Year: 1871

with Mad Buck.


From the Knoxville Southern Enterprise.l


Mr.. III. H. Matlock,A living two miles


from Riceville, in McMinn county, is


one Of the most successful and reliable


farmers in the region; hence the occur


renee we are about to relate may be re-


lied upon as strictly true. He has a


park in which are confined several deer.


One day, few weeks ago-but we will


let Mr. Matlock relate the circumstance


in his own way: ahstN HbHtt


had gone into the park quail hunt


ing, and was down on my knees arrang-


ing my net, when hearing noise in the


rear looked over my shoulder to ascer-


tain the cause. About ten feet from me


stood large buck. He was splendid


fellow, five years old, had heavy head


of horns with three antlers.. Though


generally docile enough, it now seemed


bent on mischief, stamping its feet, toss


ing its head from side to side and maxi


ing sundry other demonstrations all in


dicative of warlike intentions. | thought


I'd rise to my feet and drive the animal


away lest it should be inclined to try its


horns on my unprotected rear. But, as


Pat would say, was just in time to be


too late. The deer gave a tremendous


snort and bound, and / was knocked


forward on my hands, and felt the


sharp horns of the furious creature, as


they tore through my coat and vest,


enter my flesh. | have pretty good


action, and as you may judge, a reason


able amount of physical strength, but l


now felt that it would require something
more than ordinary efforts to relieve me
of my enemy Making tremendous
effort succeeded in freeing myself from
it. | turned and grasped it with both
hands by the horns. / now for the first
time fully comprehended my danger;
there was no one near, and it required
all my strength to prevent it from i'm
paling me with its sharp horns. The
appearance of the monster at this time
was truly frightful; its eyes had hideous
green appearance, and all its hair was
turned the wrong wayl He made tre-
mendous lunges, and sometimes the
sharp points of the antlers entered my
arms, but it was matter of life or death
and l held it with all my strength. For
a time, that seemed to me an age, we
sometimes Twas almost raised |
from the ground, and at others could
scarcely prevent the horns from enter
ing my body, and then my terror was
to find my strength failing,
while the deer seemed to be every mo-
ment increasing in strength and ferocity.


The perspiration had stood in great
drops upon my face, had run down and
almost blinded my eyes, but now felt
chill of horror so great that my blood
seemed to stop in my veins. Another
fierce lunge and was thrown heavily to
the ground. "My Godl" l cried, in my
agony, "this creature will kill me"
felt his terrible weapons entering my |
side. The pain maddened me. grasped |
the horn again, and summoning all my
strength, whirled the deer over on its
side and sprang up, in time to get firm
hold on its head, and pressed my knee
on its neck. / now thought of my knife.
Loosening the hold of my hand, l took
my knife from my pocket and opened it
with my teeth. | had just time to plunge
i once into the creatures neck when,
with single bound, it was again on its
feet, nearly breaking my hold. Ny
triumph hadin some measure
restored my strength. | struck wildly
with my knife, still holding fast with my
hand to the deer's horns Though the
blood spouted in streams from its
wounds and mingled with the foam. ms.that
stood in great drops on its sides, it
seemed as fierce and determined as
ever. Again | was hard pressed; with
only one hand could no longer hold his
head down. One of the antlers was en-
sering my neck, and as the deer pressed
forward | felt was being gored to death.
At this moment, with his head turned to
one side and almost against his breast,
he great green eye so near my own at
.racted my attention, and quick as
hought | plunged my knife into it. 1t
vas lucky stroke, the deer shook its
read, drew back and stood irresolute.
10 not know what would have been the
esult had we been left to ourselves, but
! young man who happened to be pass
ng came to my assistance, and with an
TX quickly dispatched my antagonist.


scarcely know how l reached home,
t was some days before my wounds
would permit me to visit the scene of 4
he combat. The ground for yards
round bore marks of the fierce struggle
cannot tell of course how long the fight !
asted, but it seemed to me to be fully ly
N hour. AS you may imagine, | shall ID
lot soon again seek an encounter with If
mad buck. Ia