The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-11-27
A Volunteer Bull Fight.

] remember once seeing, when lad aI
school, hght LctNe cen two bulls Although
could not have been more than eight years
of age shall forget the spectacle. II
happsNcd IN this wise
Clrsc by the schoolhousc--a very unpro-
tending cdltcc It was--ran deep aud rapid
river. Across it had been thrown q high
wooden bridge the hand.railing OF which
time and tho aj4,AS A,,. ,rrut+,t-f Ind rrt-
tirely dcslroyed. The land on the opposite
sides OF the stream was owned by different
persons. and iarmed by them respective ely.-
One bright SUMMER day--l remember il An
il were Nesierday-the hour of noon had ar
rived, and u irOlicsume, iuu.srckug troop Of
school-boys were let loose for on hours rrerc-
alton.
All at once the hcllowing and roaring Of
tWu bulls that had broken out of their enclo-
sure on either side of the TIyer attracted our
attention, The animals were not ~ sight OF
each other, and were approaching along the
highway al rate Of speed, which would caus,
them 20 meet near the centre Of the high
bridge which 7 Hdvr 1tscTTtt'yi, nm hrr,ruti,
which at some thirty feet ran the river be.
tween steep banks The more daring Of us
gathered near the bridge, lining il, TO see the
anticipated fight. WcN not disappointed Il.
Nearer and nearer approached the proud
paving cumbatants. Bashan never produced
two brutcs OF htrccr aspect They dashed
their sides with their tails, they tore the
ground with their feet. Occasionally they
kncclcd down trying to gore the earth with
their horns. And as yet they were concealed
each from the other, by the ascent 20 the
bridge at either end. Presently as they ST.
multaneously assembled the respective abut-
ments, they came in full sight of each ether.
The roar was mutual aud actually tremcn-
douS.
Every urchin of us sprang into the field,
and ran. Finding, however, that We were
pursued we-ha-tiiy- rrtrucrd Our steps.
There they were, quite us sonsibly employed
as some of their human imitators. Front Ia
front, their horns locked, every muscle strain
ed, they were fighting ns 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 press back in
return. The struggling was hard, was long
was savage Fora while neither obtained an
advantage.
Hitherto they had been pushing each 9th
lengLhMiSe- oil bridge saadsaly they
began to wheel, and in a moment they were
facing each other crosswisc. They were at
right angles with the length of the old bridge,
which shook and creaked and rocked again
WIN AHNll hnil NntI NtIllult hllllts
1t was the work Of single moments one Of
the beusts-I could not tell whieh-onc of
them, however, as il conscious of his position,
made yiolentand desperate plunge forward,
aud pressed his antagonist back, back, till
there was but another step of the plank be-
hind him, between him aud nothing The
moment was one of intense interest To us iu-
venile spectators. Never was the amphithea-
re of Rome the scene of more exciting
combat Another step backward yes the
unfortunate bull is forced TO take it! Back
he is pressed and over he goes.
Such sight never saw probably shall
never see again. Imagine bull pushed
backward over n bridge and falling at least
Thirty feet over and over! He turned once
or twice probably | thought he turned fifty
times, there seemed such Il confusion of horns
and feet revolving, flying through the air
But down he went; the water was deep, and
he disappeared, leaving whirlpool Of foam
behind him, and making the river undulnte
far and wide with the conclusion OF his pom
derous bulk.
The other bull did not laugh merely be-
cause 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 a
moment, and then as if irighted at the pros
pect he began to snort and step Backward
Back, back he retreated, with his head in the
same pugnacious attitude as when in combat
-7baek--still another step back--and he, too
went down on the opposite side Of the bridge
performing Just as many and rs ludicrous
summersets as his adversary had done be-
fore. II was a scone 10 be remembered and
the performance called forth immense APP
Plause from tho group Of juvenile amateurs
who Witnessed IL
In about FIVE minutes both bulls we're seen,
well sobered by thsir ducking, dripping wet,