The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-01-10
A DESPERATE STRUGGLE,
SAVED By A BRAVE OUTLAW FROM
AN INFURlATED BULL.

Dodsing Behind Trees to Escape the Ter
riao Charges Of tho Mad Brute-Felt
Sure He Was Doomed-A Magnificent
Exhibition Of Horsemanship.
Mr.. Charles Dawson, a we'll known stock
man of this vicinity, reports q singular and
we'll nigh fatal adventure which befell him in
the valley of the Franklin mountains, lying
north of this place. Your correspondent
calling on him learned the following particu-
lars which he gives in Mr.. Davison's own
words:
had ridden out to q ranch owned by a
man named Blake, about twenty miles from
my place, for the purpose of looking at q lot
Of imported sheep he had for sale, and was
returning when met Mexican with a bro
ken arm hobbling along the road, who told
me that a bull had charged him the day be-
fore and flung him into water hole, break
ing his arm and bruising him severely all
over. The bull was wild one from the
mountains, and dangerously savage from
some cause.
A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
The Mexican warned me that he was
doubtless still in the neighborhood, and that
it would stand me in hand to keep lookout
for him. had ridden mile or two when
dismounted to drink of little running
stream had reached, and to eat my lunch.
My horse left standing without taking the
precaution of tying him, though without I'M
saddling him. He was young mustang, as
nervous as a woman, and, without any ap-
parent cause that could discover, threw up
his head all of a sudden and broke down the
valley in mad gallop, carrying, Of course,
my saddle, with my belt containing my pis-
tolls, which I had rather foolishly removed
from my waist an hour or two before, and
hung from the horn Of my saddle
There was nothing for it but to- follow the
horse on foot, SO of put in as bad humor as
you can imagine, for was already fatigued
by my long ride, and tramp Of perhaps
miles was anything but inviting. trudged
on for an hour or two, until my feet were
cut and blistered by the sharp rocks, and
had sat down to rest near a clump of cot
tonwood trees, one of great size and the rest
of them mere saplings At that moment
heard a loud roar and crash in bush be-
hind me, and out rushed at a terrific PAGES
large bull, charging straight at me. I had
only just time to throw myself to one side
fat on the ground as he thundered by me.
My next move was to make for the clump of
cottonwoods, which succeeded in reaching
just as the bull turned again. My hat had
fallen to the earth as ran, and this the
animal now attacked with a ferocity and
maddened rage that showed how little mercy
would be shown the man when his turn came.
Having torn the hat to pieces with horns
and hoofs, and having smelled me out, he
commenced circuit round the trees, stamp
ing, paving and believing frightfully. With
his bloodshot eyes and long, sharp horns, he
looked like demon. I was quite unarmed,
having, by some unlucky chance, neglected to
put in my knife in leaving home, and my
pistols, as l said before, being in my saddle,
and was wearied unto death. The situation
was desperate one, and my only chance con-
sisted in lodging the bull round the trees I'm
til he should be tired out, and this was, in
deed, faint hope, for the animal seemed
fresh and warranted to outlast the strength
of ten men. The bull charged again and
again, sometimes coming against the tree
with such force that he fell on his knees,
sometimes bending the saplings behind which
stood until his horns almost reached me.
There was not branch of the one large tree
low enough for me to seize and climb up, and
had no time in which to scale it between the
bulls charges.
How long this awful game of "touch
wood" lasted I cannot tell, for after the first
excitement of self preservation passed off
WEAKNESS again took possession of me, and it
required all the instinct and love of life in me
to keep me on my feet Several times the bull
left me for few seconds, pacing suddenly
away, believing his malignant discomfort of
my refusal to come forth and be trampled
and gored to death, but before could cross
over to a better position he always came
back at full speed My tongue began to
cleave to the roof of my mouth, my eyes
grew hot and misty, my knees trembled I'M
der me, while ringing in my ears warned
me that nature was exhausted, and felt it
impossible to hold out until dark.
THE RESCUE.
At length grew desperate, and determined
to make run for the opposite covert the
moment the bull turned from me again.
felt sure / was doomed, and thought of it
until actually began to welcome the idea of
its ending in any way. The bull seemed to
know was worn out, and grew more rapid
and fierce in his charges, but just when was
going to sit down under the great tree and
let him do his worst, heard the rattle of
uOISo dAOil3 CU6 IOCAS aUOVe, ituu d SuOut
that sounded like the voice of an angel. Then
came the barking of dog and the loud re-
ports of a stock whip, but the bull, with his
devilish eyes fixed on me, never moved. Up
came horseman at full speed, and crack fell
the lash on the bulls black hide, while the
blood spurted out in a long streak. The ami
NAL turned savagely and charged the horse
man, believing with astonished rage and
pain, but the horse wheeled round just
enough to battle him-no more-and again
the lash descended, cutting like a long dexi-
bic razor; but the Infatuated bull was not to
be beaten off with whip-he charged again
and again. But he had met his match, for
right and left, as needed, the wiry Spanish
mare turned, sometimes on her hind, some
times on her fore legs It was the most
magnificent exhibition Of equestrianism I
ever saw, and actually forgot my fatigue
and exhaustion while I watched it.
Ny rescuer now shouted something, leaped
from his horse and strobe forward to meet
the bull with an open knife between his teeth.