Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-30

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM 10 THE DrsPArcu.1
NEW YORK, December 2o.-Lieusenani
Lewis and his company of the Eleventh In
fantry, stationed at Bedloe's Island, had an
exciting time yesterday, and q battle with
an enemy who nearly drove them off the
island. The enemy was a 4year-old red
Texas steer, with a nobby pair Of horns that
were worth more than all the muskets in
the company when he used them at short
range.
1t has not been determined yet just where
this red steer came from. Some say be fell
overheard from the steamship Queen. while
lot of his kind were being loaded in the
stream, and others that he walked off cattle
lighter. Be that as it may, Mr.. Steer was a
good swimmer, and when he landed on the
east side of the island, yesterday morning,
he just shook himself dry, nibbled bit OF
grass for breakfast, and then started off at a
brisk trot to explore Jerseys annex. One
of the sentries on the pier saw him coming
and gave the alarm.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
Lieutenant Lewis mustered Company B
and ordered them to capture the foe. Easier
|
eide on a plan of action the gentleman from
Texas, who had been regarding them with
interest from an elevated position, made up
his mind to attack. Lowering his mead he
executed double quick flank movement
and then charged the company. They all
executed a lightning rear movement except
Private Jack Fellows, who said he was not
afraid of any steer except a bunco steer.
When the visitor from Texas lifted Private
Fellows over his back and landed him on a
gun carriage Private Fellows chsnged his
opinion very rapidly.
The fun had only just begun. The steer
galloped, believing after the demoralized
company, and drove them across the island.
After awhile Superintendent Littlefeld, Of
the electric light plant, tried to corner the
animal. He got tossed for his pains, and
went limping back to his den.
SCARE SURE ENOUGH.
When the steer got tired and warm he
went down to the river, shook the Bedloe
Island dust from his tail, and set off to swim
to Ellis Island, where the powder and dyna-
mite is stored. Then there was a genuine
scare. Private Roach and Corporal Will
Clark jumped into a boat and rowed after
him. He swan so fast that they had all
they could do to head him off in time to
stop him from landing. Then he played
tag with them. and succeeded 10 landing on
Bedloe's Island again before they did.
Why somebody didn't shoot him nobody
knows, and once more he was monarch Of
Liberty Island. q little wetter, but still full
of fight.
It was late in the afternoon before Chris
tian Scripture, the soldier cowboy, succeed
ed in lassoiHg the brute. Even then it took
lots of diplomacy to secure him where he
would do no more harm, and Company B
did not quarrel to see who should stand SEN
tinel over him last night. How to get him
off the island for good was the next thing.
The captain of the regular steamer said that
steering was hard enough now, and that he
did not want a quartermaster with horns.
Not until a cattle boat landed a load Of
steers on tie pier, this morning, could this
one be persuaded to leave the island. He
forgot himself while introductions were TAX
ing place, and he walked aboard the boat
with the rest, and was taken back to his up-
per deck stateroom on the steamer bound Tor
Europe.