Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-01-19
Helena, Montana. Thursday January 49, 1888
A NOVEL SPECTACLE.
CONTEST BETWEEN A BULL BUFFALO
AND AN ENGLISH BULLDOG.

| An Exciting Incident Which Occurred
| when Herds of Bison Roamed the
Plains of the west-Remarkable Ex.
ample of Canine Courage.
The nearest herd swerved; but, contrary
to their instincts, came roaring down beside
and parallel to our mounted troopers. This
was little too much, even for well trained,
disciplined cavalry soldiers, and the men, in
their intense excitement, forgetful of orders,
commenced rattling fusilade from their
saddles The buffalo veered off, but not be-
fore several were wounded. The firing was
sternly ordered to cease. One gigantic bull,
leader, was nearest; he was badly wounded.
As was the case on nearly all marches of
troops changing station on the frontier,
many dogs of all ages, sizes and degrees had,
under protest, accompanied the column to
the Colorado river; here many of the worth
less ours were left or drowned while fording;
but there were several remaining, and it was
these that had turned the buffalo down the
column.
There was among them large, white Eng
lish bull dog belonging to the regimental
band. He was powerful brute, and had
been trained to pull down beeves at the
slaughter corral at Fort Concho. He was,
withal, prime favorite with the soldiers,
Notwithstanding his ferocity The pack Of
dogs were in full cry after the stampeding
herd of believing beasts as they rushed and
tore along the column with their peculiar
rolling gait. But ching" the bull dog, sim
gled out the immense wounded leader, who
had now slackened his speed and was falter-
ing in his tracks. He sprang at his throat
with great courage, fastened upon him, and
the battle commenced, with the column as
silent spectators.
NOVEL SPECTACLE.
1t was q novel spectacle. The brunzed
troopers; the great shaggy beasts laundering
by; the white topped wagon train closed up
and halted; the fleeting shadows, and the al
most limitless stretch of surrounding prairie
and vast solitude. The bull went down upon his
knees, but so great was his strength that he
quickly arose and whirled the dog in great
circles over his head "King" had been
taught never to let go. The entire command
now watched with breathless attention the
apparently unequal struggle, expecting every
moment to see the dog crushed to death.
Down went the bull again on his knees, this
time not from any weakness, but to gore the
dog; rising he would stamp his feet in rage,
then shaking him a while, he would resume
swinging and swapping him like whip cord
through the air. The foam, now bloody,
fecked the long, tawny beard of the bison
bull. His eyes, nearly concealed in the long,
matted hair that covered his shaggy head,
flashed fire, and his rage knew no bounds.
The dog, which had commenced the fight
pure white, now turned to spotted crimson
from blood which had flowed from the
butfalo's wounds, and still his brute instincts,
tenacious courage and training led him to
bold on. Had he let go for a moment the
rrazed bull would have gored him to death
before he could have retreated The bull
grew perceptibly weaker; he rose to- his feet
less often. He could no longer throw the dog
in circles above his head. The blood stained
king" to a more vivid red, and begrimed
with dirt, he had lost all semblance to his
former self. AL were anxiously looking for
the struggle to end. Impatience was already
displayed upon the mems faces, when suddenly
Gen. Mackenzie shouted, "Kill the animal and
put him out of his misery!" Itwas merciful
command. Two men stepped forward to the
enormous beast now on his knees and rock
ing to and fro, the dog still holding on-and
placing their carbines behind the left shoul-
der, to reach a vital point, fired. He gave
one great culver, one last spasmodic rocking,
and spread himself upon the vast prairie
dead Not till then did king" let gol
So great had been the courage of this favor
ite dog in his fearful struggle that months
after. when an order had been issued for all
cur dogs-always an accumulative nuisance
at frontier post-to be exterminated,
king" the white bulldog belonging to the
Fourth Cavalry band, was exempted by
special order.-R Carter, U. S. A, in Outing