New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-03-03
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 5, 1866
TAe Eaylron. OF New Orleans.
NUMBER TWENTY-FIVE.

NUMBER TWENTY-FIVE.
In. our former numbers we have often made men
ton Of the plains called the Congo plains, and Of
which the public square behind Rampant street.
bearing the same name, formed then Ia part. In
the enyirons Of our city, at the remote period of
which we have been treating, that is to say half
century ago. 1t was there that the greater part Of
the public festivals or amusements took place,
such as fire works, public exhibitions uminations,
etc. We have already stated that in that locality
the public negro dances were regularly kept up on
Sunday afternoons, which always attracted the
universal crowds Of all the population; but be-
sides these, there we're occasionally in an enclos-
gre, Bsadpying the site of the present parish
prison, exhibitions of.terrc bear and bull fghtsn
the magnificent posters at all the street corners
would announce these public displays. Nay, in
those times the city authorities had not yet found
it necessary, for the preservation of the public
m0rsls, to prohibit such sanguinary combats as
would b6Aofered to the multitude, eager to wit
ness fight between half dozen of butchers bull
dogs and an Opelousas steer, or murderous set-to
between Bengal tiger and Greenland ice bear
Now, such were at several times the recreating
amusements of the excited popuIace, greatly COM
posed Of sojonrning sailor folks, longshore men
and boat people who had descended in fats
the great Father Of Rivers. TO this yariously
composed multitude would be added consider
able sprinkiing ofcity amateurs Of these bloody
sports. Upon one occasion, though by no means
fond Of such exhibitions, ethe present writer was
induced to attend upon the announced 4great
bull fight and terrible tiger attack 1t was on q
mild summers afternoon, and the bills Of announce
ment had attracted an unusual concourse Of
people to the inclosure, entrance fee being but
twenty-five cents. The amphitheater in form
of a. circus, was surrounded with the
usual gradations and seats for the pub
He; these constructions, none Of the most solid
0nSs, were made Of common, rough pine or
vyfre& boards. A band of musicians enlivened
the scene, and the big drums, humping louder
anasfouder as the crowd became denser upon the
bsnches, seemed to make the utmost noise to
x2{jte Tie great outward crowd to come in and
cpate Of the great treat in store for the curl
ous spectators We surveyed the eager throng
seated around the circuit, and which now and
then, gwhilst4he sun was lowering in the horizon,
va showing its impatience for the great fight to
begin. The commissary, or the manager,
Win half dozen snbordnates, appeared /
indeed very busy in preparing all the
necessary preliminaries; there was the terrible /
Wild builhlo, that to US appeared quite harmless,
and feeding upon his provender in the middle of I
the srenn; whilst somewhat apart, in an adjoining
in6iosure was kept the untameable and ferocious
tiger which was to attack the king of the prairie
wilds. Now, his tigership was being fed upon
xaw, bloody beef, no debut to give the public d
III haste Af what carnage this beast of the forest
Was going 10 perform. Well, after this manage.
ment of feeding the animals had lasted consider
able while and thamuItitude got at last inpatient
and there was nothing bnt hallooing for the fight
I'd commence, both tho combatants were at last
III loose, one upon the other. Now let the reader
observe, that ppon the signal being given for the
grand attack, our busy comrnssary or en.wessa-
rio, foreseeing no doubt, the great hazard of the
dag. vanished out Of sight and directed his atten
lion to the immediate securing Of the income box
full Of silver change ard placed this his treasure
rss and foremost IN security and out Of the reach
pf impatient longsheremen, etc. But whilst these
RnanciaI measures were in execution, the fighting
pkft Of the crowd seeing no disposition even of a
issel between the hnalo and the tiger, (for these
lnimals being tame ones Of former managerie n
nd no stomach for tearing each others flesh now
letraily became enraged and wanted, by all means
kdt moneys worth that is, q fight between the
,rSatnres.
Hence. il the midst of the most deafenino no;se
Rhicl III band Of musicians-now become also
Isr,,s what scared bv the ferocous disnoatior ~
IL Is III Unsupported q create
Z order ID apnease the multitude. no donht and
lfimulate. iftpossible, the animals, ferooitv-aII
Il once terrible crash was heard. and onehalf
IL tie wooden graduation and seats gave way
md mmbled down with It's load Of ropen.mouthedl
spectators. HIRE was q spectacle Men, women
ap children, Of all colors and ages, pell NELL pass
fns ss crawling, scrambiing from under planks and
broken bsnches trying 10 get out Of the inclosure