Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-15
A Savage Scene.

A correspondent of the San Fran
cisco Chronicle, describing a bull
fight at Lima, writes: The next
scene on the programme was an en-
counter between bull and a bear.
Looking down into the arena, l saw
an attendant leading by strong
rope a small bear, which he securely
fastened in the middle of the arena.
The bull was now let in, and trs-
n1endous applause greeted his ap-
pearance. The animal at first did
not take any notice ofhis tied antag-
onist, merely shifting the air and
then dashing away. 1t was now
necessary to call the picadores, who
appeared and attempted to attract
the bull toward the bear. This they
succeeded in doing, and as the ami
NAL, now made furious, spied its
enemy, he dashed toward it with
head lowered, and, catching it on
his horns, threw it violently into the
air. The bear, apparently fright
ened, made no resistance, except to
growl fiercley, and endeavored to es-
cape from its assailant. Again and
again it was tossed into the air by its
furious antagonist, until the attend
ant, seeing that the fight was entire
ly one-sided, led both animals away,
amid the shouts of laughter from
the spectators, who were amused by
the cowardly behavior of the bear.
An encounter now took place be-
tween bull and full grown lion.
An iron cage containg the lion was
drawn into the middle of the arena,
sufficiently large to afford ample
room for the contest. The bull was
quickly let in, the grated door closed,
and the two animals stood glaring
at each other. The bull was the
first to advance to the attack, and,
charging furiously at his opponent,
he succeeding in driving his horns
through the jaws of the lion, from
which the blood flowed freely. The
lion, however, nothing daunted,
fought desperately with his claws,
fastening them in the sides of the
bull and lacerating the flesh terribly.
The bull had the advantage; and,
although he tried in vain to shake
off his antagonist, he succeeded fin
ally in worrying him out, the lion
dropping from sheer exhaustion on
the floor of the cage The fight last
ed about five minutes, and at its con-
clusion the victor was greeted with
the usual thunders of applause by
the excited spectators. My lady
friends were especially enthusiastic,
asking me if ever l had witnessed
such an enjoyable entertainment be-
fore. Another intermission of fif-
teen minutes now occurred, which.
we improved by visiting the boxes
of various friends present and par
taking of refreshments.
The closing scene was to be fight
between n iioness and four small but
ferocious bulldogs. The cage was
now returned, and we saw large,
fullgrown lioness of ferocious as
pect, while at the same moment an
attendant appeared leading by
chain four small dogs of bull species.
They were Immediately led into the
cage, and with fierce growls Instant
ly sprang on their foe. 1t would
seem almost impossible for four such
insignificant animals to be victorious
IN an encounter with an enormous
hon, but the result showed how
mere brute force falls n prey to Gun.
ming stratagem. The audience were
now worked up to a pitch of excite.
ment, and hundreds sprang into the
arena to obtain q closer view Of the