Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-03-13
A Sunday Bull Fight in Hardwick.

o'oiy VI q JUL HSHe III Adi iuWlCh, III
a copy of the Massachusetts Spy,
published nearly forty years ago:
We insist that all games of chance
have a tendency to moral corrup-
tion, and when engaged in, will de-
prave the most virtuous mind. To
illustrate this truth, we will relate
long anecdote, direct to the point
We shall not like the writer's of mod
ern fiction, state that our tale is foun-
ded on facts, but shall relate the facts
themselves, substantially, as received
from a worthy descendant of the
prominent party, long since deceased.
His grandfather, the hero of our story,
was no less a parsonage than the
Hon. Timothy Ruggles, counsellor at
law, of facetious memory, who emf
grated from the sterile sands of Cape
Cod, to the fertile hills of Hardwick,
in the county of Worcester, about the
year 1850. AS an advocate he was
respectable and successful, but that
was not his hobby. In agriculture
he was proficient, and the sports of
the field were his favorite amusement,
and his overweening attachment to
dogs, is an unalianable inheritance of
the family. He was a general of a
brigade in, his Majesty's colonial mi
litia, and the title of Brigadier is
still connected with his name.
During his residence in Hardwick
he was in habits Of intimacy with the
reigning family in the county, the
Chandlers, and in token of friend
ship, presented Col. Gardner Chan
dler, sheriff Of the county, with a fine
blooded colt. Col. Chandler, no less
courteous and liberal, reciprocated
the compliment, and made the Briga-
der present of a bull calf, the fruit
of a very large imported COW, he had
purchased, with the calf by her side,
having been dropped on the passage.
Time and good keeping ripened this
calf to a bull of great size and beau
ty. He was the pride of the herd
and almost idolized by its owner, who
was so confident Of his favorite's in
vincibility that he challenged the
whole country to produce match for
him In the field of battle, and would
pledge any sum that would be re-
quired upon the issue of the contest
Weeks and months passed before any
antagonist appeared. AC length the
challenge reached the ears of man
in Connecticut (Pomfret, | believel
who owned bull, whose pedigree
was as noble, and his prowess as re
nowned III his nelghOOrnood, as was
the Brigadier'S in Hardwick. Fired
with emulation, and knowing that his
bull would not take a stump, he
started with his champion for Hard
WICK, and arrived on Saturday even
ing, and took up the Brigadier's
gage. The battle was appointed for
the Monday following, and $50 stak-
ed upon the issue. After the prelim
lnarles were settled, and the General
had time for reflection, he had some
qualms of regret for his unpremedi.
tated defiance of all competitors with
his bull. He had given the challenge
IN exultation at the victories his bull
had gained over all domestic enc.
mics; but had not calculated that one
of 1.-The bulls of Bashan" would ap-
pear to accept it, for the size and fig
ure Of his new enemy was evidence
In his mind that he must have pro-
ceeded from that stock.
Notwithstanding his humorous &c.
centricities Gen. Ruggles possessed a
fair and honest mind, and disdained
every dishonorable subterfuge that
was not professionally required. But
the bull bet had reduced him to the
level of the gamester, and his dignity
and pride of character fell with him,
and low and dishonorable evasions
were summoned to his aid, in the pres
sing dilema. Under the influence of
such impressions, he laid his plan and
retired to rest. The ensuing day, the
Sabbath, the General was more rigid
in observing than was customary, even
in those puritanical days, for not'one
of his family was permitted to stay
from meeting; the Connecticut. bull
owner whom, from want of another
name, we shall call Bullum) went of
course. But at noon the Brigadier
pretended ill-health, and excused him.
self from attending afternoon servi-
ces. But no sooner was the coast
clear OF witnesses than he proceeded
to execute his design-which was to
assist his bull in defeating his enemy
that day, that he might more certain
| ly prove victorious the next. He ac-
cordingly armed himself with pitch.
fork, and repaired to his barnyard,
surrounded by a huge stone wall,
which he had selected for the bloody
arena, and introduced the combatants.
Now, reader, had we the pen of a
Virgil, we could paint you scene
that would strain your eye balls to
the size of bulls to look at, but we
shall not covet fiction nor fancy, but
go right on and tell our story, only
stopping to remind the Roman farmer
that his libidinous heroes were mere
cow babies to ours, and the prize but
a tickle mistress. Whoever has wit
messed the fierce and undaunted
fronts of these noble animals when
eyeing foe, well knows that no time
will be lost in sine qua non nor mani
.festos, but when "bull meets bull, then