The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-28
Campfire storics-No. -.

/
Wild horses, like the buffalo, griz-
ely bear, elk and antelope of the old
west have almost disappeared before
| the merciless progress of civilization.
| There are very few wild horses to be
/ found anywhere in the west. except,
perhaps in inaccessible places rarely
/ penetrated by man. Old-timerS say
| that the wild horses of the plains were
| descendants of splendid animals
| brought IN from old Mexico by the
! Spaniards from Indian cayuses and
| from runaway mounts belonging to
the early pioneers
During the production of one OF my
recent pictures we were encamped in
the great Mojave Desert. in Southern
| California. On the outskirts of the
desert there are large cattle ranches
where grazing can be found in the
foothills which rise out of the sand
and sagebrush. Some of these ranches
comprise thousands of acres, and there
is still a little wild life.
The cowboys were swapping yarns
around the campfire one night, and
the talk led to horses, which is where
every cowboy conversation leads. A
visiting rancher said that on his
rancho of some three thousand acres
| there were three or four wild horses.
They were undoubtedly descendants
of horses that had been lost, strayed
or stolen. Nevertheless, they had
never known the touch of a mans
hand or bride. 1t is a mighty hard
job to break a wild horses spirit, and
it is a darned sight harder to catch
one. Therefore the ranchers and
cowboys in that part of the country
never bothered them. In other words,
their own horses were too valuable to
wear them out trying to capture an
unknown quantity.
My outfit was looking for sport; and
there is no sport more exciting and
thrilling than trying to catch a wild
horse.
Obtaining the rancher's consent
consented, and one fine Sunday morn
ing we set out for the foothills, where
the horses had been sighted. There is
only one way to catch a wild horse
strategy. Following the teachings of
the old days, we spread out. Twelve
of us, travelling by pairs, made a com
plete circle covering about sixty miles,
each pair about ten miles apart.
Finally, two of the riders located
three horses near a small stream of
water. Selecting the best looking
horse, these cowboys raced him, pay
ing no attention to the others. Wild
horses always make a complete circle
when trying to get away. It sure is
lengthy, but it always ends up in a
circle. These two riders chased the
wild horse their ten miles. and then
the next two took up the chase.
GOurtn IN the circle was one punch
er and myself. We wefe lucky, be-
cause the game little animal was pref
ty much winded when it came our
turn. He was trying his best to make
a canyon pocket in the hills, but so
far the cowboys had kept him out in
the open. Even then he might have
made it had not the puncher with me
been q skillfui- roper. He managed
to rope the horse. Then I dropped
my rope on the struggling horse to
help master him. Next we "dallied"
our ropes to keep the animal under
control. "Dallying'' is twisting your
rope around your saddle horn, and
working it with the actions of the
"roped" much like using a rod and
reel. After we had "four-footed" him.
we built ''hackamores" (bridles) on
his head. so that we could lead him
back to the rest Of the outfit without
his choking to death in his efforts to
get free. After photographing his
majesty. We handed him the biggest
surprise of his whole life by turning
him loose, and 'it sure did my heart
good to see him light out Hckety-split
for the hills.
A wild horse IS distinguished by its
long tail and name. Altho you boys
probably will never have a chance to