Evening journal., 1914-07-30
PONY HUNT DAY
ON ASSATEAGUE
Islands Annual Sport En-
ioyed By a Big Crowd
of Visitors
LASSO AND THE
BRANDING IRON USED

AssATEAGUE, Va. July S0.-Hun-
dreds of visitors from Maryland, Vir-
ginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania
gathered at Assateague yesterday 10
witness and participate In the annual
pony penning and sale, the visitors
bringing their lunch and dinner pas
kets, and making the day a real picnic
except for those who had to paruci-
pate in the rounding up, lassoing and
branding of the hardy little animals
which have made the Assateague
and Chincoteague islands famous.
There is a sharp decline in the num-
Der of ponies bred in the Assateague
herd in the last twelve months. In
all there were today about 175 ponies
on the island of which about so we're
foaled since last year.
The Assateague ponies are permit
ted to run at large all the time' eX-
cept on one day each year, when the
roundup occurs. The older ponies
have been branded in past years and
are owned for the most part by a
dozen stock raisers of Maryland, Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania. The foals
are claimed, identified and branded
according to the mares to which they
run when they are driven into the
/ corral
Yesterdays weather was ideal. The
skies were fair and the good winds
| tempered the suns rays. The crowds
reached the island for the most part
in sail boats, large and small motor
boats, canoes, gasoline launches and
row boats. After reaching the island
proper they proceeded to long glade,
where the ponies were gathered.
The sight was an interesting one.
The visitors we're on hand early in the
morning when the FOUNDERS began
their work of encircling the borders
of the island in a human chain into
! which the ponies were gathered.
Soon after daybreak, Clarence
Beebe, Thomas Beebe, Philip Daisy
and Daniel Jones started on their
hunt on horseback and rode rapidly Il
miles up the beach. A large portion
of the island animals were gathered
up on the first leg of the run. after
which the riders drove the ponies al
rapid pace south to the bay shore
and then north skirting a large
thicket, afterward making a short
turn into the corral. A few of the
stragglers and wanderers who were
missing on the first swing arounC
were also gathered into the corral I
short time afterwards.
Most of the older ponies we're IA
miliar with the tactics of the round
ers-up, and gave little trouble, appar
emily knowing just what was wanted
of them. On the other hand, the colt
we're terrified by the performance ant
galloped wildly alongside of thei
dams squealing as If sharply inQuir
ing into the whole proceeding.
Some of the spectators were eve
l more excited than the ponies, and a
) the audience. estimated at betwee
{ 1,500 and 1000, pushed and crOwde
} around the corral. a number of tn
{ women slipped and lost their footing
: No one was seriously hurt.
Once the ponies were inside the cor
, raj, which is about 200 feet square
! there was little delay in the proceed
ings. The branding irons were heat
, ed and ready. and as the colts hud
! died up to their dams for protection
! they we're quickly lassoed. thrown t
the ground and were given a tast
= of the branding iron. The squeals q
: the youngsters as they felt the seai
!. ing heat we're frantic. but in a fe'
: seconds after being given their libert
and regaining their feet were besid
4 their dams again ready for their mil
:. and the branders had passed on I
!. another group. The work of branC
, ing began about II o'clock in III
morning and lasted throughout mo,
Q of the day.
4 While the work Of branding wa
: going on many of the ponies wei
q placed on sale. The sales were a
made on the block, w. T. Buntin
acting as auctioneer. The stock o
n fered for sale runs from two month
J. old to 20 years. For the most pa
3 the prices brought we're good.
The realization that the island por
4. took is diminishing will probably r
- ult in the importation Of some add
n ional stations, there being only
a mall number in the herd at the pre-
2nt time.
The principal owners Of the hel
= are Major W. b. S. Powell, of Oces
City, Md; John Anderson and Ca
p tain Fettemore. of Assateague. Va
Ed. Timmons. of Philadelphia; WI
liam Mathews and Clarence Beebe.
N Chincoteague. Va.
% The island ponies are the best Il
children's use. They are easy to bre,
c. and to handle and have great endu
= ance. They can stand the harde
winters being able to care for ther
Il selves in the snow.
= Today will be roundup and bran
\ ing day at Chincoteague Island, iu
across the channel.