Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-26
THE GAZETTE.
pp1n.y MORNING, NOVEMBER 26, 1851
ro,rNrrrK KILL fight.


VOLUNTEER BULL flGnr.
rsmemoer once seeing, when lad at
school. a fight between two bulls. Although
copld no, have been more than eight years
of age, l shall never forget the spectacle. II
happened in this wise:
Close by tho school bouse-a very unpre-
tending edifice it was-rap deep and rapid
river. Across it had been thrown a high
wooden bridge, the hand railing OF which
time and the winds and the weather had er-
rirely DESTROYED. The land on the opposite
sides of the stream was owned by different
persops and farmed by them respectiVel y
One bright summer day remember Il as
II we're but yesterday-tbe hour OF noon hau
arrived, and frolicscme, fun seeking troop
Of school boys were let loose tor an noui
recreation. of
All at once the believing and roaring u
two bulls that bad brokeu out OF their enoio-
sures ON each side of the river aurac'eu ".
attention. The animals were not ye. 10 sisn'
of Zach other. but we're approaching aions
,ha h;,bwav at q rate of speed whloh wouiu
,..,.o Them 10 meet near the centre OF the
S;.h hid 90 which have described. and De-
18th which at some thirty feet ran the river
between steep banks. The more daring Vi
US gathered near the bridge. iining Il 10 see
the spticipated fight. We were not o'snp-
nointed. Nearer and nearer aptroacheu the
proud, paving combats Its. B4shan never
nroduced two of fiercer aspect. They lasheu
their sides With their tails; they toreth ground
with their feet. Occasionally tley krceied
down, irving TO gore the earth With their
horns. And as vet they were concealed eacn
from the other, by the ascent to the or'oRe al
either end. Presently, as they spontaneously
assembled the RESP ectlve sbutDsnts' tney oau'e
fu 4 10 sight of each other. lhe roar was
mutual and actually tremendous. Every u
chin Of US sprapg Into the fields, ana ran
Finding, however, that we were not pursueu
We hastily retraced our steps. 1here they
were quite a. sensibIy employed as some u
their human imitstors Font to front, their
horns locked, every muscle strained. they
were fighting as only huiis can fight. 1t
seemed Al even match. Now one would pres
back bis opponent a few PAGES, aud presently
You would hear quick, sharp, short steps ano
his adversary would be pressed back 10 re-
turn. The struggling was hard, was long,
was savage. For q while neither obtained
an advantage.
Hitherto they had been pushing each 9th
er ieDgthwise of the bridge; suodeD!y they
began to wheel, and in q moment were facing
each other crosswise They were at right
angles With the length Of the old bridge
which shook, and creakcd, aid rocked agar
with their trsmpling and their terrible strife
1t was the work of single moment; one o
I ,nnl1 TOLL Whlch--0np O
them, however, as if conscious of his position
made a violent, desf crate plunge t'r~al(
and pressed bis antagonist back, back, back
till there was but another step OF bbe plani
behind bin, between him and notaius. Th'
mou cot was one of intense interest to "a ~
yeuile spectators. Never was the amrhithe
atre of Rome the scene Of q more exciting
combat. Another step backward, yes, the
unfortunate bull was forced to taken! Back
he 10 pressed and over be goee!
Such a sight never saw, probably nev
er will see again. Imagine bull pitched
backward over a bridge and falling at least
thirty feet over and over! lie turned once or
twice, probably; thought he turned hity
times, there seemed such confusion OF horns
and feet revolving and filing through the air.
But down he went; the water was deep anc
he disappeared. leaving Wnri-' ooi vi ioan'
behind him, and making the river undulate
far and wide with the conclusion OF bis pom
derous bulk.
The other bull did not laugh, merely be-
cause bulls, az suppose. could not. But
We laughed and shouted our applause
There stood the victor, looking directly down
into the abyss below, into which be had bur
ried his uulucky foe. lie stood, however, but
a moment, and then, as if frightened at the
prospect. he began to snort AID step back
ward. Back, back, he retreated, with h's
head in the same pugnaoious attitude as
when in combat-bsck--still another step
bsck--and over be too weot on the opposite
eide of the bridge performing Just as many
and as ludicrous somereets a. bis adversary
had done minute before. 1t was scene
TO remember: aud the performance called
firth immense applause from the group OF
Juvenile amateurs who witnessed it.
In about FIVE minutes both bulls might be
seen we'll sobered BY their ducking dripping
wet, scratching up tie steep graveily bank
escb Oh his own side of the river. CHOSE
bulls will never fight any mOre," said boy
behind me. His prediction turned out cor
rect; for two more peaceably disposed bulls
than they we're ever sfterward, could not
M huap tnunG