The Shasta courier., 1863-04-11
SH ASTA COURIER.
Jewish Courage.

gladlators were to be exhibited, among whom
was young jew named Eleazar. lie was a
slave, and had been condemned to death for
some imaginary crime, but his life was spar
sd on account of his majestic height and the
perfection Of his form. lie was taken from
his prison after the aboye-named victory,
where if he killed the tiger against which he
was to fight, his slavery was to.be manumit
ssd, and his crime forgiven.
The form of the amphithcatre' was of the
usual elliptical shape !. the ARENA covered
with sand to prevent slipping and to absorb
the blood, was entirely surrounded with seats.
1t was surrounded by a wall eighteen feet
high, in order to render the spectators en-
tirely free frl IN the attacks of wild beasts :;
the top of the building was covered entirely
over by purple silk, sustained by golden and
siIken knots. The sun shone brightly, and
shining through the fragile roof, east brilliant
shadows on the faces of the assembled null
titude, and on the dress es of the ladies who
occupied the highest part of the building.
Ten of thousands of spectators had assem-
bed and were seated around the arena,
whilst vast number were royiTg about
here and there, and talking in low indls-
tinot tone, which sounded like the distant
roaring of the sea.
Soon all eyes were opened with expecta
ton on the arrival OF the tiger.
At the farthest extremity of the arena lay
Eleazar in seeming sleep. and Indifferent to
all that passed around him. But at the shouts
of the spectators be slowly raised himself,
sfretche. his limbs, yawned and looked about
him to see the cause of SO much agitation.
hnngry tiger was brought in, which leap
ed in anger from one side of his cage to an
other, roaring and in expectation of his prey
Ills red and smoking tongue hung out, and
he CRASHED his teeth with rage. Eleazar lay
down again. shat his eyes after casting a con-
temptuous glance around him, and seemed to
dispose himself so that he would have il COM
Portable sleep.
However, the audience became impatient,
and angrily asked when the sport should be-
gin At last the cage door was opened and
bhe tiger, with painting sides, rushed forward
The excitement rose to the highest pitch,
and all eyes were turned on the young Jew,
who still seemed to be in a quite slumber.
The tiger stood, with raised head and glar-
ing eyes, looking around seemingly uncon-
scious of the gladiator's presence. The au-
dence still continued to shout, and the keep
er If the arena, in obedience to repeated com
mands, approached the sleeping gladiator,
plunged spike into his arm to awake him.
Eleazar no sooner felt this than he started
up, seized the spike and wrested it from the
keepers hands, and foaming with ang r,
broke off the wooden handle, which he hurled
at the keepers head, and kept the iron part
in his hand.
As he rose the spectators could see the full
height of his colossal figure and the beautiful
development of his muscle, and an involun-
sarv shout of admiration broke from the au-
dience, which was repeated over and over
A Sol +L,f n
savage tiger and the oppressed jew were
equal to each other 1t would be desper-
ate affair, the blood of both would be shed
plentifully, and probably the enlightened
multitude assembled would have the pleas
are of seeing both die Women were there,
attired beautifully and wearing costly Jew
els young children, and wise, gray haired
old men, and all these waiting for the denoue-
Dsent of this tragedy All with stretched
necks and eager eyes, During this time the
young gladiator had remained in one position.
his arms folded and his head bowed down on
ilis breast. He was detected and despondent.
for he did not know if he should ever come
of The arena alive. He prayed to that God
who has ever watched over Israel. and his
heart became more firm He was walked from
his reverie by the shouts of the multitude,
Who cried out
:. Take away the arms from the Jow. Let
the Jew fight the beast without any arms
whatever"
The young man looked contemptously about
him, and advanced slowly towards the tiger,
But the shouts increased
So The Jews arms. Take them away.r
This time Eleazar rushed forward broke
the blake in two pieces, and threw the frag-
ments at the tiger, which was sharpening
skc cclo tbn L r
The animal. feeling itself struck. turned
angrily around in search of the foe, whom it
no sooner saw. than, with leap and a howl,
it sprung towards him. | he gladiator avoid
cd him by bowling down, and the tiger sprung
over him without doing further HARM The
animal no sooner reached the ground than,
with u growl, it retired backwards a few pa
ees preparatory to a new leap.
Three times was the tiger deceived bv the
sams manGuver. As if determined no long.
or to be deceived, it advanced at slow pace
with flashing eyes, erect tail. bloody tongue,
and gnashing teeth, and was about to seize
the gladiator, who to avoid him, leaped nim-
bly, over his back, to the astonishment of the
multitude. who gave vent to their enthusiasm
by means of deafening applause.
After having thus for a long time weakened
his adversary, the young Jew, who was also
extremely weak. but was upheld by the en-
couraSement of the audience, determined to
bring matters to crisis. remained mmova-
bic. The tiger seeing him thus, ran towards
him with a fierce cry. A cry of joy, or per-
haps horror came almost simultaneously
from the audience. they say the amieal
rising on his hind legs. place his claws on the
naked and white shoulders Of his adversary.
and opening his smoking mouth, prepared to
dcyour him; bet Eleazer threw his head
backwards, grssPed the meek of the tiger
with his hands, and compressed with 50 much
violence that the tigers tongue protruded
from his mouth, and he slightly slaekened
his grasp and struggled violently to breathe
little air, which be was unable to do, be
cause his meek was grasped with a vice.
But the gladiator became gradually weaker
from fatigue and loss of blood. lie knew the
louger the combat lasted the more danger he
was IN. lie determined then quickly to ter
inmate it He pressed all bis weight against
the tiger. bending him backwards rs far rs
he could. lie heard the ANIMAL ribs break
ing beneath him. and Il stream Of blood issued
from his mouth. lie tried to free himself
from the conyulsive grasp of the tiger. which
grasped his neck in dying agony.
Feeling himself gradually sinking. the
poor jew summoned all his powers. and bore
the tiger to the earth. where he planted his
knee on It's painting sides. and. still pressing
n holl