The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-02-20
FREAKS OF CATTLE.
Some Commit Suicide-SOme Survey
Land and Lay Out Roads : Some
Make Important Discoveries, and
Some Study ASfrOnOmy.

Some Study Astronomy.
Fowls of the air and various animals that
walk the earth. have faculties or senses which
are denied 10 man. Man in all his glory 1t
not in some respects the equal Of the hum
blest creatures. For instance: The dog can
| trace or follow track by smell. Man cannot
do this.
mails are gifted with the sense of direction
and can return 10 their homes, even when
carried away in such manner as TO deceive
human beings.
Cowsare natural born surveyors, while man
must have instruments and study the art, b.
fore coming proficient Cows, from instinct
| lay out their paths in the most direct routes
is evidenced wherever they roam at large.
AS discoverers OF the hidden mysteries ol
the earth beneath our feet they can beat the
most scientific human geologist In tbe world
walk and sink their bodies from the sight oi
man, they can find 1t, as II by instinct. Il
you have any doubt on this subject, consult
some man who has sent his lavorite COW out
| to forage for living on the low lands Of some
| Of our streams.
| While COWS may not study surveying at all
/ and still know more OF the art than II Is pos
their their habits affords a subject for mans con:
tenn platiop. Along this line We would re-
mark that Mr.. George T. Wilson has mum.
Der of cattle on bis farm, some two or three
miles east Of the city, and he Is taking some
interest in cattle as we'll as In farming. His
experience in farming on bis present location
is limited as yet, but he has had two months
experience with cattle. Up to this time be
has learned some facts concerning their care
and their habits, and he Is hopeful OF still
more successful future. He has already learn
ed that some cattle perform strange acts
which to his mind, are still unexplained
For instance:
Not many days ago half grown steer, In
fairly good condition as TO flesh, walked to
| the edge of Norris Creek. and submerged Its
dead, it seemed that it sought to keep It's fee,
dry, while It's body lay upon the high and dry
ground. There were not the slightest evi
dences Of a struggle. The steer died without
effort to save itself. The question now is, did
that steer commit suicide, or stick It's head In
the water for the purpose Of ending it's days
MIR. Wilson says that he does not understa nd
| the strange act. If any man acquainted with
the habits OF the COW will explain this death
| IL will be received as information.
| Again: Mr.. Wilson feeds bis cows In
troughs which very much resemble q carpen
ter's bench-sixteen feet long. three feet wide
| and perhaps thirty inches high. In going tc
the lot one evening recently he found one o.
his COWS lying fiat on her back In one OF the
troughs, with her feet pointing TO the stars
From the gestures Of her feet and her genera
position, he thought she was delivering tc
] the assembled cattle lecture on astronomy
| But, If 90, they were inattenttve. He protest
ed against the use Of bis feed troughs ior lee
ture platforms. apd proposed to have her va
cate. He first tried to induce the COW TO gel
| up, but to no purpose. He then tried TO force
| her out. But this was Intellectual. He then
sought help and turned the trough on It's side
/ when the COW assumed her normal uprigh,
/ postion,-as though nothing had happened
| It may be that you eau tell what induced hei
| TO ascend the lecture platform.
i Mr. Wilson's cattle, as q rule, are dehorned
but there are few exceptions. Those having
horns are very obliging about helping theil
jneighbors over. or through, the wire fence
Il When vicious horned cattle first lose theil
| th6p W0Ttf
seeing Half crazy with anger at being held
and hurt, they usually make for the neares
cow with q vim and viciousness that woulC
i mean much under other circumstances. In
stead Of lifting their intended victim from
the ground their surprise and astonishment al
seeing only a red mark up the side OF the COW
which they aimed to gore affords subject fol
contemplation. They seem thoroughly dis
gusted. and II they ever attempt to gore othel
cattle Mr.. Wilson has notinfUrmed us OF tht
fact.