The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-05-17
A MAD BUFFALO.
Adventure OF q Sportsman in india.
From Chambers Journal

The dense thick bush and tall reeds
and grass which surround the .jheels or
solitary Jungle lakes, are a favorite re-
sort Of buffalo. There they feed on the
rich heritage, and approach the water by
long tunnels in the grass and reeds. The
extreme danger of encountering these
creatures is graphically described by
Capt Baldwin, who, one evening, accom-
panied by native, went down to one of
these jungle lakes, and, hearing some
thing move in the long grass, had the
temerity to enter tunnel Up to his
ankles in mud, and with scarcely room to
move or turn, he was straining his eyes
to discover the game, when there was a
sudden crash through the brushwood,
and, before he could bring his rife into
position, 81 was hurled he says, "to
the ground with astonishing quickness
by a tremendous butt on the right shout
der, followed by pair Of huge knees on
my chest, crushing me down. The buff
falo then commenced butting me with his
huge head. I was covered with foam
from his vile mouth; most luckily the
ground was very soft, or I must have
been killed. [ had fallen on my back,
but managed, by clutching the root of a
small tree, to draw myself from under
him; but as did so and turned over he
struck me terrible blow on the back
with his foot, breaking two ribs; and then
[ was powerless, and imagined all hope
of escape to be over. He gave me a bad
wound on the left arm, another danger
GUS one under the arm-pit, third on the
hip-all with hishorns; and then I found
myself lifted off the ground and thrown
a tremendous somersault in the air. !"
Stunned and bleeding, our unfortunate
sportsman was pitched upon his head,
and landed behind low thorn bush at
the edge of the lake. More dead than
alive, he had yet sufficient presence
of mind to remain perfectly still A few
yards off he could see his shaggy foe,
shifting all over the scene of the late
tragedy. Satisfied with his victory, the
buffalo then raised his head, listened in
tently for a few minutes, and, to the in
expressible relief of his victim, trotted
off in another direction. Faint and
dizzy, but feeling that he must make an
effort to escape, Capt. Baldwin rose,
staggered about thirty PAGES, and then
fell over in dead faint. When he re-
covered little he found his Hindoo
servant, who had been far too terrified
even to try and help him in his hour of
need, crying over him, and trying to bind
up his bleeding arm. In moment he
remembered all that had happened; and,
motioning to the man to be silent, he
got him to help him to his feet, and,
with his assistance, staggered fifty yards
further, when exhausted nature again
gave way, and he fell to the ground, able
only to murmurin faint voice, "Water;
bring me water - The Hindoo ran
down to the lake with his masters hat,
which he filled with water, and, having
given him little to drink, poured the
rest Of it over his head. He then cut his
linen coat into strips, dipped them in
water, and with them bound up the
wounds as well as he could. CHOW, !"
said his master, "put your rife at full
cock ON the ground beside me, and run
for assistance as fast as you can." He
'obeyed, and the Captain, in this almost
helpless state, was left alone. Night was
beginning to fall, and he could hear from
time to time some animal moving behind
him through the underground Of matted
creepers and reeds; but he was too much
exhausted either for curiosity or fear,
and at last, through sheer weakness, fell
into doze, from which he was awakened
by the glare Of torches. A brother Off
Ger, after long search, had found him;
and, although it was many weeks before
he could move hand or foot, he got at
last all right again, and was as dashing a
sportsman as before; only he ever after
ward took good care to give buffalo
bull as wide berth as possible in
which prudent precaution he is initiated
even by the tiger. This latter tyrant of
the jungle, red with the slaughter of
scores Of buffalo COWS, is careful to treat
with profound respect the grizzled patri-
archs OF the herd.