The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-10-19
A STARTLING FIGHT.
A Drove OF Texas steers Running
Amusk In New York--Pifty Persons
injured.

Almost disastrous and unprecedented
calamity occurred in New York. A
drove Of wild Texan steers were on
their way to the cattle market en- route
for Buffalo, and while being conveyed
from WeehawAen by the FOrty.seeond
street ferry escaped from their drunken
or careless drivers. The cattle scat
tered throughout the streets and
avenues OF the metropolis wounding
and iniuring men, women and children,
and diffusing terror md absolute
CONSERVATION among the citizens.
Over fifty persons were moro or less
severely injured, some Of whom are
young children. The conduct Of the
police was most absurd, excepting in
a few instances, and il seemed as II n
riot was transporting In the metropolis,
for Eve or six hours, lasting until near.
" ten o'clock in the evening. II is not
known how many OF the injured will
die as yet, but some are very badly
bruised internally, and some others
will, no doubt, be dishgured for life.
The steers were crazy from thirst and
hunger, and tho manner in which the
crowd acted made them more 80. They
separated md went through different
streets. One scene is thus described {:
About half.past seven o'clock, says
the Herald, the first ward be.
came q scene OF frantic excitement. A
mufied noise OF human voices mingled
with gun shots and the collision OF
vehicles was heard in the direction OF
Greenwich street. A general rush OF
people was made toward the spot, the
bowls and excitement growing mo-
mentarily more intense. 0na sudden
steer Of colossal proportions, snorting
fury, his eyes ablaze with rage, aud
bounding like o deer, fed downward
through Greenwich and past Court.
landt street. Multitudes OF little chill.
dren were playing on the sidewalks.
Tho dense throng that pursued tho
animal, armed with knives, bludgeons,
guns and reyolyers, were sufficient TO
warn all persons away, and the street
was cleared far more speedily than
when the ponderous fire engine shoots
along Broadway by night, at once the
harbinger Of safety and danger. Little
Maggie Slater, OF No. 156 Greenwich
street, had not time to flee into her
house, aud she was tossed into the air
by the animal. Fortunately the bull
did not strike her q second time; still
she lay insensible for several minutes,
but was afterwards restored and pro-
nounced out Of danger.
On rushed the steer, turned up Cedar
street, aud in an instant confronted o
police officer at the corner Of Church.
He stood, faced the bull, fired straight
into his eyes and was instantly dashed
under q wagon. He was not much
hurt, SO he picked himself up and
Joined in the pursuit. The animal ran
toward q second policeman, pitching
him also npon the sidewalk, and con.
tinued his flight 10 Liberty street, down
Liberty to West, and thea northward
TO Murray. by this time upwards OF
forty policemen aud m immense con-
course Of people were close on the bulls
heels, firing, but with no visible effect.
Several men who knew the course the
steer was taking, ran TO the foot oil
Murray street and drew wagons, trucks,
hand carts, etc., across West street,
thus erecting an impossible barricade.
As the bull neared the structure he was
severely wounded by a pistol shot in
the Log and fell to the ground. There.
upon two young men-Messrs. ]. Z.
O'Riorian. shoemaker. OF No. 1877
Liberty street, and Charles Huber,
saloon keeper, of No. 100 Greenwich
street-who had joined early in the
pursuit, fell upon him with two big
butcher knives and cut his throat,
Several men held him fast by the horns,
and 1t gave the crowd enough 10 do to
hold him down during the struggle that
followed the cutting OF his throat. On
the animals race down town he struck
several persons, who must have been
more or less severely injured, rs they
were almost instantly carried to their
respective homes. The excitement con:
sequent on the pursuit was intensified
by the rumor that came to many ears
that o whole drove OF animals had
broken loose in the upper part al the
city and were spreading destruction in
all directions. A sharp lookout was
consequently kept toward the four
points OF the compass, and every
ghostly looking black object that came
10 view in the streets was set down as
mad bull. About the same hour in
which the existence Of the above men
toned quadruped was brought TO
close, q scene by far more painful and
dangerous was witnessed in the most
crowded quarter OF the city, along the
Bowery from Grand street TO Tenth.
An immense throng stood along the
Bowery when the rumor OF tho presence
Of mad steers went abroad and spread
with telegraphic rapidity. The num-
Der gradually increased, until there
were upward Of three thousa and people
present. The first proof given Of the
escape Of the animals was the sudden
appearance OF one OF them OF the cor
ner Of the Bowery and Fourth street.
BE stopped for an instant, and then.
striking an unknown lady at the corner
Of Broome street, knocked her heavily
to the ground. Sergeant Maloney who
had rushed out OF tho Beekman street
station house, not 80 much for the
purpose Of shooting the animal as for
that OF preventing the excited multi.
tude from using their firearms with
recklessness, for the frequent discharge
Of guns and pistols by this time was
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