The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-01
THE FIERCE BUFFALO
Ne 10 MORE THAN A MATch FoH The
KING OF eEAsTs.

n FnGts UES Aet4u or Afftena usA -
Hss Afraid 20 Tackle Twe Lie.s ss
Once and Has Even Been Knewa 10
kiif an Elephant.
The bulls OF all the species of the
genus bos are savage and dangerous
st times. The Romans knew no bet
ter sport than to see a powerful bull
Of the common domestic species toss .
lion unless II was TO see him toss q
man, and bullhghts are still the most
loved diversion In all Spanish and
spanish.American countries. The Amer
lean bison used to be fine fighter. the
only indigenous animal which could
whip him being the grizzly bear. But
unquestionably the Hercest and most
formidable gladiators Of this genus are
the buffaloes Of Asia and Africa.
Experience has taught the lions OF
Africa discretion, and they never hunt
the buffalo singly, but always in pairs
or companies. The buffalo is far larger
and more powerful than the lion. and
one good toss Of his long. sharp. pow.
erfuI horns, which frequently exceed
twelve feet from tip to tip. Is usually
enough to kill the 30 called king Of
beasts" In fact, one buffalo is almost
q match for two lions. Once when Sir
Samuel w. Baker was hunting In Afri-
ca he found the dlslocated skeleton Of
q buffalo lying intermixed with the
broken bones Of lion. He concluded
from appearances that two lions had
attacked one buffalo and that the buff
falo had killed one Of them, but had
finally succumbed to the other. Major
yardon and Mr. Oswell once saw d
buffalo bull carry on successfully q
fight against three lions until be sud
denly dropped dead from the effects OF
a wound which Major vardon had pre-
viously given him.
The Asiatic buffalo 10 smaller ard
less muscular than his African cousin,
but he has his full share Of prowess.
He ls more than match for the tiger,
which declines the combat unless urged
to II by hunger. Even the domestic
bull buffalo usually will whip the tiger.
The Indian driver Of pair OF large
buffalo bulls piunges unhesitatingiy
into the darkest and most tangled for
eat, aware that the tiger probably viii
not attack him when thus accompanied
and that even II II should his team
would make short work Of the fero-
cious beast with their massive horns.
II Is said fhe buffalo sometimes kills
even the elephant It's mode OF attack
being to thrust lts horns into the ele.
plants belly. This may happen some
times, but can hardly take place often,
as the great weight and strength Of the
elephant make It when enrnged q foe
which neither the buffalo nor any 9TH
er animal can withstand. Buffalo fights
and fights between buffaloes and tigers
are main features in the entertain
ments Of Indian princes.
Most species OF wild animals usually
get along pretty well among them.
selves, but fights between buffalo bulls
are frequent and deadly. The victor in
such contests always rancorously pur-
sues the flying yanquished and tries to
hook him In the rear, Sir Samuel W.
Baker once came upon pair Of old
bulls which, while lighting, had got
their horns interlocked so they could
not get loose. Having rife Of great
effectiveness, he killed them both at one
shot.
The buffalo Is not only one Of the
most redoubtable OF fighters. but is al
30 the most ruthless and ferocious,
whether its antagonist be man or some
other animal. "Many animals charge
when infuriated," says Sir Samuel W.
Baker. but they can generally be
turned by the stunning effect Of RI
tie shot, even though they may be
mortally wounded, but a buffalo is a
devil incarnate when 1t has once de-
cided on the offensive. Nothing will
turn It. II not killed 1t will assuredly
destroy It's adversary. There is no
creature in existence that Is so deter
mined to stamp out the life Of Its op,
ponent Should 1t succeed In over
throwing It's antagonist 1t win not only
gore the body with Its horns, but IL
will endeavor to tear 1t to pieces and
will stand upon It's lifeless form and
stamp 1t with his hoofs until the rnu-
tilated remains are dlshgured beyond
all recognition" 1t is this ferocity OF
the buffalo which makes buffalo hunt
ing so exciting and so perilous sport
Experienced hunters are always care
ful not to stand In front Of buffalo
which has been felled by a bullet and
is apparently dead, for after every sign
OF life is gone II may spring to Its fent
and deal destruction in every direction,
Baron Harnier, a Prussian, shot buf-
falo on the White Nile several years
ago. His native servant had just tax
en- position near the head OF the ant
NAL, which was apparently dead, when
II sprang to its feet and knocked the
man headlong. Baron Harnler's rife
being unloaded, he courageously club
bed the weapon and tried to drive tho
buffalo of. The animal turned fur1