Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1888 — FEATS OF INDIAN RIDERS. [ARTICLE]

FEATS OF INDIAN RIDERS.

Wonderful Exhibition of Horseman■bip A rapahoe Warriors. Gen. Jamee 8. Brisbin in the Omaha Republican writes as follows of a scene witnessed in the camp of the Arapahoe chief Friday: “In about an hour they drew up before the tehts in war-paint and feathen and were as fine a looking set of young fellows as I had ever seen. They sat their ho r ses like centaun and were ease and grace itself in the raddle. At a signal from the chief they began their movemerita with a yell that sent the blood curdling to the heart enougb/if heard unawares or in the night time, to make one’s hair stand on end. In a moment they had disappeared over a neighboring hill to the right, and I thought they had gone, but, hearing a mighty trampling of horses, I looked to the left and there they came. I can compare it to nothing but the wind and^theyswept past’soswift and compact that they looked like a ball of horses and men. Splitting in two, one body swept to the right and another to the left, and again dir appeared. In about two minutes the two boddies charged each other in solid lines, and I waited almost breathlessly for the shock, but as the horses’ heads almost touched each other the files skillfully opened to the right and left and the lines passed through the intervals without touching. Wheeling to the right about they passed back in an instant and again disappeared over the hills. It was about fifteen minutes before they came in sight, and Friday infor med me they were blowing their horses. Presently on they came and wheeled by fours, formed columns, broke by fours, and finally deployed as skirmishers. It was now we saw the finest individual horsemanship. . Borne would approach lying so close to the pany’s back nothing but the hone could be seen. Otheis stood up and rode as circus men do. Borne would hang with one foot hrid one hand on the horses and sweep by, their bodies completely protected by the bodies of the animals. Some leaped upon the ground holding to the mane of the horse, and after running a step or two would swing themselves up on the backs of the horses again as easily as any circus man could do it The positions they assumed and the feats of honemanship which they performed were incredible, and I doubt if anything outside of a circus ring ever equaled it They would throw objects on the ground and pick them up again while passing at full speed, the warriors hanging to the sides of the horses with one foot and one hand. They draw bows and shot arrows from underneath the neck and even the bellies of their horses while riding at a fast gallop. Our cavalry could not learn to ride as well as these Indians did if each man was trained for twenty years. They exchanged horses while riding, and got behind each other. One man would fall off his horse as if wounded and two others would ride up beside him and, taking him by an arm and leg, suing him between their horses and carry him off. The exhibition, or drill as Friday called it, lasted nearly two hours, and the men and horses were completely exhausted. I had never seen such magnificent feats of horsemanship in my life, and I freely said so. At this Friday was much pleased, and, caling up the young men, repeated to them in a loud voice what I had said and added a few words of his own complimenting them. The young men were very proud of the manner in which they had acquited themselves, and I could imagine the feelings cf their parents and sweethearts. The performers were much worn out, some of them being hndly able to stand after their violent exercise, and all the evening I saw them lying in the lodges, where the Indian women brought them food and water, bathed their bands, arms, and limbs, and combed their hair.” ■