Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-08
ATTACK BY CATTLE UPON A RED
WAGON,

Extract from one of Col, Claiborne's letters
from the pine woods of Mississippi, published in
the New Orleans Delta
81 set out for Augusta, bowling merrily along
in a blood-red buggy. The road is beautiful,
rooted over with trees and vines, and the air fra
grant with the breath of flowers. There was only
one drawback-the myriads of flies of every
species that swarmed around and ravenously cup
ped the blood from the ears, neck, and TANKS of
my horse. 1t is what is appropriately termed
here, Ely time; : that is to say, the period when
this numerous family Of scourges have it all their
own way, and neither man Tor beast can venture
into the woods with impunity. Now the cattle
from q thousand hills and the wild deer
seek the abodes of men, and huddle around some
smoking pine, or in some open field to escape their
periodical tormentors. On n sudden curve of the
road, L found myself in one of these stamping
grounds and Il simultaneous roar from five hun
dred Infatuated animals gave notice Of my danger.
II. was well known that the Spanish matadores pro.
yoke the wounded bulls of the arena by Haunting
the moletta or blood-red flag before them. 1t was
the color of my equippage that excited this bel
lowing herd. They snuffed the air, planted their
heads ne ar the ground tore up the earth with their
hoofs and horns, and glared at me with savage
eyes; The fierce phalanx blocked the road, and
the part of discretion was to retreat. The moment
| wheeled the pursuit commenced. A cloud of
dust enveloped them, and their trampling feet were
like the roll of thunder. My horse dashed for
ward, frantic with terror, and on they plunged, on
every side crushing down everything in their
course, gearing and tumbling over each other, fill
ing the woods with their dreadful cries, and gather
ing nearer in the fearful chase.
'The contest now became desperate. In five
minutes we should have been overturned and tram
pied to death but at this %juneture l threw out
my overcoat, and with an awful clamor they
paused to fight over it, and tear it into shreds.
Driving at full speed, / tossed out a cushion the
infatuated devils trampled it into atoms, and came
rushing on, their horns clashing against the bug
gy, and ripping up the ribs of my horse. At this
fearfu! moment we were providentially saved. A
monstrous oak, with a forked top, had fallen near
the road, and into this I plunged my horse breast
high, and he was safe, the back of the buggy being
column made a dash, but | met the foremost with
six discharges from a revolver two bottles of
Sewell Tayior's best were shivered in their faces ;
next a cold turkey, and fdNlIy a bottle of Scotch
snuf-the last shot in the locker. This did the
business. Such a sneezing and believing was
never heard before: and the one that got it put
out with the whole troop at his heels, circling round,
seeming the blood that had been spilled, and sha-
king the earth with their laundering tramp. l
was now fairly in for it, and made up my mind to
remain until sunset, when they would disperse, as
in fly time cattle Craze at night. / was relieved
however, by the approach of some cattle drivers,
who, g~alloping up on shaggy but muscular horses,
and with whips twenty feet long, with which they
manage with surprising dexterity, soon drove the
herd to their cow pens for the purpose of mark
ing and branding. This is done every year in 'hy-
time The cattle ranging, scattered, thirty miles
round, are ROW easily found, collected at their
stamping grounds, and are driven to a common
pen or pound, where the respective owners assem-
bic and put their marks and brands on the increase
Of the season. Thus the Egyptian plague is turn
ed to a useful purpose"