The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-11-23
AvoLUNPEER BULL-FIGHT.

remember once seeing, when lad at school, a
fight between two bulls Although L could not
have been more than ght years OF age, shall
never forget the spectacle. 1t happened In this
wise. Close by the school-hOuse-a very unpre-
tending cdiice it was-ran deep and RAPID river.
Across it had been thrown high wooden bridge,
the handwriting Of which time, and the winds and
the weather had entirely destroyed. The land on
the opposite sides OF the stream was owned by df-
fercnt persons and iarned by chem respectively.
One bri. ht Summer day. remember it rs Il were
ycsterday-the hour OF noon had arrived, and
1roicsomc, fun-sceking troop Of schoo!-boys were
let loose for an hour recreation.
All at once the believing and roaring of two
bulls, that had broken ont of their enclosure
each side Of the river attracted our attention.
The animals were not in sight of each other, but
were approaching along the highway at rate #
speed which would cause them to meet near the
centre of the high bridge which | have described,
and beneath it, at some thirty feet, the river,
between steep banks. i he more daring OF US
gathered the bridge, lining it, too see the an
ticipaicd fight. We not Disappointed
Nearer and nearer they approached, the proud,
paving combatants. BaShan never produced two
brutes of fercer aspect. They dashed their sides
with their tails, they tore the ground with their
feet. Occasionally they kneeled down, trying
TO gore the earth with their horns. And as yet
they were concealed, each from the other, by the
ascent to the bridge at either end.
Presently, as they simultaneously assembled the
respective abutmcntS, they came full IN SHIT OF
each other The roar was mutual and actually
tremendous, Every urchin of US sprang into the
fields and ran. Finding. however, that were
not pursued we hastily retraced our steps. There
they were the ferocious duelists, quite as sen>by
employed as some OF their human imtators. Front
to 'front.' their horns locked every muscle strained.
they were fighting as only bulls can fight. 1t
seemed even match. Now one would pres
back his opponent few PAGES, and presently you
would hear quick, sharp, short steps, and his ed
versary, would be pressed back in return The
struggling was hard, was long, was savage. For
while neither obtained advantage.
Hitherto they had been pushing each other
lengthwisc of the bridge; suddenly they began to
wheel, and in moment were facing each other
croSswise. They were at righ ang les, with the
length of the old bridge which shook, and creaked,
and rocked again with their tramping aud their
terrible strife. 1t WAS but the work of single
moment; one Of the beastS-I never could tell
which--onc of them however, if conscious of
his position, made violent, desperate plunge
forward. and pressed his antagonist back-back-
back-tiil there but another step of the plank
behind hiul-betwcen him and nothing. The
moment was of intense interest to us juvenile
spectators Never was the amphitheatre Of Rome
the of more exciting combat. Another
step backward; yes the unfortunate bull has been
forced to take it Back he is pressed, and over
he goes.
Such sight never saw probably shall
never again. Imagine bull pitched back
ward brid ge. and falling at least thirty feet;
over and over. He turned once twice, proba-
bly,; thought he turned fifty times, there seemed
such confusion Of horns and feet revolving, flying
throu; n the air But down he went; the water
was deep, and he disappeared, leaving u whirlpool
of foam behind him. and making the river undu-
late far and wide with the conclusion Of his pom
derous bulk
The other bull did not lau2h-mercly because
bulls as | supposed, could Tot. But We laughed
snd shouted our applause. There stood the vic
tor looking directly down into the abyss below
into where he had hurled his unlucky foe lie
stood, however, but moment; and then, as if
frightened at the prospect, he began to snort and
step backward. Back-back-he retrcated with
his head in the same rurnacious attitude as when
ii combat-back-stiii another step hack-and
over he, too went the o posite side of the
Bird sc, performing Just many and as luiicrous
somcrsets as his adversary had done minute
before.
1t WAS scene to remember; and the performance
called forth inul. nse applause from the group OF
Juvenile amateurs who witnessed it. In about ten
minutes both bu Is might be seen, well sobered by
their duck.ng, dripping WET scra'clg up the
steep, gravcly banks, each On his own side of the
river. Those bulls will never fiji. any more.
rad IA boy behind me. His predict on turned cut
correct tor two more reaceaby disposed bulls than
they were, afterwards could not tc found
MATTER OF "INTERt 1t is told Of a GER
tain somewhat eminent Judge that when he left
Maine for foreign parts t. seek better fortune,
neighbor met him. who. after stating that it had
been his Che neighbors) desire TO present the
Judge with some substantial token of his friend
ship, said that he had not been able to make up
his mind to what it should be- but in order that
no mistake should be such as the Judge himself
would desiderate, that worthy gentleman was
presented with L check for fifty dollars Some
time thereafter the two friends met when the
Judge Was asked why he had not had his check
cashed. He replied that he not in any particu-
lar hurry about il. LET me have it, said the
benevolent presenter, land will cash it," This
was done the fifty dollars handed over. and the
two friends had shaken hands at parting when the
Judge said--'By the way, there is interest due on
that check to the amount of twenty FIVE cents.
believe" That quarter was paid, but there has