Torn To Pieces By A Bull

Detlef Rix, a prominent farmer residing near Bennington, was torn to pieces by a fierce bull on his premises yesterday morning.

Shortly after breakfast he started for a walk around his farm. He was noticed an hour later by one of the hired men passing through a field in which the beast was kept.

Later a neighbor called to see Mr. Rix on business and a search was made for him. He could not be found. At noon the man who noticed him passing through the pasture in which the bull was kept mentioned the fact. Without suspecting the awful fate of her husband, Mrs. Rix walked out to the field designated. She noticed some distance from the fence what appeared to be her husband’s hat. Fearing to encounter the bull she returned to the house and sent the hired men to the field.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

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An awful sight was presented. The farmer had been literally torn to pieces. They body had been gored and torn so terribly by the feet of the ferocious animal that it could only be identified by the fragments of clothing scattered around the scene.

Mr. Rix was aware of the fierce nature of the beast and certainly knew the danger he incurred in entering the enclosure. It is supposed that the victim expected to be able to cross the field before the attention of the animal was attracted.

Coroner Maul was summoned to the scene last evening.

The deceased was a brother of Nicholas Rix, of Calhoun, and lived at that place up to about six years ago. He was an old settler in this county and was well known as an enterprising, industrious citizen.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

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