Walkup - Mad Cow - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

There was quite a tragic episode last Thursday at the home of treasurer-elect Rankin C. Walkup, just east of the city, and it is a matter of wonderment to those concerned that at least two lives were not lost. At milking time Mr. Walkup, accompanied by his wife and mother, went down to the cow lot, the elder Mrs. Walkup carrying in her arms her son’s infant child. The cow, a splendid creature weighing over thirteen hundred pounds, had always been regarded as docile, although she had been dehorned. A small calf was in the lot with her and when the milking began was lying on the ground near by. Mr. Walkup had been milking a few minutes, talking and laughing with those about, when his mother with the babe in her arms walked around in front of the cow. When she appeared there the demeanor of the animal was changed in an instant. With a bellow of rage, like that of an infuriated bull, she charged upon the defenseless old lady, head down. Mrs. Walkup was struck with terrific force and knocked several feet away, falling with the babe lying across her bosom. The angry cow rushed upon them again and striking the baby knocked it some distance across the ground, where it lay curled up and apparently dead. Mrs. Walkup had attempted to stagger to her feet when she was again struck by the cow and knocked over the baby, her skirt hiding it from sight. The cow followed, and with loud bellowings of rage began to tramp Mrs. Walkup and strike her with the stumps of her horns. All this had happened in an incredibly short space of time and it was not until the cow had begun to attack Mrs. Walkup as she lay over the child that Mr. Walkup, who had been upset by the first charge of the cow, was able to rush up to the rescue. He began kicking and striking her frantically, at the same time shouting lustily for the dual purpose of frightening the animal and summoning help. His wife came with him, but they seemed to make no impression on the maddened beast as she bellowed and trampled over her victims. Suddenly, however, she swung her head about, and Mr. Walkup grabbed the halter on her head and literally dragged her across the lot. There she saw her calf and paused a moment. Mr. Walkup improving the opportunity to assist his mother and the babe out of the lot, getting them through the gate just as the cow bellowed and charged again. The baby all thought then was mortally wounded, it lying unconscious, with its mouth filled with the dust and dirt of the cow lot. A terrible cut extended across its face and its little body was awfully bruised. Mrs. Walkup, who is sixty four years old, was suffering intensely from an ugly gash over her eye and from many other cuts and bruises on her person. She and the baby were carried to the house and Dr. Ristine was hastily summoned. He found both the victims of the accident suffering greatly from their wounds and from the shock, but pronounced neither of them fatally hurt.

Mr. Walkup is at a loss to account for the action of the cow as she had always been a very gentle animal. He is inclined to think, however, that she took fright at the baby in his mother’s arms. No more chances will be taken with the animal, however, as she was sold to the butcher bright and early next morning. A cow that once runs amuck is never afterwards a safe proposition.