Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-11-24
gNeward U UptpEatc A T r.
q Ont Date
Foot Ball and Bull Fights.

There is nothing noble or manly in
the present game Of foot ball. 1t re-
minds us of bull fight that we once
witnessed in a little valley at the
west end of the big Rocky Mountain
tunnel eighteen miles west Of Helena.
Two large droves of cattle came to-
gether among which were a number
of fierce bulls They began to bel
low defiance and paw the earth and
then there was rush, horns clashed
and half of the fighters went to their
knees on the first impact 1t was
! terrific. 1t didn't seem possible that
any skull could stand the terrible
blows. There were about twenty-five
bulls in the two herds and all were
engaged in the deadly combat. There
were about eight hundred cows in
the two herds, and in less than five
minutes most Of them were also en-
gagged in the terrific battle.
The cowboys secured their horses
in big log structure and then we all
climbed on top to watch the battle,
and some OF tie oldest cowboys iii
Montana said they had never seen
anything to match it for ferceness.
A young friend and l had driven
out from Helena the day before for
the purpose Of seeing the great tun-
mel and were guests of the cowboys
when the two herds came together.
No wild beasts ever fought with
more savage determination to con-
quer. Horns were broken in the mad
'rushes and blood flowed freely from
great gaping wounds. 1t was always
a head on rush and then they fought
for a chance to gore each other. In
most cases both bulls would fall to
their knees with locked horns, then
up and at it. When bull got whip
ped or badly wounded he would es-
cape out among the flghting...bellow-
ing COWS and then away from the
contest entirely. 1t was terrible
sight to see those great brutes bel
lowing with rage and frantic in their
hatred, and the COWS were no less
terrible in their frenzy.
The battle lasted for over one hour
and we on top of the log structure
felt none too safe, but we were cut
off from escape. The battle was all
around us.
Near the close of the fight a mon
ster bull which belonged to an old
man named Sullivan who had him
secured in his cattle pen near the
end of the tunnel, broke out through
the strong enclosure and came rush.
ing down the valley with tail erect.
"Two to one on Sullivan's bull,
said my Helena friend.
Five to one on the big black" said
big spurred cowboy, and it seemed
like safe bet, because the big black
had whipped every bull he fought; in
fact the big black was self pro-
claimed champion when the big red
Sullivan bull came charging and roar
ing down the slope. This new champ
ion seemed to call for peace among
the recently contending brutes, and
all turned their heads toward the
new danger, the big black alone ad-
vancing, he seeming to realize that
he alone had to meet the onrush and
he did but went to his knees He
was the heavier animal By four or
five hundred pounds, perfect mon
ster in size, but his fresh antagonist
had a big advantage. 1t was mag
niticent sight. There in the midst
of a great circle of cattle these two
champions battled for supremacy,
both sparring like human bulls, to
keep the horns Of the adversary from
reaching some vital part. 1t was
really scientific battle and the
exhibition of courage and cunning
gave us lesson in brute knowledge.
None of the other animals tried to
interfere and we on the corral roof
were glad Of 1t. After each round
OF onset it was interesting to watch
the animals push and attempt to