Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-02
FIGHTING A BISON
Exciting Battle With a Savaue
Bull In India.

In her book, "Roughing II In South
ern India" Mrs. NJ A. Handley pre-
sents a graphic description of thrill
Ing adventure In which n member Of
her party played one OF the star parts.
1t was a brilliant but unwilling en-.
gagement and II was too serious
while ii lasted either for comfort or
for the enjoyment OF the grimly hu-
morous phases Of his enforced battle
and wild scramble for his life. Mrs
Handley says:
Although as a forest officer +.
had frequently looked death in the
face, he never felt so utterly helpless
at the critical moment as he did In a
certain adventure that he had with
a bull bison. The animal took the
aggressive as soon as he was dlscov-
cred. r. had time only 10 jump be-
hind a buttress tree.
The bison began by chasing him
round the tree till his head swan.
The animal gave him not a moments
leisure In which 20 take aim. The
buttress tree Is not easy 20 climb. for
the trunk throws out walls or but
tresses all round, between which are
deep recesses. To he caught in one
OF them would certninly mean being
pinned to the tree and gored TO death.
Half an hour of this exercise did
not tire the bison in the least, where
as from moment TO moment F. grew
dizzier Knowing that he could not
keep IL up much longer and that q
fall would be fatal. he started TO run
I'm another direction. Quick IA he
was, the bull was quicker. Suddenly
7. felt touch on his back. Then he
felt himself caught up by the belt
and tossed high into the air.
Luckily the belt gave way. for 9th
erwise he would have been brought
down again. to be either tossed once
more or gored AS IL was, he was
thrown TO a distance. while his rife
flying out OF his hand. struck with a
metallic ring on a rock. From where
be lay. Jared almost into a stupor. f
saw the angry bull go up to the rife
and trample II into a ruin OF splintered
wood and twisted iron.
The bison then turned his angry
ewes about aud advanced toward F.,
who thought himself pOwerless to stir.
At the last moment, however, he
managed TO scramble up from under
the creatures very nose.
Near at hand were his men. one OF
whom carried his spare rife. This man
watched his opportunity. darted side
wise. dropped the gun into the grass
and placed stick upright beside II
30 mark the spot where II lay. Mean
while all the others danced and
shouted I'm order 10 distract the bulls
attention.
Running his best. F. must now
needs stumble. but he picked himself
up aud turned round 70 see what was
In store for him. Before he could slip
20 one side the bull plunged ut him.
knocking him down. aud stood over
him. with the foam from his mouth
dropping into his face
The huge brown head bent lower
and lower tin the bloOdshot eyes were
turned downward.
~. had no time To think. He had
10 do whatever the moment suggested
He grasped the horns. was raised up
by them and balanced for au age long
second In the air: then. partly thrown.
partly springing TO earth. he tore
ahead without stopping TO look behind
him.
AS he ran toward the rifle placed
ready for him the pounding of hoofs
behind suddenly ceased. although the
believing and snoring were redou-
bled. He turned TO look. and at the
snme instant the mems cries turned
from despair TO JOY. The hull had
trapped himself
I'm bis blind fury. needless OF his
own steps. he had fallen nearly chest
deep into wedse shaped c-evice In
the rock. with all his feet In u bunch.
and the more he struggled the tighter
he stuck II was the work OF moment
for T. TO seize the rifle and fire the
shot that put the bison out OF his mis-
cry"