The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-15
ON A TEXAS PLAIN.
Battle Between Three Bulls and q
Jaguar Captured by
COwbays.

Il was riding over the plain west of
San Bautista in the Pelos country
few days ago trying to look up a
strayed horse" writes A. g. Gillespie,
q 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
die of the plain and all the others in
sight were running to join them. The
aerd was good two miles away, but
l had the curiosity to ride over to see
what was happening. | expected to see
fight between two bulls, but when
got to where | could look over the heads
of the cattle l saw that jaguar had
come out on the plain and knocked over
a yearling heifer. The cows and steers
had gathered and formed half circle
about him, and they were believing
and paving the ground at a great rate,
but they stayed at a safe distance from
the jaguar, who was tearing the heif-
er's throat, now and then lifting his
head to snarl at the cattle.
$50 far it was game of bluff on both
sides. The arrival of two-year-old
half-grade Texas bull changed the situ-
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 the bull. He was a hand
some, fierce looking fellow, with his
sleek skin of black and yellow, as he
crouched to the ground with his white
teeth showing and the tip of his tail
curving in and out like a snake. The
bull 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 to touch
him the jaguar rose, curving. from the
ground, overleaped head and horns and
landed square upon the bulls Shout
ders. In an instant he had shifted po-
sition and, clinging to the bulls side
and shoulders with his claws, was bit
ing savagely into the back of his neck.
The bull beloved and shook himself,
but could not shake the jaguar off, and
at last ran, circling back TO the herd.
Just before he got among the other
cattle the jaguar leaped to the ground
and crept back to the heifer where he
stopped again, facing the herd.
''The young bull had got more than
enough of fighting, and he took up his
position among the non-combatants in
the rear of the herd, but a new cham
pion appeared in the form of polled
angus bull, a big one, as black as mid
night He ran straight for the jaguar,
with perfect confidence; then, as he
| lowered his hornless head to butt, the
! jaguar following the same tactics as be-
fore, rose above it with an easy leap,
landed at the bulls shoulders, and in a
second more was biting at his neck.
The polled angus thrashed around and
made longer struggle than the two
year-old had, but the jaguar hung on
and the big bull at last ran back to the
herd while the iagular dropped off and
went back to the heifer as before.
''He scarcely had taken his position
behind the carcass when he was called
once more to defend it and this time 1
saw that it meant serious business for
| 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, darling at him with his horns and
showing an agility astonishing in so
| heavy an animal. For a minute or so
the jaguar lodged his rushes, then
turned and broke on the jump for the
wooden bank of Alamosa creek, mile
away. The bull chased him short dis
lance, stopped to below and gaze after
him, then turned back to the herd and
promptly tried to start fight with the
polled angus and with the young bull,
but neither wanted anything 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, catfooted 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 a
few bounds in the effort to get pass
them, then as they surrounded him
stopped on his defense. There was not
firearm in the party and it was not
easy for them to force their horses near
enough the jaguar to use their lassos.
At last one of them, a Mexican named
Jlan Ribera, letting the loop of his las
so lie on the ground, caught the
moose and setting spurs to his horse
rolled the beast upon his back and
dragged him. Other lassos quickly
caught the jaquar's neck and one hind
| leg, and then with the three ropes
pulled taut the animal lay helpless. The
question was debated of trying to pre-
serve him alive, but was settled by
one of the cowboys killing him with a
| knife. | measured the iaguar and he