Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-01-13
A VOLUNTEER BUII. EIGHT.

NObUN EEK BUbii flOHI,
! remember once seeing, when lad Al
school, fgh: between two bull. Though
was not more than eight or nine ears tf age
| can never forget the scene. 1t happened il
this wise
Near ;he house. an unpretending edifce il
was, ran a deep and rapid river. Across il
had been thrown high wooden bridge, the
head railing Of which time had destroyed. -
/ Tie ground on the opposite side Of the stream
was owned by different persons, and farmed
by them. One summer day, remember i,
as If it were yesterday, the hour OF noon had
arrived, and fuuseeking group Of boys were
sent out for recreation.
On sudden the roaring Of two bulls that
bad broken out Of their confinement attracted
our attention.
The beasts we're not yet in sight Of each
other, but were approaching at a rate Of speed
which caused them to meet near the center OF
the high bridge which | have described, and
beneath which ran the river, between steep
banks. The more daring Of us gathered near
the bridge to see the anticipated fight And
we were not disappointed.
Nearer and nearer approached the pawius
combataLts. Bashen never produced two
bfutes Of fefcer aspect.
Presently, as they simultaneously ascend
ed the respective abutments, they came in
full sight OF each other And they went at
it with gusto. Front to front, their horns
locked, every muscle strained, they were
fighting only as bulls can fight. 1t seemed
An even match.
Now one would press back his opponent
few PAGES, and then you would hear quick
sharp, short steps, and his adversary would
press back in his turn. The fight was hard,
and now and then savage. For time neith-
er gained.
Hitherto they were pressing each other
lengthwise Of the bridge. On a sudden they
began to wheel, and in moment they were
facing each other crosswise. They were at
right angles with the bridge, which shook
with their trampling and strife.
1t was The work Of single moment one
of the beasts, however, as if conscious of its
position, made desperate plunge forward,
and pressed his antagonist back, so that there
was but another step Of the plank between
him and the water beneath.
The moment was one of intense interest
to US spectators. Never was the amphithea-
ter Of ancient Rome the scene of more ex-
citing combat. Another step backward; yes,
Back be is pressed, and over the bridge be
goes. Such sight never saw and never
wish TO see again.
Imagine large and powerful bull pitched
backward over a bridge, end tumbling thirty
feet over and over. He turned once or twice
thought he turned fifty times, there seemed
such confusion of horns and feet revolving
in the air
l. A
and he disappeared from view, leaving whirl-
pool behind him, and making the water un-
dulate far and wide with the concussion Of
his weight
The other beast did not laugh, because
supposed at the time be could not.
But we laughed and shouted our applause.
There stood the victor. looking directly down
into the abyss below into which he hurried
his unlucky foe. He stood but moment,
and then, as if frightened at the prospect,
he began to snort and step backward.
But he retreated with his head in the same
pugnscious attitude as when in combat back,
still another step, and over he went on the
opposite side of the bridge, performing just
as many and ludicrous somersets as his ad
versary had done a moment before.
1t was scene to be long remembered, and |
the performance called forth immense ap-
p!ause.
In about five minutes both bulls might be /
seen. well sobered by their duoking, and /
dripping wet, scratching up the steep banks,
each one on his own side OF the river
" Those bulls will never fight again" said (
a boy behind me.
His prediction proved to be correct, for |
two more pea cable bulls than they were ever
afterward could not have been found