Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-08-30
THE BATTLE OF THE BULLS
TERRIBLE FIGHT WITNESSED BY A
KENTUCKY GEOlOGlST.

Two Bulls Fight to the Death on the Brink
of a Precipice-The Victor Makes Dying
Plunge and Sends His Antagonist into
the Abyss-A Graphic Description of a
Desperately Fought Battle.
LANCASTER, KY, Aug 3l-Mr. Thomas
8. Moore, well-known and substantial citi-
zen of Garrard county, tells graphic story
OF desperate encounter that occurred on
the crest of knob of his neghborhood sew
eral days ago between couple of eBraged
bulls, in which both were killed. The ami
mails had wandered to these heights, and
upon sighting each other at once engaged in
a duel to tho DEATH Those unacquainted
with the instinct of such creatures can not
easily imagine what extreme ferocity they
sometimes display. In speaking of the Incl
dent Mr.. Moore said:
Being interested in the study of geology
happened TO be on the knob at the time and
was startled about O'Clock in the afternoon
by a fearful believing Looking some dis
lance ahead l saw the animals advancing to-
ward each other with their noses on the
ground, turning this way and that and cast
ing dust into the air with their fore feet.
When only few yards apart they suddenly
leaped to the attack with frightful noise
and began to goro each other with hostile
energy. Above the fierce and noisy tramp
ling could be heard the grind
ing of their interlocked horns and the vio-
lent snorting of brutal rage. The breeze
blew aside the dust and revealed the tigerish
character of the onset, as with wide-set limbs
and tails curling in the air they charged
again and again, stabbing with their pointed
horns Tiny streams of blood shot down
their necks and sides, while their distended
nostrils emitted reddish foam. The pro-
aigious strength of these magnificent animals,
| thus brought into violent activity, afforded
| spectacle both tumnltuous and thrilling. The
exertion of the encounter, added to the pain
of each newly inflicted wound, imfiamed their
| combative spirit to the pitch of tempestuous
| fury. One of the bulls following up tenn
porary advantage, plunged his horns into
| the chest of his antagonist, and, with quick
| upward jerk of the head, ripped open the
| flesh to depth of several inches, while from
| this gaping wound jets of arterial blood be-
gan to squirt. In towering passion and
| with cleaning eyeballs, charging furiously
| upon his adversary, the wounded bull drove
| his horns into its abdomen, making a borri-
/ BILE opening, through which the entrails
| gushed The impetuous and stormy nature
| of the contest had carried the combatants to
/ the verge of the cliff, but blind with deadly
| fury they saw no danger. Each MORALLY
| wounded and weakening momentarily
from continued profuse loss of blood
waged the battle with that fend,
| ish desperation shown only in wound
ed animals. 1t was evident, however,
/ that a crisis was near at hand The situa
| tion had resolved itself ilto the grim condi-
ton of the death struggle With lowered
heads they backed away few yart : eager,
| defiant, implacable, and again collided with
| force that seemed to lit their very skulls
| This terrific shock sta .gered the bull with
| the chest wound and forcei his eye-balls
| from their sockets He suddenly plunged
| forward to his knees on the brink of the prec-
ipice and remained in a quivering stupor
| with his open mouth burrOwing in the dust
| The other, lettering and covered with blood
but still terrible in his weakness, charged
heavily upon his kneeing and senseless foe,
struck him in the flank with the force of a
ponderous projectile. and hurled him head
long over the precipiee. The body executed
a somersault in midiir, fell with noisy
crash through the tree-tops upon the rocks
below, where it was subsequently preyed
upon by vultures. The remaining bull
seemed to realized in a stupid way the dan
ger to which be himself was exposed He
drew back from the brink over which his
hideous muzzle had been momentsrily
thrust, and with his entrails trailing on the
ground staggered little distance of, fell
prone to the earth, rolled over on his side,
shivered moment, and then lay still in the
embrace Of death. The battle lasted nearly
an hour, and in point Of sanguinary details
and tragic horror has no parallel within the
limits OF my recollection.