The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-29

the place, pushing the others about, dis
turbing various sociable little groups of
the more companionable fellows, and TAX
ing particular delight in forcing any one
who had settled himself in an especially
agreeable place for peaceful repose to get
up and hustle for other quarters.
1t was about the time when everybody
except guards, keepers and the lower
animals are supposed to be engaged in
religious worship that the garden was
startled by chorus of bellows and snorts
from the buffalo yard. All the keepers
and the few visitors who had entered the
grounds rushed to the scene. There, in the
middle of the Enclosure, stood Bill, his
huge head close to the ground, which he
was paving in an ugly manner while his
tail swished in the air like whip. In a
semicircle, but at a respectful distance,
We're half dozen of the largest members
of the herd, also digging into the earth and
snorting belligerently while the others of
the colony were gathered in one corner,
with their shaggy whiskers almost touch
ing the ground, but discreetly coptenting
themselves with believing at the top of
their capacious lungs. 1t was evident that
the bully had provoked his usually meek
comrades to open rebellion. Active hostil-
tiles were not long delayed.
While Bill stood half contemptuously
returning the angry snorts of his enemies,
large buffalo detached himself from the
semlcircle and approached the big fellow
slowly and apparently DESTROYS of digging
his way toward him through the earth
with his nose. When about six feet dis
tant, with the big glaring eyebals of both
animals fastened upon each other, the new
champion sprang forward and their thick
heads met with crash like simultaneous
bangs on the bass drums of score of mill
tary bands. The new champion recoied
before the superior strength of Bill, but he
was game and he returned to the attack.
For more than five minutes the combat
ants hurled against each other, their horns
frequently locked, and each striving with
all his sinewy strength to force up the
Others head and get in decisive blow
with the keen horns in the softer flesh of
the neck. Bill was steadily forcing his
antagonist back toward the fence, when
another buffalo detached himself from the
semlcircle, and, with head down and tail
up, charged directly upon the object of
general hatred. The blow took effect in
B1lFs tremendous neck, laying open the
heavy flesh and covering the thick name
red in an instant.
Itwas then that Bill showed what almost
all DULLES show when hard beset-the
white feather. Disconnected and per-
picked, he turned from one to another of
his assailants striving to avoid the blows
OF each. He beloved with rage and evil
dent fear when still another buffalo Joined
the attacking party and thrust his sharp
horn into his flank.
The issue of the battle was not long
doubtful. With all his enormous strength
Bill was forced about the pen, receiving
numerous wounds in front and flank from
the lnfuriated animals that were now
crowding upon him. He made last des-
perate stand near the fence and succeeded
in hurting one of his foes to the earth and
ripping open the side of another, but he
himself was soon forced to his knees and
repeatedly gored as he endeavored to rise
He was soon too weak to maintain him
self on his legs and all seemed over for
him, when Head-keeper Marley and a
half dozen keepers. armed with pitchforks
and clubs, leaped the fence and rushed to
his rescue. 1t was a difficult, if not to saw
dangerous, thing to repel the enraged
bisons, who had made up their determine
tion to destroy their oppressor in one good
enough to enable the keepers TO drag Bill
out of the gate.
While this was going on every animal in
the Zoo possessing a strong voice was
keeping up a musical accompaniment, in
which the trumpetings of the elephant
Bolivar and his usually quiet companions
and the roars and snarls of the big cats in
the Honhouse were particularly promi-
nent.
Bills injuries were found to be serious,
and it is possible that his unhappy fate
viii be to furnish buffalo outlets to the
carnivora. AT any rate he will not be re-
stored TO the buffalo-yard.
After Bills subjugation the buffaloes
that had made the attack were noticed to
bear themselves with a new air of self
importance. This was especially evident
in the case of the one who had the courage
to strike the first blow. He, of course,
succeeds Bill as boss of the ranch, and in
pointing him out the head keeper, who is
of classical turn, bestows upon him the
title of "Campeador.