
ening and exhausting the wild horses
that caught sight of them and then
running them down with fresh aui-
mails. The scheme was only part
ly successful, owing to the fact, Mr..
Blossom believes, of his not being
| able to get enough dummies in the
field. :
| The difficulties Of the chase are en-
HANGED by the fact that the quarry
has learned to post sentineIs on the
lookout for danger. The country is
nearly all rolling and the FIRST sight Of
| a band is usually Of one or two look
outs posted on the crest of knoll,
plainly on the alert, although miles
away. On attempting to move nearer
the entire band appears and after q
moments gaze at the intruders starts
off in its "dirty trot," the stallion in
the rear. This trot is as deceptive as
the lazy lope Of coyote. It looks
easy to overcome, but the pursuer
soon finds that it eats up the miles
with surprising rapidity and that it
can be kept up all day and all night
if necessary.
| When the band is met unexpected
| ly the most exciting work occurs. At
close quarters the mustangs break in
to run and the race is to the swift.
Here, when there is no doubt that
each member Of the band will strain
every nerve, the stallion takes the
lead and makes every effort to pilot
his family out of danger. But let
the rider succeed in getting among
the escaping horses, swing his riata
and attempt to class or "cut out"
one of the mares, and the stallion will
turn instantly andswith mouth. open,
teeth cleaning and name flying, rush
at the disturber Of his family unity
| with q fury that is both fearless and
terrible.
/ There may be no real danger of at
tack or injury in such case, but in q
rush Of the sort that / saw magnifi-
cent bay stallion make at Bob Bios
som few weeks ago, when Bob tried
to cast his riata around the neck of
the queen of the harem, looked like
the real thing and was sufficiently
confusing to secure the band fresh
start.
A wild stallion is jealous guardian
of his host and will frequently turn
threateningly even when the pursuer
is a couple Of hundred yards away.
The captured wild horse is far from
being easy to handle and hic useful
ness as saddle.horse is problematical.
Under intelligent training at the hands
of skilled rider they may be made
tractable snd their strength and endu-
rance make them valuable animals,
but one that has strain of vicious.
ness is a tough proposition and will
warrant close Watching.
"A number of these horses were pur.
chased some time ago for the German
army. Itis safe wager that few Of
Willie Hohenzollern' 8 officers have ere
this had touch Of the real thing in
the bucking line that would rival an
exhibit in wild West show.--San
Francisco Chronicle.