New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-03
THE FERG USOy COW ARMOR.

|
| late COPY of The Buffalo Gap South Dakota
| Mirror" gives an account Of an ingenious invention
Of a citizen of that place, Mr. Bookitt Ferguson.
We learn from THE Mirrors" excellent account
that Mr. Ferguson is a blacksmith, having shop
in Chcycnnc-ave, and living with his wife and
| family in the suburbs He has long been known
! to his felow-townsmcn as a most ingenious man
and has been responsible for several inventions OF
more or less merit among them being safety
dog-catch on mine hosting apparatus. We claim
| no cxpert knowledge on mine hosting machinery,
! but we should say that dog-catch must be a
very important thing about the mouth of the shaft
| as il cannot he pleasant TO have dogs constantly
tumbng down on the miners.
! But Mr.. FergusOn'S present invention is some
| thing far removed from mining as possible.
| He has lived long the frontier Though born
| in Connecticut and been through several Indian
disturbances. I'm these he has always lost more
or less stock, for though never stock raiser, lie
has been in the habit Of keeping COW and some
times calf or two. These the Indians have in
varably swOoped down upon and killed. Buffalo
Gap is situated only few miles west Of the BAD
Lands and when the late trouble began it in
stantly occurred to Mr. Ferguson that it prob
ably meant the loss Of another COW, as he owned
one Of these useful and nutritious animals. The
| about for some plan to prevent the coming sacr
fee if possible. While turning the matter over
in his mind, Mr.. Ferguson happened one day to
glance in an illustrated copy of Don QuiXote.
He had scarcely opened the Volume when the
idea came to lin, why not construct bullet
proof armor for his COW? To think is to act with
Boolitt Ferguson, and inside of thirty minutes
lie had the patient beast in his shop and was
busy hammcring out thin plates for her back.
Mr. Ferguson is a rapid Workman and at the
end Of a weeks time he had the clad in
complete mail Her body was covered with large
plates and her neck head and legs with smaller
ones all carefully articuated that she could
walk lie down, and indeed perform all ordinary
movements with ease. In the helmet holes were,
Of course. lett for her eyes and mouth. though
these were no larger than were absolutely neccs-
sary. and had she been as bibulousy inclined as
the knights of Branksomc Hall she would have
DRUM, the red wine through the helmet barred.
Unlike the ghost of lIamcts father she wore
her beaver down. Her horns Mr.. Ferguson had
tipped with sharp steel points. thus rendering
her armed as well rs protected. Mr.. Ferguson
had considerable difficulty in dcvising a suitable
covering for her tail. Plates were found out OF
the question. Finally. however, he hit gu the
plan Of winding her tail with wre like garden
hose. and he found that il worked admirably. in
tcffcriny but li'lc with its ncNibiiity and afford
ing reasonable protection. The complete armor
weighed about 300 pounds When everything
finished, the cow was led out to the
Ferguson homestead and allowed - Craze about
in tie ncghborhood on the dry prairie grass.
there being but little snow. She soon became
accustomed 10 the coat Of mail and paid 10 at
iention % IT, Twice day She would 20 into
Buffalo Gap 10 drink AT the town pump. and il
Interesting sight 10 her come stalking
down tie centre of the main street clanking her
armor and occasionally switching the steel covered
sides with her gardcn-hosc tail The other town
cows gave her a wide berth after having once
felt her reinforced horns. And tie most i'm
porant point Of the whole affair is that the armor
was brought 10 actual test several times and was
not found wanting She had had it on but two
days when Big Snort and some twenty hosilcs
bore down upon her and began firing. II is csti-
mated that they wasted 80 rounds Of cartridges
on her. She scarcely moved during the lombard
ment. but stood and contcntcdly chcwed her cud
and occasionally switched her. as it were, Insulated
tail The indians finally retired disguised. Several
other attempts were made on her, all equally
unsuccessful She was the only cow in the
ncIchborhood that was not killed. Since peace
has been declared Mr. Ferguson has removed the
alluor. and laid it away for the next outbreak.
We trust that the reader will not think that We |
lave devoted too much space TO Mr. Fcrguoons
COW armor Though a small matter. it seems to
MS both novel and interesting. We believe. too,
that the reader viii be glad TO know that ." The
Mirror in closing says that Mr. Ferguson will |
exhibit the COW, clad in complete steel at the |
coming Worlds Fir in Chicago, where we may |
all hope to see the instructive and entertaining |
sight