Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-09
GoRED BY A TEXAS STEER.
An Aged Man Probably Fatally Injured.
New York Times.

On Forty-Grst street, a short distance
west OF Ninth avenue. at about noon yes
terday, several workmen were engaged in
breaking stone for 3 concrete foundation
Tor anew gas-receiver. Among them was
James O'Brien, gray-haired man, who
gives his age as sevsnty-four. lie was
nearer Ninth avenue than the others, and
bad before him a pile Of rocks about two
leet in height and ten feet square, on which
lie was exercising with a hammer to the
exclusion OF all other thoughts. In his
STOPPING position James had his back b.
ward the avenue, and failed TO note
the approach OF Texas steer which
bore down the street at clip
which would have given Iroiuois a
bard finish. The steer saw that James
presented fair mark. II lowered iis head
about four degrees. got its bearings cor
reetly, and at the instant James was struck
he began describing a parabolic curve.
which ended with his landing on the other
side OF the sto5e pile. For hall minute
James remained motionless. Then. jump
ing 10 his feet. he shouted, "Tm kilt I'm
kilt.' and scrambled over a twelye-ioot
fence 20 place of safety. Luckily. James
l. OF slender build, and, striking him fair
ly, the broad horns OF the animal had
went TO the Roosevelt liospitil, where the
bruises were dressed. The physicians,
considering his age. advised him TO stay
there, hut he refused and went to his
home. The shaking up he received may
prove serious.
The steer had escancd from a drove n
the foot oi west Thirty.ninth street, and
was rot long in making it known that it
was or the war-path. Its Texas spirit was
thoroughly aroused. and It beloved in
way which brought heads to every window
on the streets through which II passed. IL
didn't stop 10 paw the air. With lowered
head it loped along at very lively gait
and pedestrians hesitlicd not n second to
give il the entire thoroughiarc. After
di.pOsine Of O'Brien the animal ruSted
dcWn Forty-Grst street to the river. Find
Ing retreat cut or it turned and came up
the street BY this time 4 great c-owd OF
men and boys were IN pursuit. who fled 10
safe places when the animal turned. from
where they pe'ted it with sticks and stones.
only TO fall in and follow il up again. The
shouts II the crowd and the smarlinR
wounds inflicted by stones now and thea
made The steer furious. II charged AT
everything il saw in the streets. and several
/ people barely escaped being eored.
Sarah Murray. little girl seven years
! old, was crossing Ninth avenue near For
| ty.frSt street when the ir'ntic brute turn
cd into that avenue. The girl, no. real
! iziug her peril though her face showed
/ that she knew danger was mminct. stood
perfectly still as the steer lowered ITS head
and ru-hcd down upon her. She was 20
4 short IN stature, fortunately. that the ami
| nal's bead did not strike her. She was
knocked down by it, legs. but again she
/ esCaIod serious Injury. and was picked ~
! almost unharmcd. Spectators held their
/ lroalh when certain death seemed awaiting
the little mad. and when the danger wa
passed she WAS surrounded and petted hy
/ such n crowd 81 women n never gathered
/ IN that part ~ the avenue before.
The steer depopulatcd Ninth ayenue OF
| uedtsiriars 20 FOrty-!ourth street, down
hich it turned. AZ Tenth avenue Henry
| Buruham. scychty-cght wears old, very
feeble and partly deaf, was crossing the
| slrcet. lie heard the warning cries oi the
! crowd. aad SAW the brute coming directly
st him. believing ike mad. IIc tried to
move backward when the steer was almost
upon him. hut twas too late. TIE anima
caught him with orc horn on the right hip
Il did not. however enter his flesh. The
other horn struck him on the head. ilfict
ing deep wound. He was thrown some
distance, but the steer did not sloptO tax,
advantage Of the man, and iuruped oye'
hun. Burnham wsS removed to his home
No. 5CG west Fort y-fourth street. Ills in
iuriCs ill'pl obGhly prove fatal on account
a lls advanced age. He has wife and on'
son.
Sy this time fully thousand men anC
loyS were IN pursuit OF the animal, whic,
was becoming very tired, though il still
kept up the race gamcly; shook its ugly
looking horns in the air, and frequently bel
lowed defiance at its pur>uers. Turning
into Tenth avenue it ran 70 Forty-siXt!
street. along which IL passed until bctwee,
Eighth and Ninth avenues, where il tOOi
refuge in a yacan, lot. several OF the pur
suers had fred at It, and at least three ball
had taken effect in the animars body. ono
safely in the lot, half dozen amateur COW
hovS expcrimCntcd with la,SOcs until th
maddtnCd lrutc was secured. II was thel
loaded on dray and carted 90 the police
st:,icu in Forty-seytnth street where
was kept two hours awaiting The appear
ance OF m owner. None beng found tn
brute was killed. and its body taken to IA
oGal dock. nj Thirty-eighth street. by orde
of heat-Inspoctor ". Romainc.