Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-24
Attack by cattle1lpon n Red WAGON.

Extract from one Of Cob Claiborne's letters
from the Pine Woods Of Mississippi, published in
the New Orleans Delta:
Il sci out for Augusta, bowling merrly along
in n blood red wagon Ihe road j. beautiful
rooted over with trees and vines, and the air frag
rant with the breath ofilower-. There was on
" one drawback the myriad- Of flies of every
species that swarmed around and rayenously cup
ped the blood from the ears neck md Hanks of
my horse. II il Whist is appropriately termed
here fly fime'-thst is TO say, the period when
this numerous family Of scourses haveit all their
own why, and neither man nor benst can venture
into the woods with IMMUNITY Now the cattle
of thousand hills and even the wild deer seek
the abodes of mon. aud huddie around some sIno-
king pine, or stand some open field, 10 escape
their periodical torneutors. On n sudden curve
of the road found myself in one of those stamp
ing grounds, and su dden ronr from five hun
dred infatuated animals gave notice Of my dam
ger.
1T is well known that the Spanish matadores
provoke the wounded bulls of the arena by faun-
ting the moea or blood red flag before them. 1t
was the color of my cquipago that excited this
believing herd. They snuiled the air, planted
their heads near the ground. tore up the earth
with their hoofs and horns, and gared at me with
savage eyes. The fierce phalanx blocked the
rond, aud the part of discretion was to retreat
The moment wheeled the pursuit commenced.
A cloud of dust enycloped them, aud their tramp
ling feel was like the roll of thunder. My horse
dashed forward, frantic with terror and on
they plunged, on every side crushing down every
thing in their course goring and tnmbling over
each other, filling the woods with their dreadful
cries, and gathering nearer and nearer In the
fearful chase.
''rhe contest now became desperate. In Eve
minutes should have been overturned and
trampled 10 death; but at this juncture | threw
III.
paused to fight over il and tear it into shreds.-
Driving at fail speed tossed oet cushion,
the Infatuated devils trampled il into atoms an;
came rushing on. their horns clashng against the
buggy. and ripping up the ribs of my horse. At
this fearful moment we, were proydentally saved.
A monstrous oak with forked top, had fallen
near the road, and into this plunged my horse
breast high and he was safe, the back of the
buggy being then the only assaiable point. At
this the whole column made a dash, but | met
the foremost with six discharges from revolver;
two bullets of Sewell Taylor's hest were shvered
in their taees next cold turkey, and finally
bottle of Scotch snufi-the last SHOT in the lock-
err
This did the business. Such sneezing and
hcllowing was never heard before and the one
that got il put out with the whole troop at his
heels, circng round, scenting the blood that had
been spilled and shaking the earth with their
laundering tramp. | was now fairly in for it,and
made up my mind TO remain until sunset, when
they would dispense, in "ly time cattle Craze
at night. | was relieved, however, by the APP
proach of some cattle drivers, who. gaoping up
on shaggy butmp>cular horses aud with whips
twenty feet long, which they manage with sur
prising dexterity, soon drove he heId to their
"cow pens" for the purpose Of mafalng aud brand
ing. This IS dome every year IN fly time
The cattle ranging, scattered thirty miles round,
are now easily found, collected at their stamp
ing grounds, who're the respective owners assem-
bic and put their marks and brands the in
crease OF the season. Thus, the Egyptian plague
is turned to a useful purpose"