Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1865-05-06
A Volunteer Bull Fight.

! remember seeing when lad at school,
fight between two bulls. Though | was not
more than eight or nine years of age, can never
/ forget the scene. 1t happened in this wise
/ Near the house-an unpretending eoihce 1t
was-ran deep and rapid river. Across 1t haa
been thrown 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 oy them.
One Summer day. remember 1t as II IL were
yesterday-the hour of noon had arrived, and
! fun-seeking group of boys were sent out for
recreation.
On a sudden the roaring of two bulls that had
broken out of their confinement attracted our
attention. The beasts were not yet IN slght OF
each other, but were approaching at rate Oh
speed which caused them to meet near the center
of the high bridge, which have described ana
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 ap-
preached the paving combatants. Bashan never
produced two brutes of fercer aspect. Presently
as they simultaneously assembled the respective
abutments, they came in full sight OF each other
And they went at it with a 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
a time neither gained.
Hitherto they were pressing each other length
wise of the bridge. On sudden they began to
wheel, and in a moment they were facing each
other crosswse. 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 amphitheater Of ancient Rome the scene of
a more exciting combat Another step back
wards yes, the unfortunate bull was forced to
do it. Back he is pressed, and over the bridge
he goes. Such sight l never saw, and never
wish to see again. Imagine large and power
full bull pitched over Il bridge, and tumbling
thirty feet over and ever. lie Turned once or
twice, | thought he turned fifty times, there
seemed such a confusion Of horns and feet re-
volving in the air Down he went tie river
was very deep, and he disappeared from view,
leaving whirlpool behind him, and making the
water undulate far and wide with the conclusion
of his weight. The other beast did not laugh,
because supposed at the time he could not.
But We laughed and shouted our applause. There
stood the victor, looking directly down into the
abyss below, into which lie hurried his unluckv
foe. He stood but moment. and then, as If
frightened ut the prospect, he began to snort and
step backwards. But he retrcated with his head
in the same pugnacious attitude as when in com
bat-6ack-stil another step, and over he went
on the opposite side of the bridge, performing
just many and ludicrous somerSets az his adj
versary had done a moment before.
1t was o scene to be long remembered, and the
performance called forth immense applause. In
about FIVE minutes both bulls might be seen,
well sobered by their duclng. and dripping wet.
scratching up the steep banks, each one on his
| own side of the river.
Those bulls will never fight again, said q
boy behind me
| His prediction proved 10 be correct, for two
more peaceable bulls than they were ever after
ward, could not have been found.