Eugene E. Buckley rescued Harry S. and Gertrude C. Caughey from an enraged bull, Odell, Oregon, December 22, 1933. While leading a bull by a 15-foot chain that was fastened to its horns, Caughey, 50, farmer, was struck and tossed by the bull. He fell to the ground, and the bull continued to attack him. Mrs. Caughey, 43, got a pitchfork, crawled under a barbed-wire fence, and ran to aid her husband. Buckley, 37, fruit farmer, later crawled under the fence and ran toward Caughey. When Buckley was 75 feet from the bull, Mrs. Caughey reached it and jabbed it in the head with the fork. The bull then knocked Mrs. Caughey down and stood astride her. Caughey’s dog snapped at the bull’s hind legs. Buckley ran to the rear of the bull, grabbed the chain, and pulled back. The bull backed slowly and then suddenly turned and charged Buckley, who stepped aside. The bull ran past him. Buckley kept hold of the chain, and when it became taut, the bull turned and again charged. Buckley stepped aside, and the bull again ran past him. The bull again charged, and Buckley jumped aside. He let the chain rest on the ground, and when it was between the front feet of the bull, Buckley pulled hard, and the bull’s head was pulled toward the ground. Another farmer then arrived and held the fork close to the bull’s face. The bull kept turning and trying to charge, but Buckley, aided by the other man, drove the bull to a fence and tied it. Mrs. Caughey suffered a severe bruise. Caughey sustained serious injuries.
35985 – 3016
35985-3016Obituary
Eugene E. Buckley, 76, of Odell, Ore., died on March 11, 1973. Buckley was born on Oct. 2, 1896, in Walla Walla, Wash., to Mr. and Mrs. Mathew M. Buckley. He had been a Hood River Valley resident for 43 years.
Active in Amjerican Legion work and projects during his 52-year membership, Buckley was Post 22 Commander in 1947 and 1948, succeeding in 1949 to the office of 5th District Commander. Besides being a Legionnaire, he was a member of the Elks Lodge.
Buckley received the Carnegie Medal in 1938 for his heroic act on Dec. 22, 1933, when he saved two people from the attack of an enraged bull.
(Edited from an obituary in the Hood River News, March 15, 1973.)