Des Arc citizen., 1859-12-07
A Volunteer Bull Fight.

|. 1 TelHeHlDeT OuCc eecillS, WhSu i"o o' school. fight between two bulls. Though l was not more than eight years of age, l can never forget the scene. It happened in this wise: l Near the house-an unpretending edl- flee it was--ran deep and rapid river. Across it had been thrown a high wooden bridge. the head.railing of which time had destroyed. The ground on the opposite side of the stream was owned by different persons, and farmed by them. One sum- mer- -day-I remerber it as if 1t were yes terday hour of noon had arrived, and fun seeking group of boys were sent out for recreation.
 On sudden the roaring of two bulls that had broken out of their confinement attracted our attention. 'As N
 The beasts were not yet in sight of each other, bu, were approaching at rate oi speed which caused them to meet near the centre of the high bridge which have described, and beneath which ran the river l -between steep banks. The more dar- ing of us gathered near the bridge to see the anticipated fight. And we were not disappointed. 'N
 Nearer and nearer approached the paving combatants. Bashan never pro- duced two brutes of fiercer aspect
 Presently as they simultaneously as- cended the respective abutments, they came in fnll sight of each other. They went at 1t with gusto. Front 10 front, their horns locked, every muscle strained, the were fighting as only bulls can fight. It seemed an even match.
 Now one would press back his opponent few paces, and then you would hear quick. sharp, short steps, and his adver- sary would press back in his turn.
 The fight was hard and savage. For a time neither gained
 Hitherto they were pressing each other llength-wise of the bridge. On sudden Ithey began to wheel and in moment they were facing each other crosswise. They were at right angles with the bridge, which shook with their tramping and strife.
 It was the work of a single moment; one of the beasts, however, as if con- scious of it's position, made desperate plunge forward, and pressed his anla- gonst back, so that there was but another step of the plank between him and the water beneath.
 l The moment was one of intense inter. est to us spectators. Never was the am phthealre of Rome the scene of a more exciting combat. Another step backwards yes, the unfortunate bull was forced to dc il. Back he is pressed, and over the bridge he goes.
 Such sight I never saw, and never may again.
 Imagine bull pitched backward over a bridge, and lumbling thirty feet over and over! N ~e
 He turned once or twice: l thought he turned fifty times, there seemed such confusion of horns and feet revolving Tn the air.
 Down he went; the river was deep and he disappeared. leaving a whirlpool be- hind him, and making the waters undulate far and wide with the confusion of his weight.
 The other beast did not laugh-because I supposed at the time he could not.
 But we laughed, and shouted our ap. plause. There stood the victor, looking directly down into the abyss below, into which he hurried his unlucky foe. He stood but Il moment, and then as frighten- ed at the prospect, he began to snort and step backwards.
 Back he retrealed with his head in the same pugnacious attitude as when in com bat-back- another step; and over he went on the opposite side of the bridge performing just as many and lndlcrou somersets as his adversary had done ; moment before. es5 ra
 It was scene 10 remember, and th' performance called forth immense ap plause. In about five minutes both bulls migh be seen, well sobered by their ducklng f and dripping wet, scratching up the steer banks, each one on his own side of tn river. ssl.,.t, sss s } Those bulls will never fight again, said boy behind me.
 His prediction proved to be correct 10 r two more peaceabe bulls than they wer' , ever afterwards, could not have beel found. pa M ~