The St. Johns herald., 1900-05-12
BULLS FIGHT JAGUAR
Stirring Encounter on a Texas
 Cattle Ranch.
The Jaguar Whips Two Bulls, Hut Is Put to ROut by a Third and Finally Lassoed by Five
 Cowboys.

T was riding over the plain west ol
 Ban Bautista in the Peios country a
 few days ago trying 10 look up a
 strayed horse" writes 4. G. Gillespie,
 a Texas ranchman, to his brother in
 this city. There are always plenty of
 cattle On the plain, especially in the
 winter when the stock drifts south be-
 fore the northers. They were all there
 to-day, but instead of being scattered
 over the prairie as usual most of them
 were punched together near the mid
 de Of the plain and all the s:hers in
 sight were running to. join them. The
 herd was good two miles away, but
 had the curiosity to ride over 10 see
 what was happening. Iexpected to see
 fight between two bulls, but when I
 got 10 where l could look over the heads
 of the cattle I saw that jaguar had
 come out. on the plain and knocked over
 9 yearling heifer. The cows and steers
 had gathered and formed a half circle
 about him, and they were believing
 and paving the ground at a great rate,
 but they stayed at safe distance from
 the jaguar, who was tearing the heif-
 CTS throat, now and then lifting his
 head to sEarl at the cattle.
 So. far it was game of bluff CD both
 sides. The arrival Of a two-year-old
 half-grade Texas bull changed the sitr-
 alton. He passed to the front of the
 herd and advanced alone toward the jaguar. At this the jaguar left off tear ing at the heifer and leaping over her body faced tie bull. He was hand some, fierce looking fellow, with his
 sleek skin Of black ard yellow, as he crouched 10 the ground with lis white teeth showing ard the tip of his tail eurving in ard out like snake. The bali came on, roaring, stopped to paw the ground and shake his head at four or five yards away, then lowered his head as he charged upon the jaguar. Just as the horns seemed about 10 touch him the jG9uar rose, curvirg, from the ground, oyer.eaped head ard horns and landed square upon the bulls shoui- ders. Iii an instant he had shifted po- sition and. clinging to the bulls side and shoulders with his claws. was bite ing sav2ge,y into lhc back of his neck. The bull benowcd and shock himself, but could not shake the jaguar eff, and al fast raE, circliE2 back to the herd. Just before he go; amCrg the other cattle the jaguar lcaped to the ground and crept back 10 tie hcifer where he stopped again, facing the herd.
 'The young bull lad got more than enough Of fighting, and be took up his position among the -combatants in ths rear of tkc herd, btt rew cham pion appeared in the form of polleG angus bull, a big cne, as black as mid night. He ran straight for the jaguar, with perfect confderce; then, as he lowered his hor2.ess head 10 butt, the jaguar following tie same tactics as be- fore, rose above il with an easy leap, landed at the bulls shoulders, and in q second more was biting at his neck. The poled angus thrashed around and made longer struggle than the two- year-oid had, but the jaguar hung or and the big bail at fast ran back to the herd while the jagular dropped of and went back to the heifer as before.
 "He scarce,y had taken his position behind the carcass when he was called once more to defend it ard this time saw that it meant serious business fer him. The newcomer was an old Texas bull of the wild cattle variety. with long horns pointing forward; he had arrived late, but was full of fight. As he came on the jaguar. who perhaps was tired of fighting, did not attempt to spring upon him, but at the last moment jumped away. The bull followed him up, darting at him with his horns and showing an agility astonishing in SO heavy an animal. For 8 minute or so the jaguar lodged his rushes, then | turned and broke On the jump for the 1 wooden bank of Alamosa creek, mile ! away. The bull chased him a short dis | tance, stopped 10 below and gaze after him, then turned back to the herd and l promptly tried to start fight with the | boiled angus and with the young bull, but neither wantedanythingt to do with him.
 "Once safe away from the bull the jag uar slowed his pace and trotted along toward the timber, making good time with his long, smooth, cat-footed stride. He had got half way there when out from the creek bottom directly in front of him five cowboys rode up over the bank upon the plain. At once they spread out and rode to head him off from the timber. The jaguar made q few bounds in the effort to get pass them, then as they surrounded him stopped on his defense. There was not ! fireGrm in the party and it was not easy for them 10 force their horses near enough the jaguar to use their iassos. At last one of them, Mexican named Juan Riberas letting .the4oop of his las go lie on the ground, caught the moose and setting spurs to his horse rolled the beast upon his back and dragged him. Other iassos quickly caught the jaquar's neck ard one hind leg, and then with the three ropes pulledtaut the animal fay helpless The question was debated of trying to. pre- serve him alive, but was settled by one of the cowboys killing him with knife. measured the jaguar and he was just eight feet long. When rode away the cowboys were skinning him." N. Y. Sun.