Year: 1878

A BOYS DESPERATE STRUGGLE IN THE
PROSPECT PARK PADDOCK,


The deer paddock in Prospect Park.
Brooklyn, which covers several acres. is
enclosed with an iran fence. 1t contains
about thirty deer, some sheep, numbers
OF rare domestic fowl and swans, and
usually has one or two sacred cattle within
it. The keeper of the paddock, Michael
kenniff, OF 500 Bergen street, BROOKLYN,
visits the Park every day to feed the deer
and collect the fresh eggs of the fowls.
On Thursday morning he took his four
teen-year-old son, John who was to pick


some chestnuts within the enclosure. Mr..


kennlff went to clean with turpentine the
glass that covers the inscription in brass


on the stone marking the site of the
American defence in the battle of Long
Island while his son scaled the fence and
started toward the chestnut tree. The
| drove of deer was grouped near the


Keepers house, and as the lad approach


ed they pricked up their ears and the


largest OF the herd, fat buck, stepped
out and started toward Kenniff, walking
and watching the boy intently. The boy
picked up the thick end of piece of
rope and threw it at the deer, startling


him little. Then the boy turned,
thinking no more of the animal, and
went along picking up some chestnuts.
While he was thus engaged the deer came
softly up behind him and gored him with
his antlers in his right leg, knocking him
down. Then the animal backed off and
started at him again, but Kennff caught
him by the antlers with both hands and
held him back. The deer struggled
to get free, but the boy maintained his
grasp, although he was kept off his feet,


being pushed along by the animal. When
he came near sapling he quickly threw
out his hand and steadied himself, so as
to get on his feet. Then he started on
run backward toward the keepers lodge,
still keeping the deer's antlers in his
hands. He ran along, crying for help.
The animal pushed him fast.


When they reached little hillock at
the foot of which was the house, the boy
fell and began to roll over and over; but
he kept his hold on the antlers; fearing
that the minute he let go the deer would
run the sharp prongs through him. The


boy rolled up against the house and there
managed to get on his feet again. With
one hand holding the deer and the other
against the house, he made his way along
until he came to the door. He tried to lift
the latch but could not. and there was no
one inside to answer his calls. Then he
let 60 his hold, made a dash for the en-
closure where the hens are Kept, and tried
to get over the fence; but the deer ran up-
on him and knocked him down. Then
the animal struck him twice in the face
with his antlers, cutting a cash near his
right eye and tearing open the flesh of the
the cheek. The lad cried piteously for
help. A boy passing along Flatbush ave-
nue. saw the deer bucking him, and in
formed the driver of passing horse car.
The driver and two passengers scaled the
fence and ran at full speed to the boys
assistance. AT the sight of them the deer
ran away. The boy was taken to the City
Hospital, where his wounds were dressed.


A reporter saw the lad in his cot in a
sunny ward of the hospital. He was in a
burning fever of excitement, not having
recovered from his fright. His shirt was
bloody and his clothes were grass stained.
He described the attack minutely and
said: "oh, if the biggest deer had got at
ter me I'd been dead. Father keeps him
tied up because he is so fierce. If any
stranger should come into the paddock
while he was loose, he'd be killed sure.
The one that came after me was fearful
strong and his horns were fearful sharp.
| thought was going to be killed entire
ly."


The boys injuries are severe but not
fatal.