Battle With a Stag

Reprint of this story from the November 14, 1985 issue of The Platte Valley Lyre brought to you courtesy of Grandma’s Cabin, Encampment, Wyoming. Preserving History - Serving the Community.

W.B. Cowan, of the Pick outfit, has been for several years the owner of a half dozen deer. The animals leave his ranch and stay in the mountains all summer, returning home every winter, and are therefore only partially tamed. One of them, a stag, has been wandering about near town for some days, the bell on his neck protecting him from the hunter.

Yesterday afternoon J. J. Mullison saw the deer in his pasture just north of town, and knowing it to be unsafe, went out to drive it away before his children came home from school, as they had to come through the pasture.

The stag turned on him and he grabbed it by the antlers and held on for his life. Mrs. Mullison ran to the rescue and helped her husband hold the furious animal. Master George attempted to cut its throat with his knife, but failed, and he then ran to the house and got a carving knife. The stag struggled so that he could not get at its throat. Finally when all three were completely exhausted and about to give up the fight, Mr. Mullison spied a club nearby and managed to seize it and beat the deer over the head until it backed away. They then managed to get into the house, by keeping it at bay with the club. Mr. Mullison seized a shot gun – the only weapon at hand – and fired at the stag through a window, but without effect, beyond driving it away from the house long enough for George to get out, mount a horse and come to town for aid.

A number of men started at once for the scene of the encounter. Johnson Doggett and Gus Jensen were the first arrivals and the former shot and killed the deer within a short distance of the house. Mr. Mullison is severely bruised all over and has deep scratches on his breast. An ugly gash about five inches long just below his hip joint exposed the femoral artery and will give him some trouble. Mrs. Mullison had her clothing torn to rags, but escaped injury. Had they relinquished their hold on the deer’s horns, both would have been killed. It was a narrow escape and neither will ever forget their terrible struggle.

Mr. Cowan is not in the least to blame as he does not coax the deer to return to the Valley and had ordered it killed last week, but it could not be found.

Minor Notes:

W.H. Greene has purchased a phonograph-at least he says so-as an aid to his vocal music studies. He will sing into it when it arrives, then practice for two months, and treat the machine to another concert. His idea is to have a permanent record of his marked improvement, so that he can convince unbelievers of his musical ability. The citizens of Saratoga pray that he will keep his phonograph under lock and key, and give them warning before each exhibition, so they can take to the hills.

Lewis Geis has purchased 33 head of cattle from Condict Bros. to feed this winter.

Snow to the amount of three inches is pretty evenly distributed over this part of the country. Stock as a rule are in fair condition to stand the rigors of winter.

The denizens of Beaver creek are nearly through marketing their grain and potatoes. The crop has been very large but the prices have been very low.

The county commissioners have authorized Sheriff Davis to appoint a deputy for Baggs and Dixon and gun play by would-be bad men will not be so frequent in these towns thereafter.

The new school house at Medicine Bow is about completed and is being painted this week. A sister of Mrs. E.G. Ashley, formerly of Saratoga, has been employed as teacher.