St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-19
SAW The STRUGGLE.
An Exciting Battle in Which
q Wild Steer Causes
Trouble.
Breaking From a Car, 1t De-
fieS All Effort at a
Capture.
Finally 1t Took to the River
and Was Followed in
Boats.
After an Upset the Men Are
After an Upset the Men Are
Rescued and the Steer
Captured.

One of the most exciting contests be-
tween man and beast ever witnessed in
st. Paul was seen by few yesterday on
the banks of the river below the bridge.
| The combat was between several men
in boat and young steer which had
escaped i'll some way from one Of the
freight cars in the railroad yards. The
animal was wild, as are the greater
number of the beef cattle brought to
st. Paul, and not being familiar with
the surroundings of civilization, made a
break for liberty at the first opportunity
in search of his accustomed prairies and
fellow beeves.
1t was about o'clock when there was
a shouting and halloing in the railroad
| yards, and the cries of men were heard
mingled with the barking of dogs and
the believing of cattle in the stock cars.
There was sound of rushing feet, the
clatter of hoofs on the wooden ties of
the tracks. and all animal dashed into
view.
1t was a red steer, yearling, and
! was in the best possible condition.
Fright caused it to CULVER in every mus
Gle, aud the sense of freedom after
days of confinement in the cars on the
road to st. Paul caused it to assume the
appearance of an animal at bay. ready
to protect its liberty with its life. The
tail was hoisted in the air: the eyes
protruded from their sockets with a
glare of ferOcity. and every nerve and
muscle was twitching and tense. The
animal presented handsome appear
ance as it stood at bay, and every mo-
ton challenged the admiration of those
who saw it.
Two men carrying ropes ran down
the tracks after the animal, and one of
them made a dash to throw a rope over
its horns. The steer waited for an in
slant and then, as the man came within
distance, he lowered his horns and
made jump for the daring intruder.
The rope was dropped to the ground, the
man gave yell of fear, and as the ami
NAL charged he narrowly escaped i'm
paIemeDt on the polished horns. The
second man made a similar attempt but
was equally unsuccessful. The steer
stood his ground, and after few angry
shakes of his head walked toward the
river bank.
Then some of the men who had gath
cred to see the fun began shouting and
brandishing clubs while they advanced
towards the frightened animal. 1t was
their expectation that the steer would
submit to capture, as there was no way
for him to escape except by jumping
into the river and swimming to the OPP
pOSite shore, q feat which it would take
an unusually courageous animal to at
tempt. They slowly advanced, the men
prepared their ropes, and all was ready
for the final rush, when there was a
sudden change in the programme. The
steer turned towards the river, looked
at the water an instant, and then Sprang
out into the current.
A small Skitf was mOored to the bank
and three of the men jumped into 1t in
pursuit. They had but one pair of oars.
but they succeeded in making good
headway after the animal which was
swimming with powerful strokes for
the other shore. The rapid current
drlfted them down the river. but the
animal was reserving his strength, and
with swift and strong strokes was
rapidly breaStiDg the current. The oars
were manfully piled, and the little
craft darted through the water under
the influence of the strokes OF the oars
III the hands of good rover. The
chase was seen to be a long one in all
probabilities, as the steer was good
swimmer.
The men in the boat then changed
their tactics, and instead of making
directly for the animal. pointed the
Prov of the boat down the river, and
with the assistance of the current soon
obtained position below the swimming
steer, and then started across to inter-
cept him. He noticed that they were
1 fri tn
up stream. They followed and gained
rapidly OH him. as he was becoming
tired from his efforts and the cold water
was having It's effect. In few mo-
ments the boat had arrived within ten
feet of the animal, and one of the ropes
was thrown over his horns.
There was shout from the people on
the shore as they saw the apparent
victory, and the boats head was pointed
for the bank with the struggling animal
in tow. But they had reckoned with
out their host, for the steer made up his
mind that he would not go to shore in
this manner. He tried to swim the
other way, but the oarSman buckled to
his work, and the boat made slow, but
Snre headway. Then the steer made
strong push down the river ana sue
eeeded in swinging the head of the boat
around. 1t swung alongside him and as
his head bobbed in the water by the
| side of the BOAT one of the men struck
the animal over the horns with his oar.
There was a splashing and floundering
| in the water, the animal tried to Jerk
! loose, the boat gave sudden lurch and
was over.
Several men started to the rescue of
the others in boats, but they were SO
far down the river that it was doubtful
if they could arrive in time to do any
good. The steer then started for the
shore, and it could be seen that in some
manner his progress was impeded.
Then it was discovered that the rope
! had been made fast TO the boat and he
was towing it to the shore. The men
| who had been in the boat clung to the
! little raft. and they were slowly taken
| to the bank by the animal, which had
| captured them instead of being caught
| himself.
The boat arrived at the shore at about
| the same time as the men in the other
boats reached 1t. The people who had
witnessed the struggle ran down tine
shore and helped the haIf-frozen men to
the shore, while others secured the
tired and painting animal which, imme2
diately on landing, had thrown himself
on the ground 10 rest. He was taken
back to the car from which he had
escaped, and the men who had been in
the water were given soH.e dry clothing
| by the men in the boarding house in the
vicinity.
1t was an exciting sight. and those
who witnessed it Will probably never
have the chance OF seeing anything of
/ the kind again. Had it not been for the
! animal which they were trying to cap
ture it is probable that they would nave
! drowned Ihe animal belongs 10 the
stockyards and is owned By Fred Hef-
! ferin, OF Dickinson. y. ID. The men in
! the boat who had such Il narrow escape
were Henry Ellis. Henry Williams and
| Charles Henley.
Notice OF RemoVa!.
| The Minnesota Savings Bank will re-
nave to corner Wabasha and Seventh
streets OH May |.
l. BibulOus Thieves