The Shasta courier., 1868-09-19
NUMBER %.
A Bull Fight OH a Texas Prairie.

Bull fighting is very popular-perhaps q
very delightful, if not intellectual-amuse-
ment in the city of the Montezumas, as we'll
as in the dominions of Her Most Catholic
Majesty. But when oae of these exciting
contests takes place in the midst of q bound
less prairie, without applauding spectators
and without the usual attendants of feminine
grace and loveliness and masculine chivalry,
and. accompanying display Of glittering pomp
and popular clamor, it loses much of its in
terest except t the actors Immediately con.
cerned
An incident Of this kind-or l might say
thrilling adventure-took place but short
time since on one of the prairies of Texas.
was one day sauntering leisurely along
on foot III prairie not far from the San ,Ber-
nard. My path wound along in serpentine
course, bordered on either side by the rank
prairie grass, with here and there a clump of
stunted trees, denoting some lower or wetter
spot on the broad green expanse.
There were no herds of cattle near, when
suddenly up sprang from the tall grass, few
yards before me, a large brindled bull He
began to paw the earth and exhibit unmis-
taxable signs that something had disturbed
his equanmlty or that some one of his COM
peers had insulted him or outraged his sense
of propriety. Unfortunately for..me, and per-
haps for him, | appeared as the fttest object
upon which to wreak his malignant passion.
He had doubtless I" nursed his wrath to keep
1T warm" fof his demonstrations became
more furious as picked up a chance stick
that lay in my way to drive him off.
L soon found, however, that his bullship
was " terribly in earnest" His attitude be-
came more menacing as | advanced, and I
was within few feet of him when he lower
ed his head for the attack, and attempted
to draw-my revolver. 1t was too late. Be-
fore l had time to use my weapon he had
sprung upon me and borne me to the earth.-
In the shock dropped my revolver. Fortu.
nately for me, although his horns were long
and keen, they were wide apart, and thus he
had pinned me down, his sharp horns stick.
ing into the earth on either side of me. |
seized his horns as the only alternative, and
attempted to hold him.
Now the struggle commenced in earnest
His hot breath in my face almost suhocated
me; still held to his horns with all my
strength, hoping he would tire of the con
test and leave me. He commenced dragging
me further and further from my only weapon
OF defence he finally broke loose from me
and retired a few steps. was afraid to
move; there he stood, lashing his tail against
his sides, paving the earth, his red nostrils
dlstended, his eyes glaring like balls of fire.
lie looked to me the impersonation of the
fend Of darkness himself He again bowed
his head, one deep, thunder like roar came
from him, and again he was upon me. As
before his horns stuck each side of me and
pinned me to the earth. Again seized his
horns, and he commenced dragging me in the
direction where the contest had first COM
menced. l by this time was almost exhaust
od l,ah ht,ll Cd - c..
At last he broke loose from my hold and
backed off . few yards to renew the combat.
l felt that | should be unable to endure SO
unequal a fight much longer. l looked
around and found that in the scuffle we had
got near the place where the first fight be-
gan. My hat which had been lost in the
first onset, was lying near me. and fortunate
ly but few feet from it lay nv revolver. 1t
was my last hope for life. With all my re-
naming strength | sprang for, and grasped
my pistol just as the bull had gathered him.
self for another attack. On he came, more
enraged than ever. His eyes seemed to emit
sparks of fire as he rushed toward me.
i had no time for reflection, but presented
my revolver, and when he was within FIVE
feet of me fired. Whether by accident or
good craftsmanship, l can scarcely now tell,
had struck him in the curl of the forehead
ne iell IoTWdru IL ueau Dull, anu MS heayy
carcass in its fall nearly crushed my right leg
and almost smothered me. With some diff.
Guilty / extracted myself, but it was soihe
time before | was able to stand. When I
had so far recovered as to crawl away, saw
a few hundred yards from me a lone tree,
whose friendly shelter at once Sought from
the rays of the now vertical sun. When l
reached the tree, there sat very composedly
among its sheltering branches negro herds
man with lasso in hand, who had been dis
interested spectator of the unequal contest.
l tell you felt mighty like shooting that
niger, but ho begged powerfully; and said
he Just got up dar case he war afraid of
dat tarnal old bull"
Fortunately the only serious injdry l re-
ceived was the loss of a new suit of summer
clothes torn in shreds and the breaking of my
watch.-Houston Telegraph.