Year: 1875

-
CHAsTIslNG A BULL.


A Michigan Farmer Plays the
Part Of q Matador.


From the Hillsdale Business.


Mr.. Elijah Pond, of the township
of Adams, had upon his farm large
powerful and valuable bull, whose
general reputation for propriety was
bad, but had always acknowledged
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.
casion to pass through the fields
where he was grazing. Mr.. Pord 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 MIR. 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 snllenly and
looked vicious. But he passed along
thinking nothing of it. He had not
proceeded far when he heard the
rapid step and low moaning below
ing of the animal close by him. He
turned to catch the bulls horns with
his hands, so as to prevent his being
gored, and waa tossed into the air.
He came down, pail, milk and oil,
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 q
stout, muscular man, his impulse was
to chastise the insolent beast. Ac-
cordingly he secured heavy club,
which had been A sled. stake, aud
jumped over the fence into the yard.
He was met by the bull, which with
horns poised. with head fixed and
stiifened neck, plunged at his une-
quail adversary as he approached. Mr..
Pond struck him a terrible blow
across his head, ,splintering and break
ing the cudgel, but making no other
impression upon his bullship except
to infuriate him.


The combat was getting fearful.
The bull dashed upon Mr.. Pond, who,
without any means of defense, was in
imminent deadly peril. He sprang
aside, caught the animal by one horn
and one ear, and enleavored to keep
away from him, but was shaken about
like bundle Of hay. lie lost his
hold, and second time was tossed
high into the air and fell beyond the
fence into the adjoining field. The
maddened animal rushed at the fence
roared and beloved, but Mr.. Pond,
undismayea, determined to master
the field. He started to the house
for his axe, and would have split open
the bulls head rather than be con-
quered. But on his way he came
upon heavy three tined p;ichfork.
Seizing 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 approached he did


4 l. Ia, I.,H
the face with the sharp tines of the
fork, expecting to turn him back by
the acute pain. But he was again
mistaken. The animal rushed al him
and was bearing him against the
fence, where he would have crushed
him Ike dry weed. Mr.. Pond saw
his per'l, and threw h,mself forward
upon the neck and horns Of the bull,
and clinginging to the neck, threw
up his feet so as to avoid the fence.


In this predicament he was tossed
and flung about, and the fork was
thrown from his grasp, and finally he
too, was unseated, and fell over be-
side 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 bah with all the force Of his
powerful arms The combat now
waxed hot. The heavy thrusts we're
quick and effective. and rs the tenn
pered tines twsnged on the tough
hide of the bull, the blood spurted
from he incisions. Nerved by the
desperation and pain, Mr.. Pond kept
up his terrible warfare. The animal
failed in every attempt to get in his
horns. Into his broad sides rained
lightning shots of pointed steel,
thicker, faster, deeper. The contest
grew uneq aal, the strong beast bel
lowed now with pain. He held his
head down for moment, roared in
utter discontinue, and whirling upon
his feet, ran believing down the
yard.


Mr.. Pond made his way to the
house. He was met at the door by
his wife, he was wet with perspira-
,ion, bespattered with blood, lame
and almost naked, but so nerved by
his spirit that after washing and rest
ing a little time he went again to the
yard. He had determined that there
should be but one master on the
premises, and Notwithstanding the
entreaties of his wife he did not hes
ita'e to go on the battle-ground un-
aided. He found his victory CON-
pete, The conquered, cowed, hum
bled animal ran from him like whip
ped spaniel. The victory complete
the victor found himself more fear
fully injured than he supposed, and
it was several days before he left the
room. We saw him when he was
able to ride to town, and he was vet
in decidedly dilapidated condition,
but in fair way to recover.


Henry Clay, unlike the modern
type pf statesmen, was not happiest
when the public gaze was concentra-
ted upon him. In an old letter,
which has just come to light, he thus
declined an invitation to deliver an
agricultural address You alarm me