The New York herald., 1879-07-13
RAMPANT STEERS.
A Herd of Long Horns Running
Wild Through the Streets.
HUMORS OF THE CHASE.
Three Of the Agitators Killed After Re-
peated Violations of the Peace.

The upper streets of the city yesterday held
an errorem by herd of Texan steers, of unknown
ownership. but undisputed bravery and skill
Eleven long horns originally numbered in the
attacking party; but three to a bloody end be-
fore the fall of night How whence they camo to
be at liberty in the crowded thoroughares is ques
ton yet satisfactorily answered; but what the
public most to know is the use the wild beasts
made of their freedom To describe their doings in
full would require a folio volume.
The first intelligence reached the Twenty-third
precinct station house at nine o'clock, when officer
Eagan of the mounted squad rode up. and dis
mounting, informed Sergeant Devoe, who was i'll
command at the time. that Patrolman Panet was
having some trouble with number of steers on
Lexington avenue, between Seventy-ninth and
Eighteth streets and needed assistance The animals
eleven in number. he said, had evidently broken
out of yard escaped from their drover
Sergeant Devoe was about to detail couple of the
reserve force to aid Patrolman Panet when boy
rushed in and informed him that wild bull was
dashing up avenue A. goring people and demolish-
ing things generally on the way look from the
station house door discovered cloud of dust along
the avenue and crowd of hooting and ex-
cited people bordering it, Occasional pistol
shots added to the excitement of the
scene The sergeant Immediately ordered
out the entire reserve force and Captain
Robbins assumed command. The men were divided
into squads and despatched, in search of the
animal flying up First avenue. and the other to aid
Patrolman Panet, who presumably still in
charge of the ten remaining creatures. 1t must have
been about nine clock when steer No. l. the white
he may be called started on the rampage. The
reserves sent the assistance of Officer Panet
rounded the ten animals and endeavored to shape
their toward a neighboring enclosed lot.
With an intuitive mistrust of policemen the beasts
insisted on having their own way and marched in
body to First avenue and turned down town. great
crowd had gathered by this time and their presence
together with that of the police force which had been
augmented by the arrival of three members of the
mounted squad, greatly excited the animals. During
the march down First avenue of them broke
through the surrounding crowd and dashed away
ahead and was soon out of sight. The police eau
toned the people not to yell and strike at the beasts
with their hats, but to purpose. Roundsman
Sweeney stated that it much the fault of the
crowd as anything else that the second steer ran
away.
ANIMALS IMPRISONED.
There resistance offered to steer No. 9
when he made the dash tor liberty; but portion of
the crowd followed at his heels yelling like demons
as they went. The more quiet element stood by the
police and the remaining nine steers until they
reached the corner of Eighty seventh street and
Fourth avenue the headquarters of the Imperial lager
beer brewery There large yard attached to the
brewery, and this seized without ceremony to
i1nprison the animals once within the enclosure
ana the gates shut upon them they lay down to
sleep and lazier and more harmless looking lot of
creatures it would be hard to imagine. The two
escaped ones however, were making reputation
which excited great interest in the captves, and
crowds gathered around the picket fence of the
brewery yard and spent hours there gazing at the
imprisoned brutes.
The reporter spent several hours questioning men,
women and children. residents of the Twenty y-third
police precinct in Yorkville and failed to meet
who had not between the hours of six and eleven
o'clock A. NJ, seen from one to the entire eleven
Steer No. /. the first to break away, who
began his course by starting up avenue A, was not
Alter short 'AeH run he halted to rest I HIM
self. When the mob came toward him he started up
the avenue again on aserpentne course from gutter
to gutter, butting wagon here, lamppost there
and anything ana everything in his way The few
people in front of him sought shelter in time to
cape the fury of the beast, which great
measure due to the cries and missiles Of the pursu
ing crowd. Al Eighty- ninth street his steership
turned into a vacant lot There ropes passed
his horns and an effort made to fasten him to
lamppost on the street corner. The police who had
pistols after another at the animals head and
body, apparently without effect.
ANOTHER BREAK.
While the who had assoed the steer were
tying the rope the animal took fresh start and
made OF with the rope, turning his captors heels
over head. Across the open lots down toward
Eighty sixth street he scampered. whiskng his tail
and rouslng the dust to his evident satisfaction. AT
Eighty y-sixth street and Second avenue he again
trapped himself in enclosure and speedily
surrounded by his pursuers. A pound or two
more OF lead i'll homeopathic doses admnis-
tered but without other result than 20 irritate
the brute and cause him to howl and turn threat.
ening look upon his followers. A Mr.. Bannan, who
lives in the neighborhood, brought rifle from his
house and with steady aim ball into the
steers forehead The wounded animal fell pros
tratc, and cheer rose from the crowd, which
pressed closer when danger seemed past The beast
was only stunned however for in u moment two
he rose again, sprang over the fence on the Eighty
seventh street side of the enclosure and of like
the wind. nurse with child in hand carriage
had an almost miraculous escape from death mo-
ment later. They were directly in the path os the
flying beast aud he close upon them The cries of
the crowd behind gave the girl warning just in time
TO allow her to jump into the first and leave the
.l,l e. .tut. ftpt. l..1 81. 4.
pace as he approached the tiny carriage and with
out hating. made several circuits OF it, cycling it
closely and with his head prepared to dash 1t to
pieces Then If he did not deem il worthy of at
tack. he bolted away again toward avenue A.
At the junction of that thorough and Ninety
first street he halted in the open lots occupied by
stonecutter named Thomas Osborne. who, with his
brother william. hand when the steer
rived. William immediately opened fire on him
from behind pile of blue stones The bullets APP
peared to rritate the beast. but not to harm him.
A PAS DE DEux.
man named Harrington was standing near Os-
borne while he firing and considered II great
sport until the beast discovered his torhenor and
made for him. Osborne and harrington. seeing there
was no chance to Escape. grapped each other and
began waltz to see who should present front or
rather to the attack. The chance fell to Osborne
and he about Ave feet from the ground and Tell
again upon his companion. The steer trampIed the
PROSTATE men for moment and then darted across
the street to worry a horse which had been un-
htched from sand cart and tied to telegraph pole.
Alter snort war dance around the emaciaed
md innocent looking horse the steer made dash
ri him. raised him bodily upon his head and almost
disem bowelled him. The poor beast gave roar.
rolled in agony and looked a. though he would
he of service to his owner again AT this stage
lie took il into his head to 70 to the river side.
Down the foot OF Nnety-hrst street overheard
he went like "a flash. The crowd still followed. and
shot now aud then served to increase the excite
ment but in no way To inJnre the steer
nor impede his progress. Even in the water
he preserved his hghtiug spirit. Henry Baxter. a
Doatnan at the foot OF Eighty street, jumped
nto a small boat with /, $50 and pistol ayozr1.
Approaching the beast hc fred and tossed ha rope.
Az soon the beast discovered that he being
followed he turned toward the boat and cndesyored
with his horns to oycrturn it, He suffered the G8s.
advantage of having no foothold, and was unable ~
do any harm. Baxter alarmed at this unexpected
turn of affairs. seized his and made for shore.
SHORE.
The steer following his example, made landing
ahead OF him. He made his appearance next at the
wharf at the foot OF Ninety ythrd street, where the
Knickerbocker Ice Company load their wagons. A
line OF horses and trucks stood backed up