The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-08
STEER HUNTAT RIVERSIDE.
PARK KEEPER SHANNON FINALLY
SHOOT THE BEAST.

nc Took rive Shots to Kill Rim-The steer HAD
Escaped from n west Side Abattoir, and.
Amor Running Along tho Hudson River Rail-
way Track, Had Entered Riverside Park.
Ablack steer with a white head and a formidable
pair of horns became unruly at Eastman's abat-
toir at Eleventh avenue and Fifty.ninth street
at $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning as he was be-
ing led with n string Of other steers to the
slaughter platform of tho abattoir. He bel
lowed and plunged as he ran up the gangway to
tho slaughter platform, which is on a Lowell with
the second floor and is ten feet from the ground.
Ho turned his big horns as though he was going
to charge, and there was n panicky feeling
among tho cattle men. To prevent his spread
ing excitement TO the rest, the steer was turned
aside from the gangway to the north side of the
slaughter platform. There are windows open
ing on Fifty-ninth street on this side, which
reach to the floor. Tho instant no was FREQ the
steer lowered his head and made for n window
midway between Eleventh and Twelfth ave-
nues, and leapcd through 1t. 1t was a clean
jump, and he landed all right on his hoofs on
tho pavement, ten feet below.
The leap bowlldercd the brute apparently, for
he trottcd back and forth aimlessly for a timo
in front OF tho abattoir. Tho abattoir en-
ployccs knew that IL he turned east or started up
tho steep incline Of Wost End avenue, which be-
gins at the abattoir, he was liable to create
a panic, and perhaps injure people in that thor.
oughfare. 80 two or three trained riders leapod
astrido fast horses in the abattoir and, dashed
out to head tho steer away from West End ave-
nuc.
They trottcd their horses toward the steer,
and tho animal turned west. The children OF
the tenemcnts alongside the abattoir had scat
tered in wild alarm just before tho horsemcn
appeared. Ono Of them had n narrow, escape
from being tramplod. Tho steer rounded the
corner and started uptown along the Hudson
men breathed easier. lie turned once or twice
as II TO %rctracc his steps, but the purslcrs
shGH'f he hG repac h,% s ES,eRii nG f"n str saSnE w 2hHisn''is Is
open to the river. There is n coal dock there,
at which n crowd of mon was at work. The
steer became bewildercd and he dashed back and
forth, scattering the crowd in u panic. Then
he suddenly turned cast, ran along to the en-.
mound on the west side of the park about 900
feet from the driveway, stopped abruptly under
a tree and began to munich grass. .
Some visitors to the Park saw him and stood
gazing curiously at him and the cattlomen who
had followed. The news spread quickly that
despite the danger a crowd OF four or five hun
dred persons gathered rapidly. Park Police
not to go near him. The crowd kept increasing
cop to the Arsenal to have Keeper shannon.
the marksman of the, Park Department: come
apd t5 Snoc cst me stSer' S Sbn nno WAS ,I now h Gst r "a Pe aGd
reached the spot at ll:30 o'clock
a long range aim, under the steers shoulder.
hoping to reach the heart. He shot too high
and the brute beloved with pain and raced
around a neighboring tree, while the crowd OF
onlookers scattered in alright. shannon ran
TO shelter so that the steer couldn't sec him.
lie fired II second time. and the steer made an.
other plunge in n circle around the tree and
came to n standstill further up the little hill.
A third shot sent him racing in n circle again,
and a fourth added to his fury. He caught sight
OF shannon after the fourth bullet struck him,
and lowering his head charged, down the hill
toward him. He was far enough away for the
keeper to take deliberate aim between the eyes:
The rifle cracked and the big steer dropped
dead right in his tracks. The bullet had
pierced his brain and killed him Instantly. The
spectators gave n cheer as he dropped on his
side, and ran up to get n view of the carcass.
As Shannon walked toward him he saw the
%cattlemen run up and slash the brute's throat.
Later on the carcass was taken back to the
abattoir,