The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-21
TWO FOREST M0NARCHS.
RIVAL BUCKS FIGHT A TERRIBLE
BATTLE TO THE DEATH.

F.IthIess Does Tenderly Care for tho
Wound. of Their Former Lords Slayer.
A Hunter. Who Dad Left His T'ihe he
hind. Forced TO Bo silent Spectator.
IL witnessed n singular sight not long
since. said Gerald Whitney 10 an tx
aminer man who had asked him some
uueaiions relative to stalking deer.
"Thcrc were several Of u5 who had
becn lack in the CuyamGcas deer hunt
inc for ten DAYS and We had pretty good
sport. Late one afternoon | wandered
Oh from the camp alone, my thoughts
causing me to stroll aimlessly through
the scrub pine and down into tho valley
near little stream whcro several days
before we had killed n fine buck and doe
that had come 10 their usual watering
place. had no thought OF hunting
when left the camp. and had no arms
with me save my hunting knife. valiia-
ble Price. which was made Tor my
father some years since in tins CITY
Near the stream | spoke Of moment ago
there H. a grassy plot Of about three OF
four acres. and twenty or thirty large
trees that would do Calavcras proud
crow i'm and around this little marsh ana
form sort of natural rendezvous tcy the
numbers of deer that inhabit certain sec
tons of Lower California.
PRETTY GROUP INVADED.
IL came 10 this spot. and, stopping
down. took a long draught of water
While had my head bent down IN the
stream caught the impatient stamp OF
feeding deer, and heard the unmlstakable
little wheezy cough they sometimes give
while eating. ! cautiously withdrew be-
hind one Of the large trees in my close
neiehb0rhoOd and stole a glance over IN
the direction of the sound. There were
three does. a peg buck and the pater IA
milias. with pair of antlers that made
ms huntsman's instinct almost too strong
to keep me quiet. / crouched behind
the tree and took OF my hat, divided be-
tween interest in their movements
filled with quick impeuOus grace-a1d
NV desire o. communicate with the
camp iu some manner ! very senduly
concluded that as they were browsing
over in my direction, any movement
ON ms part would simply stampede
thcm. and / satisfied myself as well as ]
could IN observing their movements.
Tho sun was Just about setting, and
its last rays were falling full in the en-
trance 10 the valley. when there lopcd
into sight another buC<. equal IN every
point save of attendance 10 the fat Tel
low had been admring Buck number
one stood rigid and erect rs he came Ill
sight. and blew ont on the still air
snort of defiance that checked number
two. who had not seen him, almost as
cnoctuallv as If / had turned loose my
lsr1eon him. He stopped perfectly still
slightly thrown back on his launches
viewed the situation a moment with "a
sort of mild inquiry; gradually raised
hi8 head. undl finally his antlers nearly
touched his smooth back; then lowered
it quickly almost 30 the ground, lerked
it up with a splendid contempt, and blew
hack an answering snort Of defiance.
"The does gathered close together and
stole surreptiliOus glances OF admiration
al the intruder who. with lowered
-conce. advanced toward his challenger
foll ms pulses tinging at these signs OF
combat, as / felt pretty sure there was
going 10 bee a fight. Number one stood
ns ground as number two advanced
until he was within about twenty PAGES,
then be stepped ont on the plane OF
battle. bristling like a wild boar. As To-
stepped out the intruding buck paused
tor while to measure his foe. They
eazed 40 each other angrily for a mo
ment. and then made "a mutual rush,
coming together with a shock that made
tho little valley ring with It's force.
almost imagined that some occult force
had separated them, for they fell ON
their knees fifteen good PAGES apart.
They did not remain IN that position
long. They were up and at 10
again in uice. They fought with a
fer0city that / have never seen equaled.
/ could hear every lick as IL was deliv-
cred. sometimes on the side, sometimes
on .he rump. and when q lick was par
riod on the horns it sounded like drop
ping load Of fish bars on n stone
pavement Such vicious lungcs you
never saw. The velyety coats were torn
and ripped from withers 10 rump, and
blood was running from side, as well as
mouth and nostrils. Down would go
/ head, and an upper cut would fall prone
upon the stomach that l thought must
T be fatal Bang would 60 a whole forest
Of horns into a side, and number one or
I two would fan upon the ground, while
quick as lightning the up deer would
slash 40 his fallen adversary with his
sharp front teeth, cutting like a knife.
ICONsTANT DOES.
"The does and the peg stood By as
immovable az the big trees, save now
and then they would open their lips and
+ give a piteous bleat as their champion
would get worsted in the fight Buck
number two fought with a grim deter
mination, TO show that the odds Of favor
from being in the presence Of his adj
versarys harem-should not count
AGAINST him. Back and forth waged the
contest; now there would be lull as
they locked horns for breathing spell,
while their eyes, red with anger, would
flash into each other from beneath their
/ INTERVIEWING antlers. Now they would
/ break apart, then a lunge, and now a
vicious counter The fight waged for
twenty minutes, when suddenly buck
number two, the intruder, got in a long
vicious dig that tore his adversary well
/ across the side. He fell with a pitiful
Try Of distress, and number two stood
( over him for few moments, then made
several cuts in his already bleeding side,
and, turning, walked over 10 his pros
/ tate enemys family.
They licked his wounds as tenderly
as if he, the victor, had always been their
lord and master, instead Of the murderer
Of their long while guardian and friend.
Il was 50 indignant that | drew my
knife and made q senseless rush for the
/ victorious buck, causing the whole herd
70 scatter in wild fright. | stopped over
the poor, bleeding victim and relieved
F his suferings with my sharp Price IN a
seconds time.
"The next day, when we examined
him, all that was worth saving was his
magnificent set Of antlers, containing
sixteen prongs, and they today, IN his
fathers parlOr, form a source Of wonder
and amusement TO the baby eyes Of Cas-
sius Carter, Jr., of San Diego. san
Francisco Examiner.
Benefits Of Cooperative Banking.