Morning journal and courier., 1892-11-15
Chased by a Buffalo.

From the San Francisco Examiner.
There came near being tragedy at Col
den Gate Park the other day, the circum-
stances of which might have caused the
event to be ludicrous were 1t not for the
fact that the episode for brief period was
fraught with much danger to an over-vep-
turesome youth who desired to closely
study the habits of the bumped inhsbitant
of the plains while in state of captivity.
At the buffalo paddock there is usually
on Sunday afternoons a crowd of people,
and in every crowd there is always to be
found one or more who delight in poking
the animals with a cane when they ap-
proach the fence, just to see how they will
act. So frequent did the practice of an
noying the buffalo become that to preserve
their respective tempers and prevent their
eyes from being punched out, a park po-
liceman was detailed to especially look af-
ter the buffalo and deer paddocks. Even
then the cruel practice did not stop, and
several arrests were made.
Yesterday a young man recklessly en-
tered the enclosure and very soon had his
hands full of trouble He climbed the
fence on the opposite side of the paddock
from where Officer Dearborn was standing,
and was seen by no one until the animals
discovered his presence.
The callow youth had made up his mind
to pet Baby Ruth, the young buffalo calf,
and slowly and cautiously made his way
toward the youngster, which was lying in
the shade quite distance from the larger
buffaloes, which were doing and laZiIy
chewing their cud in the shelter of large
tree.
Suddenly everybody was startled at
hearing a bleat of fear and alarm from the
calf, which came scampering down toward
the COW. Instantly Bill Bunker and Ben
Harrison were on their feet. The COW
saw the bushes move q little distance off
and charged on the yonng man, who ran
toward the fence to make his escape. But
the COW overlook him, and striking him
with terrific force from the rear sent him
sprawling into the brush. By this time
the two male buffaloss had Joined the cow
ready to lend assistance, and with loud
believing continually charged at the thick
ct where the youth had managed to crawl.
Luckily for MIN he was knocked into q
place where the brush is high and thick,
and found secure hiding place where the
enraged buffaloes could not see him.
Time and again the fery-eyed animals
charged at the brush, which they could not
penetrate, giving vent to hoarse bellowings
and paving up the earth in their frantic
rage at not being able to reach him. Moth
ing could be done at the time to rescue the
foolish youth from his perilous position,
ss it would be certain death to enter the
| paddock among the angry buffaloes, SO
Policeman Dearborn called out to him to
\ lie still until the aDgered beasts Guisted
down. After waiting a half hour, during
| which the buffaloes circled around the
thicket a number of times and made many
attempts to get at their tormentor, they re-
tired and allowed the trembling and badly
| bruised youth to escape.
Policeman Dearborn decided not to ar
rest the young man, who gave the name
of George Griffiths, as he had been taught
| good lesson and doubtless one that he
| will remember.