Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-05-06
BATTLE WITH A DEER.
Experience Of a Texas Hunter with
one Of These Animals.

experience OF Texas Hunter with
one Of These Animals
While il Dallas, Tex st. Louis
Z Globe-Democrat reporter met Captain
Gus Durand who good many years
ago was noted rs one of the best
hunters, riders and shots on the south
western border
He is a brother Of Captain J. A.
Durand, formerly noted Indian fight
er, although an educated, polished gem
ueman, who served several terms in
the Texas legislature, and who married
noted Spanish beauty in san Antonio
some time in the 4O'S. The writer
served under j. A. Durand in the Texas
Rangers in 1863 and 1854, and often
met and secuted with his brother Gus
Durand, in those days, ana witnessed a
number of exhibitions Of his wonder
full craftsmanship with the rife rs
well as of his intrepidity.
Gus Durand is still ranching In south
west Texas and recently gave an ac-
count OF a recent adventure he had
had up on Devils River, near Beaver
Lake, while on a hunt with a compan-
ion in that section, where deer and am
telope are still quite plentiful
we broke camp one morning early"
said DWand, and had proceeded per
haps five miles when we separated,
agreeing on a place Of meeting in the
evening After riding an hour or moro
by myself ! deserted q small herd of
deer some distance 20 the left of the
course | was travelling, and as / had
the wind of them, and they had not
seen me, / determined TO try TO stalk
Them, the surroundings being favorable
or the attempt l carried the same
old rifle l have carried for forty years,
which you may remember l had when
YOU and l were together during the
war, a long hunting knife, and no other
weapon.
After n long and weary crawl
through the grass and over the rocks
| had the satisfaction to discover that
| had succeeded in approaching the
game near enough for a shot ut long
range. However, / don't remember ev-
or missing a deer with that gun when
| could get within 25O yards Of it, and
have killed them further than that.
After resting a few moments to steady
my nerves, l drew a bead on a magni-
ficent buck, the largest Of the bunch,
and fired. My good luck had not de-
serted me. and the buck fell.
"Now, as you knew, I hay killed
many a deer in my day, but / never
acted the fool before as I did this time
Instead Of waiting 10 reload, | drew
my knife and ran up to cut the ami
mails throat / had got within ten
steps when it suddenly sprang to its
feet and I found myself face to face
with a wounded buck 18th an empty
gun in my hand and my only weapon a
hunting knife.
You know no animal is more dan
gerous to tackle than an Infatuated
deer, but there was no chance to re-
treat Throwing aside my rife, l await
ed his onslaught 1t came at once
You know since I got that wound al
Yellow Bayou, in Louisiana, ] have had
very little use of my left arm; but
stepping quickly % one side | grabbed
/ his horn with my left hand and tried
to thrust my knife into his throat
cut him slightly which only made hin
madden He reared and struck me
with his fore feet mGicting cuts from
which the blood flowed profusely.
81 knew my only chance was to hold
on to him, for if | turned him loose
he would soon gore me TO death,
got in several stabs, and was glad
to see that the animal was apparently
weakening from loss of blood, but sd
was !. We struggled and fought on
until I sank exhausted TO the earth
T I thought my time had come, for
was played out / heard the snorts and
gasps of the animal, but to my surprise
his attacks had ceased when ! sunk
down I partially turned on my side
and to my great joy saw that the deer
was also hors du combat
81 dragged myself to him and hasten
cd his departure by drawing my knife
across his throat / then set about
trying TO stop the flow Of my own
blood 7 had my hurts on face breas.
arms and body, and was very weak.
l was nearly a mile from my horse.
but managed to reach him, and, drag.
ging myself into the saddle, set out
for the place Of rendezvous. Fortunate
~ Hatch had reached there ahead of
me, and also, fortunately, he had q
large canteen of brandy, as well as "a
slight knowledge Of how TO dress
wounds and he patched me mp so that
the next day I was able to ride 10
where we had left our wagon and camp
outfit
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