WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

September 22, 1882

 

A Butting Deer

           

            Last Monday evening at a little after nine o’clock, just after retiring for the night, ye editor was startled by a rap at the door.  Not being properly clothed to receive visitors the question was asked “Who’s there?” and the only answer was another rap and at the same time the sound as of many feet on the porch and a noise that sounded like scuffling and a voice called out for help.  At this we rushed to one of the windows and could see a bright light from a lantern and the form of a young deer.  Then came the voice “open the door this deer is hooking me.”  We opened the door at once and there saw a boy on his knees holding to the horns of the deer to keep the animal from butting him. We took the boy into the house and saw that he was quite badly bruised, but probably a good deal more scared than hurt, but his clothing was some what torn by the horns of the deer, which are now just long enough to be dangerous.

            It seems that when the boy came into the yard with the lantern, the deer saw and followed him to the door and when he stopped to rap reared up and butted him over and then before the boy could regain his feet he was butted again, and in this way the animal made out to keep him down.  After remaining in the house a few minutes the boy went out of the back door and climbed the fence and started for home.  He had no more than climbed the fence before the deer was close behind him, but probably feeling contented that he had driven him away did not attempt to jump the fence.  This deer, we believe, is the property of Chas. Churchill and has been a pet in his family ever since it was a very little fawn, but now that it has got to be of good size and is quite ugly it should be taken care of before someone, especially little children, are seriously injured.  The boy in this instance was Charley Boughton, but we have heard of other instances where the same animal has attacked people.