River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-05-18

The believing from the otner side
of the river was getting nearer. A
cloud of dust showed itself on that side
of the bridge. Mr.. Wilson's big Jersey
was out! \ moment more and we could
see his short horns and strong back un-
der the sand and gravel that he was
throwing into the air.
1t was right in the middle of the
bridge that the two powerful creatures
met. We heard their horns clash to-
gether and their struggling hoofs grind
the planks. Both heads were lowered,
and both sinewy frames were pushing
with all their might.
1t was such an exhibition of strength
as / have never seen equaled. Those
thick, short necks seemed made of solid
iron.
For time il seemed as if neither
would be able to obtain any advantage
over his antagonist, but at length the
Jersey was forced to step slowly back,
although still disputing the ground
with many a desperate rally to recover
what was lost
Presently, while the two furious com
batants were braced against each other,
| crosswise to the road, the TANKS of the
inferior bun struck the old, rotten rail-
ing of the bridge, and we heard it crack
loudly.
The Holstein was pushing with ire
mendous vigor; the Jersey lost another
foot of grouid. and there was no chance
for him to regain it. Crash. went the
old wood behind him; and sheer off the
bridge, and down into the river, tum-
bled rail, bull and all.
OF course the attention of the specta-
tors was fixed upon the vanquished an
imal, in some anxiety for his safety.
But he did not seem to be injured in the
least Turning his broad, curly front
toward his pasture, he swan strongly
for the shore, only some 30 yards dis
tant, and quickly scrambled up the
bank.
In the meantime the Holstein re-
manned upon the bridge. For some
minutes he stood motionless. exactly
in the position he had occupied when
his enemy disappeared. His head was
down, at a charge bayonet" depres-
sion and his tail remained lifted just as
it had been in the fight. He seemed
but the figure of bull cut in black
and white marble.
The catastrophe was evidently be-
yond his comprehension. What had be-
come of his adversary, who was so sud-
denly and so unaccountably gone?
Presently he began to back straight
across the bridge, taking up one foot
after another very slowly, and occasion
ally paving the planks with his fore
hoof. Back, back, back he stepped, all
the while in an attitude of sullen de-
fiance, with lowered head and threat
ening below.
The rail behind him was rotten and
weak. Its condition had long been re-
proach to the town. 1t broke instantly
as his weight pressed against it. He
did not seem to notice the obstruction
had touched it.
Back, back he pushed. Both hind
feet went over the edge of the bridge.
His head flew up, his fore hoofs scraped
the planks, and then there was a great
splash in the water below.
For a few seconds the big Holstein
was entirely lost 10 sight, while the
waters eddied and surged above the
spot where he had gone down. Then
he rose and turned his curly pate to-
ward the shore, landing in his own pas
ture, precisely as the Jersey had landed
in the other.
Neither of the animals had suffered
any injury, and the amount of below
ing and scraping with which they filed
up the remainder of the day showed
that both were as sound as ever in lung
and limb.
The town forthwith voted to fix a
good, substantial railing upon that
bridge, so that, after all, the meeting
of the two bulls became the occasion of
a very necessary road improvement
Golden DAYS.