The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-11-03

seeking troop of school boys were let loose
for an hours recreation
All at once the believing and roaring of
two bulls that had broken out Of their enclo-
sure on each side OF river attracted our
attention. The animals were not vet in sight
Of each ether but were approaching along
the highway at a rate Of speed which would
cause them to meet near the centre OF the
high bridge which | have described, aH4-
beneath which, at some thirty feet, ran the
river, between steep banks. The more dar-
ing Of US gathered near the bridge, lining ii,
to see the anticipated fight. We were not
disappointed. Nearer and nearer they ap-
preached, the proud, paving combatants.
Bashan never produced two brutes Of fercer
aspect, They lashed their sides with their
tails, they tore up the ground with their feet.
Occasionally they kneeled down, trying to
gore the earth with their horns. And as vet
they were concealed, each from the other,
by the ascent to the bridge at either end
Presently, as they simultaneously ascended
the respective abutments, they came full in
sight ol each other. The roar was mutual
and actually tremendous. Every urchin Of
US sprang into the fields, and ran. Finding,
however, that we were not pursued, we hasti-
ly retraced our steps. There they were, the
teroclcus duelsts, quite as sensibly employ
ed as some Of their human imiators. Front
to front, their horns locked, every muscle
strained, they were fighting as only bulls can
fight 1t ltscemed 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 be
pressed back in return. The struggling was
hard, was long, was savage. For while
neither obtained an advantage.
! Hitherto they had been pushing each other
lengthwise of the bridge suddenly they be-
4 gan TO wheel, and, in moment, were 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 trampiug and their terrible strife.
Il was the work Of an single moment; one of
| the beasts-l never could tell which--one Of
them, however, as If conscious Of his position,
made violent, desperate plunge forward,
and pressed his antagonist back-back-b
till there was but another step Of the plank
behind him-between him and nothing
The moment was one of intense interest
to us juvenile spectators. Never was the
amphitheatre Of Rome the scene 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 see again. Imagine bull pitched
backward over a bridge, and falling at least
thirty feet, over and over.
lie turned once or twice, probably; l
thought he turned fifty times, there seemed
such confusion OF horns and feet revolving,
flying through the air. But down he went;
the water was deep, and be disappeared,
leaving whirlpool Of foam behind him, and
making the river undulate far and wide with
the conclusion of his ponderous bulk.
The other bull did not laugh-merely be-
; cause bulls, as | suppose, could not. But
we laughed and shouted our applause. There
stood the victor, looking directly down into
the abyss below, into which he had hurled
his unlucky foe. He stood, however, but
a moment; and then, as ii frightened at the
) prospect, he began 10 snort and step back
ward. Back, back, be retreated, with his
head in the same pugnacious attitude as when
in combat--back-stil another step back
and over he. too, went On tie opposite side
Of the bridge, performing just as many and
as ludicrous somersets as his adversary had
done a minute before.
Il was scene to remember; and the per-
: lormance called forth immense applause
from the group Of juvenile amateurs who
witnessed it. In about five minutes both
; bulls might be seen. well sobered by their
ducking, dripping wet, scratching up the
steep, grayelly bank. each on his own side
Of the river. "These bulls will never fight
any more" said boy behind me. His pre-
diction turned out correct; for two more
peaeeably disposed bulls ;ian they we're,
ever alterwart, could not have been found.