Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-08-20
BULL AGAINST LION.

QUEER COMBAT IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
Mr.. w. o. Wolcott, an American now
doing business in Venezuela, saw the
whole thing from beginning to end. 1t
occurred in u small town in the noun
tains of Costa Rica, or somewhere about
there-but have forgotten so much of
the story except the main facts that |
would not venture to put name to the
place further than to say that it might
have been San Jose. 1t is entirely safe
to call it San Jose, for there is an almost
uninterrupted string of San Joses in the
American Republics down to the Straits
of Magellan
There had been bull fight at o'clock
in the afternoon between three native
mountain steers and band of bull
fighters from the City of Mexico. When
business was dull in the City of Mexico
these bull fighters made n long tour of
the outlying country, sometimes going
as far south as South America.
Despite the gaudy promises of the morn
ing the bull fight was rather of disap-
pointment than q success. There were
too many bull fighters and too few steers,
with the inevitable result that the ami
mails had not the shadow of chance for
themselves. They were killed like SO
many tame bullocks in slaughter house
and, as the bull fighters seemed to be un-
willing to take any risk whatever, the
crowd became furious. Money was not
plentiful, and so, when the bull fight was
no better than the stabbing of so many
domestic cows, the provocation to anger
was great. The spectators were not
backward about expressing their opin-
ions on the conduct of the affair. A
clamor went up for the return of tn,
money taken in at the gate, but when tina
was refused cry arose to lock the bul
fighters into the ring and turn in upol
them whole herd of wild bulls. Thi
was not practicable, mainly for the rea
son that the bull fighters had made thei
escape as soon as the last tame comba
was over.
A proposition to tear down the bull
ring and set the whole thing on fire, with
an incidental knitting of the managers
induced the managers to call for par
ley. The crowd settled down into state
of sullen expectancy to await results
As an outcome of the parley the mana,
would wait patiently for half an hour the
show would be closed with an exhibition
of fighting that would of itself be worth
more than the money paid at the gate.
AT the end of an hour the managers re-
turned, pleased, proud and confident.
The chief manager raised his hand and
called for silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said he, in
soft, flowing Spanish, II have the honor
to inform you that with an ever present
desire to well deserve your good opinion,
we have prevailed upon distinguished
inhabitant of our beautiful and patriotic
city to assist us in bringing to satisfac-
tory termination this interesting occa-
sion"
LESS talk and more show" shouted
an angry visitor from Guatemala.
''lf my impatient friend will do me the
honor to wait u moment" continued the
manager, as he stifled hot desire to cut
the throat of the gentleman from Guate-
mala, 81 will explain that we are now to
be favored with one of the strangest and
most novel combats that has ever taken
place in the arena. Not even in ancient
Rome, in the days of Nero"
A piece of hard earth as large as a
mans hand rose out of the crowd neal
the gate and scared high in air. 1t broke
within a yard of the managers feet
Another followed little closer. The
time for words was over
"Behold," called out the manager, NOV.
ing quickly to one side, 1--WE bring on the
great fight"
A door leading into the animal incos
ure just outside the ring opened suddenly
and black bull from the mountain.
bolted headlong into the ring. Thre,
vaqueros with lariats followed him. Tn,
crowd leaned forward in hushed suspense
What was coming?
A door opened with quick bang, and
the man who opened it jumped to one
side.
Ah-h-hl The waiting crowd drew its
breath in long sigh A mountain lion
muzzlcd and led by three men with ropes
stepped slowly into the ring. His yellow
skin shone like dull gold in ray of sun
shine that came in through an opene,
door, and his long tail twitched gently t.
and fro. He seemed to be young lion
although well grown and muscular. !
cltlzch OF the town had captured him OF
the border of Mexico few months before
and had only half an hour since sold hin
for good sum to the perplexed but in
gcnious manager of the bull fight.
The lion took no heed of the crow
and the bull until the spectators, began t
cheer and shout in an ccstacy of Joy
Thcn he glanced from side to side wit
quick-sccinr ewes. Apparcntlv he di
not altogether approve of what he hear
and saw, for his tail took on an addc
motion with spiteful little jerk at til
end of each. swing. The black bul
scented the lion and backed off slowly
with his head lowered and his right foo
scraping at the ground. TIE spectators
who had only II few moments before bee
ready to hamstring the manager, wer
now willing to cry long life to him an