Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-01-11
SAVED BY AN OUTLAW.
Furious but Victorious Battle with
Maddened Bull.
The Helpless Victim of the Beasts Ter
rble Anger Nearly Exhausted When
Rescued by the Magnificent Skill
of a Stranger.


Mr.. Charles Dawson, well-known
stocSman of this vicinity reports sim
gular and well-nigh fatal adventure
which befell him racently in the valley
of the Franklin Mountains, lying north
of this place. A correspondent of the
st. Louis Globe-Democratc calling on him
learned the following particulars, which
are given in Mr.. Davison's own words:
II had ridden out to ranch owned
miles from my place, for the purpose of
looking at lot of imported sheep he
had for sale, and was returning when |
met Mexican with broken arm, hob
bling along the road. who told me that
a bull had charged him the day before,
and flung him into water hole, break
ing his arm and bruising him severely
all over. The bull was a wild one
from the mountains, and danger
ously savage from some cause. You
may not be aware of tho fact,
but some years ago-fifteen or twenty
nowhere was large drove of cattle
stampeded near here by the Indians,
and driven into the mountains, where
they escaped and in the course of time
grew perfectly wild, for they were of a
breed quite unsuited to this country
They are very shy are rarely known to
leave the mountainous heights, but a
bul! sometimes, when driven off from
his herd by stronger rival, will de-
scend to the valleys, and often prove
dangerous foe to encounter even on
horseback.
"The Mexican warned me that the
one he had been attacked by was doubt
would stand me in hand to keep look
out for him. had ridden on mile or
two when | dismounted to drink of a
little running stream had reached, and
to eat my lunch My horse | left stand
ing, without taking the precaution of
! tying him, though without unsaddling
him. He was young mustang as nerv-
GUS 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 pistols, which | 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 fol-
low the horse on foot, so off put in as
bad humor as you can imagine, for |
was already tatigued by my long ride,
and tramp Of perhaps miles was any
thing but inviting. | trudged on for an
hour or two, until my feet were cut and
blisteled by the sharp rocks, and had
set down to rest near clump of cotton
wood trees, one of great size, and the
rest o! them mere saplings. At that
moment heard a loud roar and crash
in bush behind me, and out rushed at
q terrific pace large, black bull,
charging straight at me. | had only
just time to throw myself to one side
fiat on the ground as he thundered by
me. My next move was to make fol
the clump of cottonwoods, which
succeeded in reaching Just as the bull
turned again. Ny hat had fallen tC
the earth as ran, and this the animal
now attacked with ferocity and mad
dened rage that showed me how little
mercy would be shown the man wher
his turn came.
Having torn the hat to pieces with
horns and hoofs, and having smelled
me out, he commenced circuit round
the trees, stamping, paving and below
ing frightfully With his blood-shoi
eyes and long, sharp horns he looked
like a demon. | was quite unarmed
having by some unlucky chance, neg
lected to put in my knife in leaving
home, and my pistols, as | said before,
being in my saddle and l was wearied
unto death. The situation was des'
perate one, and my only chance con
sisted in dodging the bull round the
trees until he should be tired out, and
this was. indeed, faint hope, for the
animal seemed fresh and warranted tt
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, sometime:
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 t.
i 10 . lao. hn hui oh
"How long this awful game of touch
wood lasted can not tell, for after tn,
first excitement of self-preservatior
passed off WEAKNESS again took posses
sion of me and it required all the in
stinct and love OF life in me to keep mt
on my feet. Several times the bull lef
me for few seconds pacing suddenl,
away. believing his malignant discon
tent Of my refusal to come forth and B,
tramplcd and gored to death, but.befor'
/ could cross over to a better position h,
always came back at full speed. NJ,
tongue began to cleavc to the roof Of m,
mouth, my eyes grew hot and misty, m,
knees trembled under me, while ring
ing in my ears warned me that natur
was exhausted and felt it impossible h
hold out until dark.
AT length grew desperate, and de
termned to make run for the oppo
ste covert the moment the bull turne,
from me again. felt sure was doomed
and thought Of 1t until actually bsgal