Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-11-26
A VOLUNTEER BULL FIGHT.

i remember -ctll!-, "icii ~ 'iOc'r
a fight between two bulls. Although
| could not have been more tliin
eight years Of age, shall never fo.-
get the spectacle. Close by tho
school house ran deep and rapid
river. Across it hal been thrown 4
high wooden bridge, the hand railing
on which time and the winds and the
weather had entirely destroyed. The
land on the opposite sides o; the
stream was owned by different per-
sons. One bright summer day, the
hour of noon had arrived, and a frol-
icsomc, fun-seeking troop Of school
boys were let loose for an hours re-
creation.
All at once. the believing and
roaring of two bulls that had broken
out of their enclosure, on each side OF
the river, attracted our attention.
The animals were not yet in sight OF
each other, but were approaching
along the highway at rate of speed
which would cause them to meet near
the centre of the high bridge which |
have described, and beneath which,
at some thirty feet, ran the river, be-
tween steep banks. Near and nearer
approached theproud, paving combat
ants. They lashed their sides with
their tails, they tore the ground with
their feet. Occasionally they kneeled
down, trying to gore the earth with
their horns. Presently, as they sim
ultaneously assembled the respective
auulments, they came full IN sight OF
each other. The roar was mutual,
and actually tremendous. There they
were, quite as sensibly employed as
some of their human imitatcrs. Front
to front, their horns locked, every
muscle strained, they were fighting as
only bulls can fight. 1t seemed an
even match. Now one would press
back his opponent few PAGES, and
presently you would hear quick, sharp,
short steps, and his adversary would
he pressed back in return. The strug-
Cling was hard, was long, was savage
For a while, neither obtained an ad-
vantage.
Hitherto, they had been pushing
each other lengthwise Of the bridge;
suIdeuly. they began 10 wheel. and IN
a moment were facing each other,
crosswise. They were at right angles
with the length of the bridge, which
shook, and creaked, and rocked again
with their trampling and their terri
bic strife. One Of the beasts-I could
not tell which, howover-made des-
peraie plunge forward, and pressed
his antagonist back. back, till there
was but another step of the plank be-
tween him and nothing. The moment
was one of intense interest TO US juve-
nile spectators. Never was the am
phitheatre of Rome the scene Of
more exciting combat. Another step
backwards-yes, the unfortunate bull
was forced to take it. back he is
pressed, and over he goes!
! Such sight | never saw, probably
shall never see again. Imagine bull
pitched backward over a bridge, and
falling at least thirty feet, over and
over! He turned once or twice, pro-
baby; l thought he turned fifty times,
there seemed such confusion of horns
and feet revolving through the air.
But down he went the water was
deep, and he disappeared, leaving a
whirlpool of foam behind him, and
making the river undulate far and
wide with the conclusion OF his pom
derous bulk.
The other bull did not laugh, mere
ly because bulls, as supposed, could
not. But we laughed, and shouted
our applause. There stood the victor,
looking directly down into the abyss
below, into which he had hurried his
unlucky foe. He stood, however, but
moment, and then, as if frightened
at the prospect, he rctreated with his
head in the same pugnacious attitude
as when in combat-and over he, too,
went, on the opposite side Of the
bridge, performing just as many and
as ludicrOuS somersets as his advcr-
cary had done a minute before
In about FIVE minutes, both bulls
might be seen, well sobered by their
ducking, dripping wet, scratching up
The steep gravelly banks, each on his
own side of the river. Those bulls
will never fight any more, said a boy
behind me. His prediction turned
out correct; for two more peaceably
disposed bulls than they were, ever