Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-12-12
WILD CATTLE IN ENGLAND.
The King Bull Of chiIIinsham Herd Re.
Gently Slain.

Recently the famous herd OF whit,
wild cattle in Chillinghum Park. North.
umberland. England. was thinned out
at a shoot held on the occasion of the
visit of the Grand Duke Johann AL.
brecht of Mecklenburg-Schwer to the
Earl of Tankerville, the owner of the
park. The grand duke was successful
In shooting the king bull Of the herd
These cattle are supposed to be direct
| descendants of the British cattle de-
scribed by Caesar as nearly as large as
| elephants. There are herds of wild
! cattle in CadZow Forest, Lyme Park
| and Charley Park, as well as in Chill
ilngham Park. but none are considered
| TO be of so pure blood as this herd.
The park has been enclosed since the
nave had no opportunity to come in
contact with other breeds without the
knowledge IF the owner.
The animals are usually pure white.
except the ears, which are red Their
sense Of smell is said to be very keen.
Ihey can detect instantly anything
"nich has come in contact with man.
and will not touch it. They can follow
the scent of mans footsteps as
readily as a hound does that of a fox
The hair is thick, especially about the
neck. once the neck was covered with
sort OF name, said to be almost as
tnick as that of lion. While fierce
"hen pressed. they prefer to keep out
OF the sight of man, and will move off
When they see him, even if one is at a
great distance.
Inc Cunningham herd numbers about
seventy. 1t is ruled over by a king
pull. The king is selected on the prin-
cfple OF the survival Of the fittest
When young bull thinks he has at
.aiiieo q oesree of strength that will
insure nm a victory over the ruling
bull. he challenges him to eoh+ h.,
advancing toward him and paving I'm
me earth. The king must of necessity
accept the challenge IF he is defeated
ne accepts the decision and relino,,isbes
MS coveted position in favor OF the
VICTOR. He is then a Danish hui1 ;,
Inc new monarch is recognized bv tha
herd as the leader.
Al long intervals hunt is ,ar-
initted. Previous to the hunt in ut;o,,
the grand duke participated no ono
nad hunted the cattle since 1879 vben
tne Prince and Princess of Wales now,
tne King and queen of Great Britain
VISITED Chilingham castle and tho
iorfher shot the king bull. The keener
VINO accompanied the prince on that
occasion used to tell with a great dea,
Vi satlsfactfon how the prince, acting
vi Ills adV1ce, unlike many other nor
SONS VINO had visited the park, was
wllllne TO kneel to conquer. Following
'he ADVICE of the keeper, he got down
on one knee when about to fire. in
order to secure better aim. One shot
accoiIpIshed his object. the ball pass
ing through the animals neck.
oir waiter Scott referred to the
caieoonian bulls, of which the cattle
IN Cunningham Park are supposed TO
De decendents. in his novels and in
Lazy OF the Lake" For manv
years the Highlanders. anxious for a
revision OF events in time of national
~ ises performed a ceremony which
the Druids are said to have practised
before them. A white bull was s1ain
ana ne among them who was counted
the possessor of unusual prophetic
powers would wrap himself in the
reeking hide. Then he would lie on
the verge of foaming cataract and
await the prophetic vision.
Boethius tells of an instance in
winch the CaledOnian bull figured
which gave rise to the family name
OF Turnbull. Robert Bruce, after he
mad obtained the kingdom of Scotland
ana peace was restored, went on a
hunt for recreation. He was wander
ing in a certain part of the forest
Wherever inclination led him and a |
little way from his companions. Sud- |
denly Caledonian bull, which had
been wounded by a spear. came crash |
ing through the underground toward. |
him. He appeared SO unexpectedly |
that the king could not get out of his
way. Death seemed imminent. His
followers seemed rooted to the
ground. stupefied by fear. One man.
however was equal to the occasion. |
Resolving to sacrifice his life, il need |
be, for the king, he sprang forward.
and catching the angered animal by |
the horns, he not only stopped it, but
by powerful twist threw the animal
over on its side. 1t was only the work
of moment for the other men to run
up and kill the animal with their
spears. Bruce, as an evidence of his
appreciation of the act, decreed that
thenceforth the mans name should
be Turnbull.
The wild cattle Of Chillingham have
been depicted by more than one
artist Of note. Sir Edwin Landseer
often visited Chillingham Castle He
would spend days at time wander
ing in the forest of the park studying
the cattle. Over the sideboard in the
dining-room of the castle there hung
a few years ago painting of his en-
titled "The Death Of the Bull It
represents the bull which tossed one
Of the keepers of the park named
Barnes, and also Bran, the favorite
deerhound of the Earl of Tankerville.
The dog had held the bull at bay
while the keeper, who had been