The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-02-20
SAVED BY AN OUTLAW.
Furious but Victorious Battle with
a Maddened Bull
The Helpless Victim of the Beasts Ter
riblee Anger Nearly Exhausted When
-~I eseaed- by the Magnificent Skill
of y Stranger.


AIR Charles Dawson, well-known
stmkman of this vicinity, reports sim
glar and well-nigh fatal adventure
which befell him racently in the valley
Of the Franklin Mountains, lying north
al this place. A correspondent Of the
st. I.ouis-Globe- Democrat calling on him
learned the following particulars, which
are given in Mr.. Davison's own words:
(. ''"''sf had ridden out to a ranch owned
! Iva man named Blake, about twenty
nsjles from my place, for the purpose OF
E lnnllfhg at a-lot of imported sheep he
had for sale, and was returning when /
meta Mexican~ with a broken arm, hob
bling along the road, who told me that
hafged hint he=-daY before,
ana flung him into waters<hole, break
ing his arm and bruising him severely
all over. The bull was wild~one
from the mountains, and danger,
70Gs1y savage fFom some cause gu
may not be aware of the fact,
but some years ago-fifteen or twenty
= t7f-there was a large drove of cattle,
stampeded near here by the Indians,
and driven into the mountains where
they escaped and in the course of time
grey 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
bull sometimes, when driven off from
4hiseherd-by a stronger rival, will de-
secnd to the valleys, and often prove
dangerous foe to encounter even on
horseback.
- 1.-The Mexican warned me that the
one he had been attacked by was doubt
less in the neighborhood,-a that it
would stand me IN hand to- keep a look
out for him. 7 had ridden on mile or
two when / dismounted to drink of a
-t1ttf running stream had reached, and
70 cat,my lunch. My horse left stand
ing, without taking the precaution Of
tying him, though without unsaddling
him. He was a young mustang, as nerv-
Gus as woman, and, without any APP
parent cause that l could discover,
threw up his head all of sudden and
broke down the valley in a 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 l
MAS already fatigued 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
blistered by the sharp rocks, and had
set down to rest near clump of cotton
krees. one of great size, and the
Pest oslthem mere saplings. At that
moment tt heard loud roar and aaerash.
in bush behind me, and out rushed at
a 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 Numbered by
me My next move was to make for
. the elump of cottonWoods, which 1
succeeded in reaching just as the bull
turned again. My hat had fallen to
. the earth as l ran, and this the animal
now attacked with feroeity- and mad
lened rage that showed me 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, stamping, paving and below
ing frightfully. With his blood-shot
eyes and long, sharp horns he looked
like a demon, ! was quite unarmed,
having by some unlucky chance, neg
looted TO put in my knife in leaving
home. and my pistols, as | said before,
lbttng IN; my saddle and==was=
unto death. The situation was dos
perate enN and my only chance con-
sisted in lodging the bull round the
trees until he should be tired out, and
this was,4indeed, a faint hope, for the
animal seemed fresh and warranted to
outlast the strength of: ten men. The
Hll.charged again and again, sometimes
gauing against the tree with such force
tg8l Che fell on his knees, sometimes
=. udfng the saplings behind which l
Stood until his horns almost reached me.
t7rere was not branch of the one large
lGeh low enough for me to seize and
esFmb up, and had no time in which to
SCALE II between the bulls charges.
How long this awful game Of touch
Woot lasted | can not tell for after the
tttNN fNGlltHenL Oh Stii-pICSeiNdpAoh
passed OF WEAKNESS again took possess
son Of ME and it required all the in
ATnet and love of life in me to keep me
on my feet Several times the bull left
y nae for a few seconds. pacing suddenly
May, believing his malignant discon-
: teM Of my refusal to come forth and be
1lAnlfAed and gored to death, but before
7l-could cross over to 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 under me, while ring
Ing m my ears warned me that nature
y " rs xhaasted and feltit impossible to
7.l''s5i 7fituntif dark.
- length grew desperate, and de-
osi''d to. make run for the oppo-
f y ta'9srt the moment the bull turned
= +. 3 go again. | feltsure was doomed,
aid siAo4ght Of it until l actually began
~ ~