The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-24

SONt ucW OLlctI OI tACllclAtIl UE dilL>C-
ment, expresse desire TO witness the pecu-
liar qualities of the brave LEcraser, de-
claring that j; would be better than q corTi-
da de t0rTos-bull fight.
This exhibition, however. the owner Of
L'Ecraser objected to. knowing as he did
the danger attending 80 fooi-hardy sport,
and positively refused to loan the animal
for the purpose
The Spaniards, however, Notwithstanding
this refusal, were determined to see the
performance Of the gallant animal and
had already selected brave and active sol
der, who, for small reward had express
ed willingness TO act the part Of high
wayman, and attempt 10 arrest the dan
gerous animal, while being rode pas, 4 Ges-
ignated point
Again the officers proposed the expert
ment TO Monsieur Morricc, asserted the i'm
possibility of the mans being injured by
the trial, as he would of course be upon bis
guard; and to make their assertion the
stronger, they proposed to wager largely
that the soldier would not only escape IN
injured, but that he would succeed IN
grasping the bride and checking the fierce
animal
vt length, being too closely pressed, the
Frenchman, who justly prided himself up
on the courage and intelligence of bis
horse, was forced to accept the wager, and
appointed day when the trial should be
made
The spot chosen for this dangerous sport
was upon the public paSeO, or promenade,
which ran upon the margin Of tue shore,
bounding one side of the harbor of Matsn-
zas At the extremity Of this ride stood
the castle of San Savecino, around one of
the bastions of which bride path coutin-
ued northward towards the Gulf shore
Behind this bastion the soldier was to place
himself. in readiness to spring upon the
path. and grasp the bride of L'Ecraser as
he dashed rapidly past.
According to the arrangement, the
Frenchman, on the day appointed, made his
appearance at the castle, and proposed to
the officers to select one cf their own num-
Der to ride the horse, declining himself to
witness the dangerous amusement But
this part of the programmc no one was VII
ling to take. and it necessarily dcyolyod up-
on the Fenchman.
\ large party Of the officers and soldiers
of the garrison assembled ON the walls Of
the castle to witness the feat. and, al being
il readiness, the horseman started forward
at rapid gait He had determined in H.
own mind, to lose the wager rather than
endanger the life of the soldier. The path
beyond the paseo, where it turned tie al
gle of tie castle bastiOn, was quite narrow,
so narrow, indeed, that carriages could not
pass along it, and on the right hand a
growth of thickets enclosed it,naking it the
very spot, Of all others, for successful am
buscade. This point Monsieur Morrice in
tended TO pass SO quickly that the soldier
would not have chance TO make the con.
templated spring towards his bride
But the man, knowing that the eyes o.
the officers were upon him, and that not on
ly was their money at stake. but his OWL
reward depended upon the successful result
of the trial, was equally determined that
the horse should no, escape him That ha
limbs might not Be uncommodyd hy hi;
uniform, the soldier. who was large an,
noble-looking Eizcuino, was stripped 10 hi
drawers and shirt, with his belt bueklct
tightly about his loins As he stood thus
with his head stretched forward, upon tn
lookout for the advancing horscman. an,
every muscle braced tor tie desperate en-
counter, he presented the most beautifi,
specimen ef manhood the Frenchman ha
ever looked upon. His full, dark eye:
flashing with excitement. measured the rar
. idly decreasing distance between him al
the fierce animal. and with cienched hand
r and compressed lips lie awaited the n,
ment for the desperate attempt.
r So completely fascinated was the ride
; with the gallant bearing Of the noble fellow
! as he stood Thus awaiting his arrival, tn;
f he was abreast the bas;ion before he beca
t to draw upon the reins, In order the bette
4 TO control the motion Of his horse But
: this instant the soldier leaped forward in'
r the path, and made vain attempt to scii
: the bride Poor fellow, it was the last a
: Of his life. The savage brute, nnmudf
i of the desperate efforts bis master Wa, m
e king to favor the man, leared upcn hir
!, and. da,hing him fercely 10 the grour
;, with his fore feet. actGally tore the flesh al
j boncs of his face from the head, and cham
e I'd the bleeding intoguments between i
2 teeth like beast Of prey. Not conte
l. with this awful mutilation, the madden,
, animal, entirely beyond the control Of !
n rider, paved aud stamped upon the boz
k so long as 4 spark of life remained
y The excitement that prevailed among t
lie spectators of this cruel scene was indescri
Of able, and the comrades of the unfortuna
man, regardless of the commands Of tb,
n officers, aS-allcd from the castle, aud VI
e their weapons made dash at the FrenC
Of man, who was still endeavorinC to spur
as infuriated charger from the spot One
/. the soldiers, with fixed bayouet, b
te reached the horSeuan, and had drawn ba
&c his mu>ket to thrust It to his heart. VIII
ar with characteristic presence Of mind, t
e Frenchman. drawing his pistol, shot the
:, lew down in his tracks, and before the O
iy ers bad reached him, succeeded in urgi
al his horse from the place
Although acting only in Self-defencc