The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-26
THRILLING BULL FIGHT.
Cowboy and BEaddened Buffalo Meet
In the Arena.

New York, July 2S.-From the eleva-
tons surrounding the buffalo corral at
the Bronx Geological park 5000 specta-
tors witnessed a thrilling bun fight yes
terday afternoon. They saw the mad
dened bison bull Cody attack a cowboy
time and again, and only the alert
ness Of his trained COW pony saved his
life. For an hour the battle was
waged.
It was far from the intention of Act
ing Director H. R. Mitchell to treat the
public to a bull fight. but Cody's bad
temper had not been counted upon. A
few days ago the bunalO stepped on
broken piece of wire netting, causing
painful wound in the right hind hoof
The wound festered. and DR.. W. Reed
Blair feared blood poisoning would set
in The keepers made futile attempts
to capture Cody, SO that operation could
be performed, but the buffalo drove
them from the Enclosure.
cody Does Damage to Property.
So painful was the injury that Cody
became fretfuL He began to butt ev-
erything in sight and demolished with
his massive head q thick board part1-
ton of the barn. Director Mitchell de-
cided that If he wished to save the
rest Of the building the wire must be
removed from Cody's hoof.
Pete Abbey, a cowboy of the Pawnee
Bill Wild West show, was hired. He
rode his trained mustang Pinto to the
Zoo yesterday, and told Director Mitch
ell that ne would undertake to lasso
Cody in five minutes.
Cody looked as mild as an old COW
when Abbey rode his pony into the coz
raj. He stood under the lee of the shed
with his wounded hoOf lifted from the
ground and his bushy head dropped.
Cody had stood for hours like a man
with a dull toothache, ready to flare up
on the slightest provocation.
Director Mitchell, Raymond l. Dit
mars. Dr. W. Reed Blair and Keepers
Tooney, McEnroe, Wallace and Rudolph
went into the corral on foot to assist
in the capture. All carried lassos, but
Abbey was the only expert among them
Their presence, however, probably
saved the cowboys life.
With swinging Iariat Abbey ad-
vanced slowly toward the buffalo The
moose sailed through the air and settled
on the bushy neck of the bull Cody
shook his head and tossed it of
Then, with a thunderous roar, the buf-
falo charged cowboy and pony. The
wounded hoof was forgotten and the
pent-up rage of several days suffering
turned the buffalo into demon. Cody
dashed with lowered head straight at
the pony and was almost upon it when
Abbey dug his purs into Pinto's sides
and the mustang jumped forward. The
buffalo darted by behind him.
Cody checked himself, whirled around
and charged the pony and rider again
This time Abbey and the pony were
framed between the fence and the
sheds. The keepers rushed forward and
hurled their lariats. The ropes settled
over Cody's back and he turned to face
the new enemies4 This gave Abbey his
chance and he whipped his pony out
Of the dangerous quarters.
Cody Fully aroused.
The believing bull charged one
keeper after another until he had
driven all of them over the fifteen
foot fence. Keeper TOoney left
piece of his coattafls on Cody's horns.
The task Of capturing Cody was then
left to Abbey.
The believing bull and shouting
men attracted every person in the
park to the corral, and soon the hills
were covered with men and women.
When Abbey was caught between the
fence and sheds they expected to see
him gored to death. They were too
awed to cheer when the keepers
saved him.
The skin of the cowboy and the
clever lodging of the pony saved them
both from death many times Step
by step Abbey and PintO-for equal
credit must be given to the splendid
COW pony-forced the buffalo into the
corner between the fence and sheds.
Abbey made fifty unsuccessful casts
with his lasso before he finally land
ed the moose over Cody's head.
Then the keepers ran in and helped
him drag the buffalo toward a tree.
The rope was tied around 1t and an
other lasso was cast around Cody's
foot. Abbey took the end of this lasso
and spurred Pinto forward on the run.
The shock threw the big buffalo to the
ground and in an instant the four
keepers were sitting on his head It
was simple matter then for DR..
Blair to perform the operation.