The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-02-16
THE RED HORSE

y
Some doubt the existence Of the
Red Horse. But those who followed
the Chisolm Trail years ago know Of
dark red horse that ran wild with
the herds of Oklahoma. He was to
the men of '73 what the Pacing Mus
tang was quarter of century later.
He was called the Red Horse, not on
| ly from his dark red color and the
hell that cleaned in those burning
eyes, but also the life blood of six
men tramped out by him.
Tradition says he was Spanish
Arabian, His Arabian blood is sup
posed to have been obtained thru
some of the superb horses that fell in
to the hands of the Spanish along
with granada about the time America
was discovered, and some of which
was later imported into Mexico.
Later during petty war band of
horses escaped. They were supposed
to have been on ranch of northeast
New Mexico. In 1875 we find a dark
red horse resembling an Arabian in
perfection of form and speed ranging.
in northern Oklahoma. Six times he
was captured and six times he killed
his rider and escaped. The follow
ing is tale told to me by an old tim
er, which If true represents the death
Of the seventh man.
1t was a cold, starlight night of
mid-October. The night herders
were singing to sleep Balloo's rest
less herd of two thousand Swamp
angles" that were being pushed up
the Chisholm for the closest market
The third watch was on and were
singing:
Where the rattle-snakes are,
Where the wind sports free,
o! Bury me not on the lone prairie"
The coyotes ceased bowling and sat
in silence as the dirge-like song float
ed out over the prairie. The only
other sound was the ceaseless blow
ing of the great herd.
The only sound did I say? For
the moment, yes; but the next, faint
but sharp, Colts rang out The
coyotes howled, nervous cattle were
on their feet, calves bawled. Then
came lull as before storm. 1t
was, as quiet as death save for the
sharp whistling sound that seemed
to be the breath of the cattle as they
shifted the air.
Across the night came cry
shall never Raise your light
higher, for I'm on the Red Horse"
Then into the light of the moon
and into our very midst charged a
horse-the Red Horse, and rider
that was his match. All Of us could
ride horses that could buck, but new
er a one like that. Our best buster
swore that it was no human on his
back. The horse had found mas
ter. But no-why bet against Luck?
Six men died trying and he would
be the seventh. Seventh? That is
the charmed number. The Red Horse
reared high and not only the improb-
able but the impossible seemed to
happen. The front girth of corded
fax and rawhide gave way and the
rider seemed at the mercy of the
horse as the saddle turned. But he
deity slipped from the saddle and
never lost his feet as he touched the
ground if he ever touched it. The
Red Horse turned ON him like dew
II and siezed the riders leg; reared
high and trampled him under foot.
Shoot we dared not. The cattle
stood beyond by the thousands and,
stampede was pending as it was.
Ropes were loosed in fractions Of
seconds; but the horse fed as cattle
stampeded We rode ahead ofsthe
herd and the Red Horse was ahead
of us. Though we rode for life he
left us behind. The next day we re-
turned to the spot where the rider
had been thrown, but there was not
sign of him left,-Cimarron County
News.
THIRTY WEARS AGO