Connecticut western news., 1874-03-27
Over the Genesee Falls.
Seventeen Cattle i'm the River-Men Drive them Over the Brink-A Bullock that Eclipsed Sam Patch.

| without parallel. Shortly alter l o'clock in the afternoon, a heavy freight train, whose cars were filled with western cattle destined to supply the butchers of New York and else where, passed through the depot. One car containing seventeen head of cattle was seen to bounce along ill very IT, regular manner. A rapid glance dis closed the fact that fiange of one of it's wheels was broken. Just as it pass ed upon the bridge it left the track and bounced along in startling way until it reached the centre, when it broke down the railing along the side and plunged ito the water below. The car turned as it fell and lay upon its side in the stream. It had been somewhat shattered, but not enough to allow the frightened animals to pass out. Par ties who witnessed the plunge of the car and the wild acting of it's inmates say that it was a startling scene. A party of railroad men lowered them selves to the car and wrecked it in 6 short time. The frightened animals then crowded out into the stream.
 The river at this point is from three to four feet deep, the current is very strong, and the animals were badly bruised, several had been cut and were bleeding. Two or three had their horns broken. One poor thing fioated hope leasly down the stream and over the falls, and it Is supposed that one of its legs had been broken by the accident. Besides this one, four. others floated over the precipice and were engulfed in the foaming waters below. The re- maining twelve were crowded together just below the bridge. Depot mas ter Knapp deeming it best for the rail road company that the cattle should be sold for whatever they would bring, quickly announced his determination to dispose of them. The entire seven teen were sold on the spot for $S25O. The purchasers procured number of ropes and attached one to each of the COWS. A consultation was held among those present, and it was finally deter mined to draw each animal to the east side of the river, where the current is very strong, and let them be carried over the falls, it being we'll known that if they went over at the east side the whirlpool would throw the carcasses upon the shore, where they could be easily secured.
 Everything having been prepared, one of the cattle was led, by means of the rope around it's horns, along toward the east shore, until the current caught and swept it over the falls. It was in- deed a pitiful sight to see the poor beast struggle against the current in its attempts to avoid the fall, but it slip ped and went over. It had no strength to struggle with, in fact, for it had stood in cold water until it had chilled its blood. Then another and another was led along and sent over until the last one had passed from sight.
 Below the falls a strange sight pre- sented itself. Of the first five animals which passed over, two escaped alive, the carcasses of the two others foated to shore, while the other two passed down the stream. These drew a motley crowd to the place. As the twelve steers were drawn into the current, they struggled very hard to avoid their fate, but all to no purpose. AS they passed over the precipice, the eyes of the spectators could be seen turned with steady look upon them they were seen to pass swiftly down for about fifteen feet, and then were lost to view amid the surging torrent. The eddies below were eagerly watched for their reappearance. If there was a sign of life in them when they came to the surface below the fact was greeted with cheers 1; the animal was then taken out and led away. If the carcass appeared it was drawn ashore, and quickly subjected to the butchers in struments. Out of the seventeen, five alone were saved, the remainder having been killed by the fall.
 There were some curious incidents connected with the event which deserve mention. Foremost among these was the action of one noble animal, which came out alive. He struggled very hard to breast the current, but slipped and was on the very edge of the precipice when he regained his footing. He turned, and to the surprise of all, forced his way up against the stream. When turning around at the brink, his hind leg was seen to fall over, but the great strong fellow made an effort and suc- ceeded, while the crowds around cheered him Justify. When he had gone upward about fifteen feet he again slipped and was carried back to the edge. He stood there in bold relief for some time, noble-leoking, large animal.
 When he turned his head from side to side and gazed on the waters that roared around, and the gulf that yawned below him there was a murmur of sym pathy in the immense crowd. He made one or two strong efforts to turn and again fight the current, but seemed too near the edge to get around with ] out being swept over. He stood few minutes with his head erect and gazing down at the valley below him. Then there was a sad looking, slow shaking of the head, as though he recognized the fact that he must fall. He made one step, and in a moment more was seen in the rapid torrent. Thousands of eyes turned upon the water below, expecting to see him float out dead body, for he had gone down head first to the rocks below. But no such fate was his. In moment that thick head was seen to shoot up through whirling water, and the bull moved rapidly shoreward. Then there rose 8 wild cry of applause that rung and echoed down the rocky banks as it never did before. AS the outside men of d crowd caught sight of him, the ready finger pointed him out, up came the cry, "There he is P and up went the cheers, which al- ways ring out loud and clear upon the performance of great feats. The brave fellow climbed the bank and went of among the rocks in way that caused every one to give him room.
 Two animals stood beneath the rail- road bridge. A board was removed with crowbar and sledge hammer, and large piece of plank was thrown down so as to hit one of the steers up. on it's horns. This caused him to go out where chunks of coal could be thrown down. He was then drawn into the current. The other animal follow. ed and, they both stood near the falls.