The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-12-03
WHOLE NUMBER 29l
A Bull Fight.

Icouid not have SDeeasSMQye Jlans el8nt
years ofage, I shall never. forget Tie spec.
tacIe. 1t ltl'appene'f in this; wise: 3 Close BY
the school hopse-a very .unPretending edi-
flee it was--ran deep and rapid Sriyer:.7-
Across it had been. thrown .a'high wooden
bridge. the hnud-railings Of which stilne.and
the winds and weather had entirely destroy
ed. The land on the opposite sidesof:tbe
stream was owned BY different 'persons, and
farmed by them respectively: One bright
summer dny-I remember it, as it were
yesterday-the hour OF. noon bad arrived.
and a,frocsome, fun.seeking troop ofschool
! boys were let loose for ah hours recreation.
All at once the believing and roaring Of
two bulls, that had broken out Of their en-
! closure on each side Of the river, attracted
our attention. Tie animals were not yet
in sight Of each other, but were approach
ing along the highway at a rate of speed
! which would cause them to meet near, tho
centre of,hc high bridge which 1 lave de-
scrit,ea, and beneath which, al. some thirty
feet, ran the river, between steep banks
! The more daring of us gathered near the
bridge, lining it, to see the anticipated fight.
! We were not disappointed. Nearer and
nearer they approached, the proud, paving
combatants. Basham neyer, produced two
brutcs Of fiercer aspect They .fasiied$ their
sides with their tails, they tore the ground
with their feet. Occasionally they kneeled
down, trying to gorethe ear.i, withsth
horns. And as<yet they were concealed,
each from the other, by the ascent to the
bridge at either end. Il: =
Presently, as they simultaneously ascentt
,led the respective abu,ments, they came
fnli in sight Of each other. The roar WAS;
mutual and actually tremendous. Every
urclin of us sprang into the fields and ran. .a
Finding, however, that we were not pursued /.
we hastily retraced our steps. There thoyt
were, the ferocious duclists, quite as .sensl-a
bly, employed MS some Of their human im':s IN :
tators. Front to front, their horns locked, :
every. muscle strained, they were fighting ~
only,buls can fight. 1t seemed an. even
match. Now one would press back bis op-
:ponent few PAGES, and presently yen would
hear quick, sharp, short ssteps, and bis adj.
yersary would be pressed back ,ip saIstnrn;.-:-
The struggling vasgtBaId';; g slopg, was
savage. For while, neither obtained an
advantage. Pr -
Hitherto they had.bcsn Peshing each
other length, wise Of the bridge. suddenly
they began 10 wheel. and in q . moment
were facing each other cross.wise. They were
at right angles with: thetlength. Of the old
bridge; which shook, and cresled, and rock
ed 4ng"in. with their tramping and their ter
rible STRIFE. 1t was the work ofasinglemo
ment; one Of tho beasts-zLpexer could tell
WHICH ore Of them, however, ASH conscious
of Ills position. made yiolenbsatdesPs1s::s
plunge forward, and pressedtbis antagohiat
back-bnck- -back-till there wassbut an
other step of plank behindshim-b between
him and nothing The moment was one
of intense interest to us Juvenile spectators.
Never was the amp'itheatrc Of Rome the
scene Of a more exciting combat. Anotheer
step backward; yes, tile unfortunate bull
has been forced to stakesit!' Back hs'is
pressed, and over lie goes!
Such sight never saw7-I@probabl.y.
shall never see again. Imagine 4 bull
pitched backward over a,bridge, and falling
at least thirty feet, over and over!t lie
turned once or twice, probably sIfthopgRs
he turned fiffyttines, ihsrs sssiued sap6sss.
! confusion Of l,orns and feet REVOLVING; ayr.
ing through lie Sais But down ishe vents
the water was deep: and slIs disappsarsdds
leaving a, whiflpoot of ,foana Behind him.
aud 'makidg the river dndula.es az and wide
.,@itl the concussiop of sliis eiSass bulk: J.
The other bull lnpt, lsys lylbss.
cause .b.i,as,sas I'D aala sSf5 M BIZ
ws.hpa6 6sa aaniIs hplaass Ihsls
|.stoess s isssot, 1851 kiugS
the abyss beloy,sists Etsa.
his unlueky .foe: Is Tod as 6oxsssf, blt2n
monlen, aad ;thslS asst fsig6 6isssdr s.tRss
prospeeti'he esbetsdR . ssuart sdsl sssteb hssE
wasy. .Bssks sbask h.e Isastesfs; ,:siji6 81.
Bssdip Msi sshs g6aci6b. sti.paa il
whsn.ia Sapb s6ssll 3 .stilf fsshoshsr step
baek: All, over IlsStoa sshl. on tfs oppo.
Fsi,o. side: Of t6ePaiiags, tosmingju.. a.
4 nh9S aasf asaai1iilaSl5 81 semSf fss q ii. ad.
vesss.y had dasos aiputs sssSss +
II Wasa scsasf tehenbef:: sshdtbe per-.
foriaanca e.AIed fof.k. siprnsn,e appka.s
from. tie group Of s.inseuils ra,natsars Who
witnesseslit. In about fise minutes both
bulls might bs seenswell sobsred byfihsir
dncking, dripping vet, scratching mp tbs
steep. gravelly banks, each on biz own lido
Of the river 3Those bulls win hsssr trb.
any n,ore," said 4 boy bsllibd ns. 's Iis Ga.
..i