Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-06

William Pickett of Texas fights bulls
unarmcd and subducs the fiercest of them
with his teeth. An exciting contest re-
Gently took place at the Texas and Pacific
park in the presence of 500 people. One of
the widest bulls in Texas had been pro-
cured for the occasion, and he was in ex-
ccllent fighting shape, with steam pres
sure of $50 pounds to the square inch. The
arena was cleared, and the spectators held
their breath when tho ferocious animal
was ushcred into the ring snorting furi-
ously. Hundreds were reminded of q
Mexican bullfieht, save that Pickett, who
catered from the other side, was not
mounted Nor did he have q weapon, save
his teeth and his bare hands. Nor had he
made any especial preparations for the
event, except that he wore tight fitting
suit to prevent any danger of becoming
entanglcd with the animals horns. The
bull gallopcd wildly around the ring few
times. frightened at the sight of the thou
sands present. He snortcd and beloved
and paved the ground after he had recon-
noitcrcd and found no method of escape
A great cheer prolonged to the echo, arose
from 500 threats when Pickett appeared
through doorway on the side and aGl-
vanccd To meet his dumb opponent with
which he was To compete for the cham
pionship not only of Texas, but OF the
world
Pickett lost no time. He made for the
bull, but the animal rushed at him. head
on. and almost succeeded in goring him
with one Of his long. sharp horns Pick
EFT lodged and spared for wind After
several agile fcints he made dead rush
for the animal and seized him by the
horns. The bull struggled furiously. The
crowd chcer,d itself hUarsc Pickett held
on. With one dcxtCrous movement, born
of long practice, he twisted the animals
head To one side Quite ~ quickly ho
stopped. still holding fast TO the horns,
though every instant 1t looked as though
his life would bo crushed out, and seized
the animals undcrlip with his teeth,
while the vast crowd yelled Just how he
did u none could see, for he was too far
away from the seats, but TIE result was
apparent even at that distance. The bull
beloved like mad and endcayorcd to
shake of tho unwiclly burden by which
he was weighted down He paved and
scrapcd and shook his pondcrogs head,
but Pickett still held ON To have relcls
cd his hold would have meant death The
bull would have stamped him to pieces in
aminutc The crowd continued to yellr
twas. the finest exhibition of courage
they had ever seen. With particularly
agile movement Pickett. s:ill hanging to
the lip and the wide horns, swung his legs
above the level Of lis head and twisted
them around the bulls neck The crowd
IL seemed for minute would 60 wild.
Men and women shouted until they could
shout no more ! heavy backward move
ment OF his body, tighter grip Of the
quivering undcriip. totter, a staggcr,
and all was over That massive bull, as
wild us n mustang. was on the ground ap-
parently dead Pickett had won, hands
down. ....
Another sensational story Of q combat
between man and beast comes from Paris
Henri dc Narny. retired captain OF the
merchant marine. living in the Rue dale
STA, Is the owner of large orang outang,
which he brought with him from Borneo
two years ago. The orang outang, like all
great apes, Is seldom docile and always
treacherous De Varny's ape became a
terror TO all the neighbprs. II Inflicted
serious injury on several of them. No one