Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-03
Gored to Death by a Bull.

M1fIln Sulllu, IL idIlncT llNluS Oh luc
farm of Webb Hager, on the road be-
tween Ephratah and Johnstown, n. Y,
was gored to death by q bull on Friday,
after hard battle for his life. lie was
well preserved man, 64 years old.
He went into the pasture, where big
Durham bullran loose with q large herd
of cattle, to give them salt, and when
he turned to retrace his steps the bull
charged him.
Smith carried an oak stake four feet
long and two inches in diameter. lie
knew the vicious character of the bull
and had armed himself. At the first
charge the bull received a stunning
blow across the nose, Smith stepping
aside in time to escape the animals
horns. The nearest place of safety was
the fence, hundred yards away. The
first blow increased the fury Of the bull,
and it renewed the attack.
The second charge was met with the
same sturdy defence, the oak cudgel
falling upon the bulls nose with all the
power that desperate man could use,
and Smith saved himself by stepping
to one side. A third and fourth attack
only delayed the fatal charge. The
farmer then turned to run-the first OPP
portunity he had had. BY lodging
and running he placed himselfa consid-
cradle distance nearer the fence. Again
he was compelled to use the club, and
the bull met the blow with a charge
that broke the club.
Smith held fast TO small piece Of
the stick, and when the bull bore down
upon him again he attempted to jab
the splintered end into the bulls eyes.
If he could blind the bull there was a
chance to escape. As he attempted to
step aside the bull wheeled and caught
him under the knee, threw him off his
feet, and in an instant he was tossed
up. He struck the ground on his
hands and knees and was up quick
enough to catch the bull by the horns.
The frenzied beast wheeled him around,
showed him ahead and dragged him
backward. Smith held on for dear life
and that infuriated the animal the
more. 1t paved the earth in its efforts
to dislodge Smith, and twice its hoofs
raked down Smiths legs, tearing his
flesh to the bone.
Exhaustion brought the fight for life
to an end. Smith was tossed upward
twice that he remembered Then the
bull caught him on his back on the
ground and drove one Of its horns into
his side and the other into his chest. D.
w. Densler, who was driving along the
road, heard the believing in the field,
and he knew there was some trouble.
He made his way through the grove,
and as he entered the pasture he saw
Smith whirling over and over the horns
of the bull. Densler, armed with his
whip and club, ran across the field,
shouting.
The bull raised its head and for an
instant stood still. Densler cut the bull
across the eyes with tho whip and then
prepared for fight by drawing q large
pocket knife with the left hand while
he aimed blow at the bull with his
right hand. At that moment farm
hand appeared, running and shouting.
The bull turned and trotted away 4 few
feet and then stopped as though wait
ing for the attack. Smith was horribly
cut and bruised His side and chest
and both legs were torn, his face was
raked, and one of his arms broken. A
space 20 feet around was trodden by
the hoofs of the bull and covered with
blood. Smith lived two hours, gaining
consciousness, and describing the battle
with perfect composure. As soon as he
was taken to the house the men went
out and shot the bull.