Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-14

Iey Grand Bull and Bear Fight-Ffght
and Foot Rcce-Graaad KRo,o Nothing |
RaHep, and splendid specimen Of Boiling |
Ned Marshall gone up in Balloon or
lost in the Hoods.
AMERICAN VALLEY. Plumas Co,
July 5, 1855.
MR. EprroR-Tie celebration of the 4th at
American Valley passed off with more than
usual ecfat The gayety Of the occasion was
however somewhat marred by an accident
which occurred during the latter part of the
day to that distinguished orator and pure pa
triot, Ned Marshall The forenoon Of the day
passed off with the usual festiyities--a process
sion from the village to an arbor prepared for
the occasional few patriotic songs-an Grafton
by a well known citizen Of the coupty--a most
magnificent dinner, for which the partakers
we're indebted to the generosity of the ladies
of the Valley-anl the usual amount of patri
otto toasts
At two o'clock came Of the bull and bear
fight A monster bull had been driven in for
fight with two full grown grizzlies, and in
anticipation of severe struggle, the bull had
been starved and tortured into perfect mad
ness The bears were fastened with several
feet Of chain to a stake in the centre of the
amphiiAeatre, and instead of turning their at
tention to their common enemy, began quar-
rel between themselves; while the bull, watch
ing his opportunity, gored them both to death
in few minutes.
At four o'clock came off the grand Know
Nothing rally 1t was generally known that
'.eur Ned'-that joke-cracking, side-splitting
Ned-had been imported for the occasion, and
would be on hand to give ''the boys "bam-
boo talk" So they came pouring in from the
hills and the valleys, the rayines and galches;
some to see the fun generally, some to see
live K N, and some to hear what was to be
said.
At four the crowd gathered in the street in
front Of the American Hotel, and Ned, who hdd
himself wound up for the occasion, mounted
whiskey barrel for rostrum and commenced
his speech But alas for all human calcula-
tions Across the street from tie American,
and directly in front Of the distinguished i'm
portation, was the corral in which Mr.. Bull
had been confined after conquering the griz-
zlies. The bull had watched, with rather an
impatient eye the crowd gathering in front OF
the hotel, but had managed to maintain de-
corum suitable to the occasion, until Ned be-
gan his speech The bull evidently under
stood it as a defiance. Up went head and tail
into the air, and around the corral went the
bull, with u below Of defiance that reverbcra-
ted among the hills like the rumblings of
young earthquake At length the voice, and
the glowing color of the flowing beard Of the
speaker, fixed the attention Of the bull, and
with one bound down went panel of corral
fence between him and the house. ''Look out
for the bull = WIS the cry of the crowd as the
Infatuated animal bounded into their midst
Ned saw with regret, that all hopes of dlstin-
gushing himself at that time were at an end
lie was only secondary star. The bull was
not only a native American, but native Cal
ifornian, and was attracting universal and
undivided attention. The bull made straight
for the speakers stand, and the crowd seemed
perfectly willing to let him 60 there. "Lord
help me r'shouted one fellow, as he lodged
the right horn Of the bull. "What shall do
to he saved = shouted another, as the left horn
just missed him. 81 want to go home p cried
a boy of twelve or fifteen. as the bull knocked
him down and dashed over him. GO in, lem
ons p yelled husky locking fellow on top Of
the fence, who looked as if he didn't care
cent whether Ned or the bull had the floor,
only so it was fun. Ned evidently took that
monstrous black bull, with his fiery eye, d.
lated nostrils and waving tail, for some demo-
cratic demon, sent after him, at that particu-
lar time, on account Of his desertion from his
party and with a voice and look and gesture
Ia Macbeth in the banquet scene, he ex-
claimed &c Avaunti yc demon damncl.' But
the bull could not or would not understand
him, and rushed on to the barrel on which
Ned had mounted for a rostrum Down went
the barrel, and down went Ned with it. With
a shrek Of agony Ned sprang to his feet, and
started like quarter horse-the bull after
him.
In the immenFe excitement and confusion
which prevailed, from this moment all trace
was lost of the two principle performers. The
bull was found next morning, quietly grazing
in neighboFing pasture, but nothing was dis
covered OF the whereabouts of Ned There
are, of course, many conjectures as to what
became of him, but none are advanced on
which reliance can be placed. Some are in
fear that the bull must have overtaken him,
and that his mangled an Hfeless carcass will
hereafter be discovered. Others suppose, and
with some show of reason, that he was SO filled
with gas and patriotism for the occasion, that
he had to ''belch it or bust" and failing in
either, he went up like balloon while 9TH
ers still suppose that he into the woods,
and has not since been able to find his way
back. His disappearance has caused the most
intense excitement, and parties are out in ey-
cry direction in search Of him. A reward of
seven Eastwood K. Ms has been offered for
n,s discovery.
Yours,
PLUMAs.
P s. Since writing the above. the skirt Of
a coat, like that Ned was known to have worn,
has been found near the pine woods, about a
mile and half from the American but his