Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-08-25
Attack by Cattle upon Red Wagon

Extract from one of Col. Claibornc's
letters from the Pine Woods of Mississippi,
published in the New Orleans Delta.
1set out for Augusta, bowling merilv
along in blood red wagon. The road is
bsautltul-roofsd over with trees and vines,
and the air fragrant with the breath of flow
ers. There was only one dravback-the
myriads Of flies ofevery species thatswarm
ed around and ravenously cupped the blood
from the ears, neck and hanks Of my horse.
1t is what is appropriately termed here 'ay
time'-that is to say, the period when
this numerous family Of scourges have it
all their own way, and neither man nor
beast can venture into the woods with i'm
punlty. Now the cattle of thousand
hills, and even the wild deer, seek the
abodes of men, and huddle around some
smoking pine, OF stand in some open field,
t. escape their periodical tormentors. On
sudden curve Of the road | found myself
IN one OF these stamping grounds, and
sudden roar from five hundred infuriated
animals gave notice Of my danger. 1t is
well known that the Spanish matadores
provoke the wounded bulls Of the arena bv
Haunting the moleta or blood reed fac be-
lore them. 1t was the color of my equip
age that excited this believing herd. Thev
snulled the air, planted their heads near
the ground, tore up the earth with their
hoots and horns, and glared at HE with
savage eyes The fierce phalanx block the
road and, and the part Of discretion was
to retreat. The moment [ wheeled the
pursuit commenced. A cloud of dust en-
veloped them, and their trampling feet
was like the roll Of thunder lIy horse
dashed forward, frantic with terror, and on
they plunged, on every side crushing down
everything in their course, goriDp and
tumbling over each other, filling the woods
with their dreadful cries, and CATHERINE
nearer and nearer in the fearful chase
'Ihe contest now became desparate
In i've minutes we should have been over
turned and trambled to death but at this
Juncture L threw out my overcoat, and
with an awful clamor they paused to ti~bt
over 1t and tear it into shreds. Drivino
at full speed. tossed ont a cushion tho
lnturiated devils trampled it into aton,s
ana came rushing on, their horns clashino
against the buggy, and ripping up the rib.
OF my horse. at this fealful moment W.
were providentially saved. A monstror,
oak, with forked top, had fallen near tb, M
I0ad' and into this plunged nv bors,
breast high, and he was safe. the banl, ~ :"
the buggy being then the only assailab1 i
point. At this the whole column mada ,
dash' but met the foremost with six dc
charges from a revolver; two bottIos s'o .
sewell Taylor'S best were shivered in tI tIo; =
faces; next cold turkey, and fnalI,, s
bottle of Scotch snuf-the last Shot in H.
locker. This did the business. enah 1' :
,sneezing and believing was never bs.r; M
before; and the one that got it put ont sit w;t -
the whole.troop at his heels, circlinerom"n,.1i " ~
scenting the blood that had been SMILED
and shaking the earth with their tbpnder e~
ing tramp Twas now fairly in for il and an
made up my mind to remain pntil s,,nsa. o
when they would disperse, as in .av t;n,a,
cattle Craze at night. | was relieved bov
ever, by the approach of some cattle a. Sr;
ver, galloping upon shaggy but muscnlar ;
norses' and with whips twenty feet lona
which they manage with surprising as' Dig
'erity, soon drove the herd to their cow
pens for the purpose Of marking and bran
ding. This is done every Year in a. a
time. The cattle ranging, scattered tb;r,y
mhesround, are now easily found, colleet.
dsas their stamping grounds. where the
kas 80 4a}assn paf rHittH 2