Year: 1875

| q CHASTISlNG A BULL. q 44'+'
A Michigan Farmer Plays the Part


~ Of Matador.


From the HillsdAle Business.


Mr.. Elijah Pond, of the township
of Adams, had upon his farm a large,
powerful and valuable bull, whose
general reputation for propriety was
bad, but who had always acknowledg-
ed the mastery of Mr.. Pond. He had
been terror to the help upon the
farm, and had often hurried out of
his neighborhood those who had oc-
sasion to pass through the fields
where he was grazing. Mr.. Pond
had Frequently urged his laborers
not to run from the animal, but to
show no fear and he would not dare
attack them, but they always took
the part of discretion and got out OF
his way.


One evening last week, Mr.. Pond
finished milking his cows in the barn.
yard, and was returning to his house
with full pail of milk, when he had
to pass by this bull. He noticed that
he shook his head sullenly and looked
vicious. But he passed along, think
ing nothing of it. He had not pro-
ceeded far when he heard the rapid
step and low moaning believing of
the animal close by him. He turned
to catch the BULBS horns with his
hands, so as to prevent his being
gored, and was tossed into the air.
He came down, pail, milk and all
upon the animals head, and was
again thrown into the air, and as he
fell he struck on the opposite side of
the fence. He was somewhat bruised
and his clothes torn by the rough
handling and the fall, but being a
stout, muscular man, his impulse was
to chastise the insolent beast. Ac-
cordingly he secured heavy club,
which had been sled-stake, and
jumped over the fence into the yard.
He was met by the bull; which with
horns poised, with head fixed and
stiffened neck, plunged at his unequal
adversary as he approached. Mr..
Pond struck him a terrific blow
across his head, splintering and
breaking the cudgel, but making no
other impression upon his bullship,
except to inflriate him.


The combat was getting fearful
The bull dashed upon Mr.. Pond, who,
without any means of defense, was
in imminent, deadly peril. Hesprang
aside, caught the animal by one horn
and one ear, and endeavored to keep
away from him, but was shaken
about like a bundle of hay. He lost
his hold, and second time was toss
ed high into the air and fell beyond
the fence into the adjoining field
The maddened animal rushed at the
fence, roared and beloved; but MIR.
Pond, undismayed, determined to
master the field. He started for the
house for his AK and would have
split open the bulls head rather than
be conquered. But on his way he
came upon heavy three-tined pitch
fork. Selling this he started again
across the yard. More savage and
more desperate than before, the
beast met him, but Mr.. Pond stood
his ground, and as the bull ap-
preached he did not turn aside but
struck him full in the face with the
sharp tines of the fork, expecting to
turn him back by acute pain. But
he was again mistaken. The animal
rushed at him, and was bearing him
against the fence, where he would
have crushed him like a dry weed.
Mr.. Pond saw his peril, and threw
himself forward upon the neck and
horns of the bull, and, clinglng to
his neck, threw up his feet so as to
avoid the fence.


In this predicament he was tossed
ant flung about, and the fork was
thrown from his grasp, and finally
he, too, was unseated and fell over
beside the ANIMAL. Fortunately, in
his fall, his hand came upon the fork
which he caught, and, with full
sense of the importance of his power,
he thrust the strong fork again and
again into the side flank, and neck
of the bull with all the force of his
powerful arms. The combat now
waxed hot. The heavy thrusts were
quick and effective, and as the tenn
pered tines twanged from the tough
hide of the bull, the blood spurted
from the deep inclsions. Nerved by
desperation and the pain, Mr.. Pond
kept up his terrible warfare. The
animal failed in every attempt to
get him on his horns. Into his
broad sides rained lightning shots of
pointed steel, thicker, faster, deeper.
The contest grew unequal, the strong
beast beloved now with pain. He
held h. head down for moment,
roared in utter discontinue, and
whirling upon his feet, ran below
ing down the yard. Mr.. Pond made
his way to the house. He was met
at the door by his wife, he was wet
with perspiration, bespattered with
blood, lame and almost naked, but SO
nerved by his spirit sthat after wash
ing and resting little time he went
again to the yard. He had determ-
ined that there should be but one
master on the premises, and notwith
standing the entreaties of his wife he
did not hesitate to 60 on the battle
ground unaided. He found his vic
tory complete. The conquered,
cowed, hnmbled animal ran from
him like a whipped spaniel. The
victory completed the victor found
himself more fearfully injured than
he supposed, and it was several days
before he again left the room.
Wes saw him when he was able to
ride to town, and he was yet in
decidedly dilapidated condition, but
in fair way to recover.