The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-30
Infatuated Beasts,


A letter to Wilmington PresJyterian
describes the fatal bull-fght in a field
near Buck Forest hotel, in Henderson
county. 1t says:
he ven alone 10 the COW house, to
water the animal, while in the act of
wrapping the rope with which he had
been tied around his horns, so a. 10 turn
him loose, the bull attacked him furious
y he threw Dir. Patton TO the ground
three times as fast a. he could regain his
feet, giving him dreadful wounds with
his horns and tramplIng him with his feet
each time. At last, after Mr.. Patton had
received three or four mortal wounds and
bruises over almost every part OF his face
and body, he succeeded In getting two
fingers through the ring In the animals
nose, and with almost superhuman
strength. drew the head Of the Infatuated
bull down upon one knee and held him
there for at least fifteen or twenty
minutes, calling in the meantime for help.
His wife and little son were the first TO
90 TO hun, she grasplng the animal by
the horns and the boy trying, with a dull
knife, to cut his throat. Fortunately one
Of the tenants reached the spot Just as
Mr. Patten strength was almost ex-
hausted. GraspiDg a piece of fence rail,
he struck the animal a blow that partly
stunned him. he then grasped the ring
In his nose with one hand, and a horn
with the other, and dragged him back
from Mr.. Patton, and confined him in a
stall. Mr.. Patton was then carried 70
the house, and on the way said, My
prayer has been answered, God saved
me from being found by my family dead
and mangled." He fingered all night.
Charlotte Observer tells of an equally
ferocious fight.
"For several weeks the people il up
per Mecklenburg have been considerably
exercised over an epidemic of mad dogs,
but it eliminated Wednesday 10 an ex-
citing and tragic affair at Mooresville,
three men being badly bitten by the same
dog. The dog was owned by Mr.. Tom
Mcconnell. Wednesday 1t broke from its
owners premises and rushed madly
through town, meeting the two negroes
and attacking them before they had a
chance to get out OF Its way. They tried
to kill the dog, but it escaped from them
and after running about through the
town and country, made its way back to
Mr.. McConnells. As the dog entered
the yard, its owner saw that there was
something wrong with it. and as he ad-
vanced for the purpose of making a closer
inspection, the dog rushed upon him. He
was entirely unarmed, bat seized the dog
with his hands an a desperate fight en-
sued.
The dog was a small animal, but its
madness gave 1t strength that made it a
formidable adversary for an unarmed
man. Mr.. Mcconnell got it by the throat
and with his knees eDdeavored to pin it
to the ground until assistance should ar
rive, but the dog proved almost to much
for his strength: la the struggle the dog
got one of Mr.. McConnell's fingers be-
tween its teeth and bit the finger off. In
his desperation. Mr.. Mcconnell 90. the
dogs windpipe firmly in the grasp of his
two hands and held firm until the rabid
brute ceased to kick, and when he released
his hold the dog lay dead at his feet.
The wounded man had his finger eau
terized and yesterday morning he left for
Hickory to test the virtues of a mad stone
which, it is reputed, will cure mad dog
bites by adhering to the wound and alb
sorbing the poison. 1t is to be hoped
that the stone really possesses the virtues
Mr.. Mcconnell will be saved the fright
full torture ola suffering and death from
hydrophobia. There are several reputed
mad stones in the State, one Of which is
owned by a citizen of Rockingham coun-
ty, and which is known TO have perfected
cures.
Mr.. McConnells dog was bitten about
two weeks ago by a mad dog that passed
through Mooresville, and it was afflicted
with the genuine rabies. There was talk
Of sending the two negro men who were
bitten to the Morganton asylum for safe
keeping and for treatment"
Fayetteville San: A lad, the son Of w.
r. Webb, of this town, was bitten by a
ferocious dog a few days ago. The ami
mal was a large bull dog, and leaped on
the boy and succeeded in iojuring him on
the face, neck and head before any one
could get to his rescue. The dog has
since beer killed.
Winston Republican A dog
supposed to be rabid and belonging to
Mr.. John Pratt, appeared at the resi-
deuce of Mr.. Robt Griffith, and bit his
little son on the hand and leg. The
dog was running from house to house
attacking whatever living thing came in
his way. He was finally killed on Gel.
JOS. Williams plantation on the Yad-
kin. There was great excitement.