Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-11-03
A Volunteer Bull Fight,

Close by the school house-a very un. a
pretending edifiee il was ran a deep and
rapid river. Across il bad been thrown a '
high wooden bridge, the hand railing Of
which time and the winds and the wealth /
er, had completely destroyed. The land 8
on the opposite sides Of the stream was ow
ned by different persons and farmed by (
them respectively. One bright summer
dsy-I remember il as it were yesterday |
the hour of noon had arrived, and a
frolieksome, fun-SeekiDg troop Of school,
boys were let loose for an hours recrea-
ton.
All at once the believing and roaring
of two bulls that had broken out Of their
enclosure on each side Of The river attract
ed our attention. The animals we're not
yet in sight of each other, but were ap.
preaching along the highway at a rapid
rate Of speed which would cause them to
meet near the centre Of the high bridge
which l have described, and beneath
which, at 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 we're not
disappointed. Nearer and nearer apprOa-
ched the proud, paving ocmbatants-I
Bashan never produced two brutes of tercer
aspect. They laShed their sides with their
tails they tore the ground with their feet.
Occasionally they kneeled down, trying to
gore the ealth with their horns. And as
yet they were concealed, each from the
other, by the ascent to the bridge at eth.
ther end. Presently, as they simultane.
ously assembled the respective abutments,
they came full in sight Q: each other
The roar was mutual and actually tire
mendous. Every urchin Of us sprang in
to the fields and ran. Finding however,
that we we're not pursued, we hastily re-
traced our steps. There they were, quite
as sensibly employed as some Of their hu>
man imitators. Front to front their horns
locked, every muscle strained, they were
, fighting as only bulls can fight 1t seem.
J ed an even match. Now one would press
} back bis opponent few PAGES, and pres
emily you would hear quick, sharp, short
steps, and bis adversary would be pressed
back in return. The struggle was hard,
vas long, was severl. For a while nei.
ther obtained an advantage.
4 Hitherto they had been pushing each
other lengthwise on the bridge; suddenly
they began to wheel, and in moment
we're facing each other crosswise. They
were at right angles with the length of the
old bridge, which shook, and creaked and
" rocked again with their terrible trampIing
; and strife. 1t was the work of single
moment; one ofthe beasts-I could not
tell which one Of them, however made q
+ desperate plunge forward and pressed his
Q antagonist back, back, back, till there wal
but another step of the plank behind hin
and nothingl The moment was one o
intense interest to lis Juvenile spectators. -
Never was the amphitheatre of Rome, tht
scene of more exciting combat. Anoth
ar er step backward, yes, the unfortunate bul
w was forced to take it! Back he is pressed
and over he goes.
,e Such sight l never saw, l probabl
ke shall never see its like again. Imagine
bull pitched backward over bridge an
falling at least thirty feet over and owe
He turned once or twice probably; I tho
be turned fifty times, there seemed sue
confusion of horns and feet revolving, n
lie flying through the air. But down b
went; the water was deep and he dissF
peared, leaving a whirlpool Of foam benin
him, and making the river undulate "a
and wide with the conclusion of his won
drous bulk,
Ter The other bull did not laugh, merel
ID. because, as l supposed, he could not
rst But we laughed and shouted our applause
lie There stood the victor, looking direct
down into the abyss below, into which b
hurried Lis unlucky foe. He stood, how
ever, but a moment, and then, as If frgh
"a ened at the prospect, he began to sno
ny and step backward. Back, back, be rt
al treated, with his head in the same pugu'
ID cious attitude as when in comoat-baC
re- --back--still another step back-ar
'se over be went on the opposite side of Il
80 bridge, performing just as many and
ha ludicrous somsrSets as his adversary hf
done minute before 1t was scene
~, remember; and the performance calle
lnt forth immense applause from the group
re: juvenile amateurs who witnessed it.
all In about five minutes both bulls migf
ny be seen, well sobered by their duckini
'nt dripping wet, scratching up the steep al
uS gravelly banks, each on his own side oftl
~. river. sThose bulls will never fight al
nd more said boy behind me. His pr
at diction turned out correct; for two mo
ter peaceably disposed bulls than they we
rst ever af;erward could not have been foun
Ia A BEAUTIFUL TRUTH.-Benjsmin
&C. m l.. Al . o,Nko. of sE ETonnary ond Inn