The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-12-18
RAMBLES IN MEXICO.
Contest with the Circus AIan-How the Boy
Won the Gane-A Well Told Story.

Elements with background OF evergreen
foliage The fort itself I recognized by
the tri-color of the Mexican Republic,
though on the meadow at the foot of the
mountain we saw similar and larger
flag, and behind it body of men, which
took for a brigade of soldiers drawn
up in close marching order. But on
crossing a viaduct over the ravine Of a
mountain creek noticed that the uni
forms of the supposed brigade were
largely mixed with serapes, and even
with the white rebOsOs, or head-shawls,
of the Mexican matrons of the upper
classes.
" What is ftp" I asked, when we met
q trooper who had watered a couple of
horses at the creek que hayP another
execuiOnP"
NO. said he; 81 only a foot-race.
our muchachos has challenged their
champion runner and wrestler. The
desafio is for 10 Onzas (about $500 a
side, and they are just moving a meadow
for foot-race."
Enthusiasm is contagious. / had in
tended to dismiss my guide on the same
evening, and take the stage-coach to
Jalapa and POtosi; but we all staid till
the following morning to witness the re-
suit of the desafiO.
The presence of a crack regiment of
cavalry at Perote and their weekly prize
drills had fostered a spirit of gymnastic
emulation, and the citizens had organ
lied different rifle, race, and bull-ring
% teams" which frequently tried con
illusions with the matadOres of the gar
rison Two brothers of the neighbOr-
ing village of Tresmontes, LUZ and
Juan Vegos, had scored so many vic
tories in these local contests that, like
the Maccabees, they had come to think
themselves invincible; and, when the
circus gymnasts tried to astonish the ma
tives, one of the brothers had the bold
ness to challenge the wrestler, Gil
Rivas, an athlete of national reputa-
ton.
The desafio was wrestling,
running, and spear throwing, favorite
game of the mounted lancers-the vic
tor in more than one match to claim the
stakes; and, by making interest with
the umpire, the Peroters had carried the
shrewd proyisO that the contest should
begin with the foot-race.
The next morning was cloudy and
disagreeably close, but the population
of the comarca turned out en- masse to
see their champion put his head in the
lions mouth. The competitors seemed
not fairly matched. Gil Rivas was a
broad shouldered, fine looking gymnast,
a native of the warlike border State of
Nueva Leon; his rival was a mere mozo,
a clean built but slender lad of eighteen
or twenty; but the Peroters had con-
ferred with a council of veteran strate-
gists, and were resolved that the big
frontiersman should not have it all his
own way.
The benches of the circus, supple
mented by barrels and planks, formed
the stage; and, after pacing the race
course and choosing their sides, the cham
pion deposited their slippers at the UNI
pire's stand, and dashed off with fair
start, the mozO barefoOted, the circus
man in his stocking-feet. At the half
mile post the latter led by at least six
yards; but after that the mozo re-
doubled his speed, and when they passed
the stake Don RiVas seemed to be a tri-
file behind. But that might be on ac-
count of his fiuttering scarf. The goal
keeper pronounced it a cOncurso-a
dead heat. The same on the second
trial; the mOzo held back for the first
400 or 500 yards, and then overlook his
rival without any visible effort. The
third time he took the lead, but relaxed
on the hOme-stretch until his competitor
all but overlook him. Concurso again.
Mr.. Gil's comrades looked glum; they
began to suspect the mOZo's strategem
but theIfair Perotenas, who were not in
the secret, and the garish bellies of the
circus, rose in groups, waved their
mantas and cheered their respective ia
vorites at the fourth start.
"Anda, Don Gil! Viva! viva!'
'Anda, JuanitO, por mi amor, mucha-
cho!" they screamed in intense excite
ment.
But Don Gil needed no such stimuli:
to do his utmost, and Juanito could no
afford to crafty his fair friends just yet
His confidantes chuckled behind theil
serapes. Three more heats resulted il
concursos, till the athletes white
jaqueta became gray with dust and per
spiration, while his rivals shirt anC
skull-cap looked as dry as his demurt
cOuntenance. The circus men put theil
heads together, and seeing the umpire
getting uneasy the mozo's friends wits
pered a word in his ear when he re
turned to the stand the next time.
At the seventh heat Juanito let thu
gymnast forge ahead till the cOntes
seemed decided, when he suddenly
flung his cap down, went away like the
wind, and won the race by four or five
yards, through Don Gil, seeing hin
come, had finished with magniticen
squirt in the hope of saving his lead
Shouts and vivas rent the air, for al
Perote now saw what the sachems haC
known long ago-that their champion
was dallying with his antagonist in or
der to exhaust his strength before th'
| second match.
But the athlete had his revenge. AT
ter rest of ten minutes and glass Of
two of pulque helado, the men stood uT
to each other in front of the stage, anC
with sudden dodge Don Gil caught the
yOungtser round the waist, and wa:
about to force him on his knees wher
the Peroters set up a general shout o.
foul play, 80 No espero ell Senal!n The
circus man had not waited for the
proper signal, but grabbed his man una
wares. The athlete grinned, and per
mittcd his rival to regain his equilibri
um, and then stood still, waiting for the
senal. But JuanitO was on his GUARD
| this time, evaded the waist grip anC
disengaged his neck by screwing hi,
head through, using his chin as a lever
and his nape and occiput as n sliding
fulcrum. After trying in vain to get {
body hold from below, Don Riva,
changed his tactics, and complicated hi.
evolutions by feints and an aggressive
use of his knees; but Master Juan coulC
not he tripped and repaid his adverse
ry's thrusts by butting his stomach
During the first six rounds Rivas had ne
fair chance to bring his superior strength
into play; the mozo's head proved un
tenable, and he obviated all attempts a
his waist by movement which French
wrestlers call garde a coude-elbow
| parrying. His chin-and-nape tricl
| seemed 10 answer q variety of pmerorpn