Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-25
THE TENDER PASSION.
1t Causes Trouble Between
Two SenOritas.
AN EXCITING PASSAGE AT ARMS
The Old San Gabriel Mission
Aroused = Words, Fists and
Knives.

The peace which, as rule, pervades
the quaint old Mission town OF San Ga.
briel was rudeiy broken in "the witching
hour" yesterday by duel in the Span
ish quarter. 1t was not an arranged
meeting, neither can it be called an
affair of honor, for it was an outcome OF
the innate jealousy which is go marked
in some of the members OF the Latin
races. As rule, such occurrences re-
suit from the quarreling of two men
about a woman, but in this instance the
order of things was reversed, and a man
proved the object of strife between two
women. Nacor Fanorano and Fran
cisca Montana are the names oi
the combatants, and they claim
the distinction of being descendants
of the families that welcomed the
good Padre Junipero Serro when, in 1771
at the head of his missionaries he set up
the cross of Christianity along the West.
ern coast. A comely. dark-skiDned native
son was the cause of all the trouble, and
appears to have been of the Don Juan
species, for each of the sefioritas treasured
up in her own little heart that che alone
was mistress of his affections. The two
damsels sat outside one of the cool adobe
houses talking over matters in general
the conversation, drifting, as it always
does on such occasions, to "the
tender passion" Each one confided to
the other the good qualities of her object
OF affection, and it becoming noticeable
how many condolences we're being
brought up regarding the gentlemen in
question, 1T was agreed that their nam es
should be given.
Pedro" said one.
"Pedro," said the other.
"Garcia," said the first.
Number two responded by jumping to
her feet and, in an excited manner, ex.
claiming, "He is mine!"
Only those who have been present
when two enraged women, who are not
held down by any social restraint, are
lace to face, can imagine what followed.
They talked as if by machinery, neither
evidently paying the slightest attention
to the others remarks; they gesticu-
lated, they screeched, and they finally
commenced to fight. Hair pulling
and scratching, without any observance
whatever as to rounds or fouls, was in.
dulged in to the delight of a
throng OF paisanos who were
| watching the sport, and it looked
as if they were about to repeat the per
formance of the famous Kilkenny cats
What with shouting, as we'll as fighting
however, their wind gave out, and az
they drew back for breather an idea
suddenly struck them simultaneously
They rushed to table, on which was
spread the remains of repast of chile.
con-carne, tamales, and other national
dishes of their country, and, seizing from
it dangerous-looking knives, prepared
for combat a poutrance. Eyeing each
other cautiously, they circled around
but Just as one of them was preparing
for fatal spring, venerable looking
padre stepped between them. They
stamped their feet and ordered him
back, but the words of remonstrance
that he spoke had an effect on the throng
arodnd. for they came to his assistanc e
in the most practical manner possible by
seizing and disarming the infuriated
amazons. They were dragged away in
different directions and placed under
guard for the night. 80 that they could
not resume hostilities at will.
Daylight found an officer on the scene,
for the news of the conflict had reached
the adjoining American settlement, and, 1,
placing them in custody, he led them to
the calaboose near the depot. Justice
Landon presided at their trial during
the afternoon, but, it being pointed out
that no one claimed to have been dis
turbed, that. no actual harm had been
done, and also that the combatants would
solemnly promise to keep the peace in
the future, he permitted them to return to
their homes with no other punishment
than a severe judicial criticism ofstheir
conduct.