St. Landry democrat., 1891-10-17
BULL AGAINST LION.


Mr.. w. 0. Wolcott, an American no,
doing business in Venezuela, saw tn
whole thing from beginning to end. ]
occurred in small town in the noun
tains Of Costa RIGA, or somewhere abou
there-but | have forgotten so much O
the story except the main facts that
would not venture to put a name to tn
place further than to say that it Nigh
have been San Jose. 1t is entirely SAT
to call it San Jose, for there is an almos
uninterrupted string of San Joses in tn,
American Republics down to the Strait
Of Magellan.
There had been bull fight at 2 o'clocl
IN the afternoon between three native
mountain steers and a band of bull
lighters from the City of Mexico. Whel
business was dull in the City of Mexico
these bull fighters made 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 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 I'm
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 stabhing 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 the
money taken in at the gate, but when that
was refused cry arose to lock the bull
lighters into the ring and turn in upon
them a whole herd of wild bulls. This
was not practicable, mainly for the rea-
son that the bull fighters had made their
escape as soon as the last tame combat
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 a state
OF sullen expectancy to await results.
AS an outcome of the parley the mana
gers announced that if the spectators
would wait patiently for half an hour the
show would be closed with an exhibition
ot lighting that would of itself be worth
more than the money paid at the gate.
At the end Of an hour the managers re-
,urned, pleased, proud and confident.
he chief manager raised his hand and
called for silence.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said he, in
'ott, flowing Spanish, Il have the honor
o inform you that with an ever present
leslre to well deserve your good opinion,
We have prevailed upon distinguished
nhabitant Of our beautiful and patriotic
ity to assist us in bringing to a satisfac-
DRY termination this interesting occa-
ion.''
"Less talk and more show" shouted
N angry visitor from Guatemala.
III my impatient friend will do me the
onor to wait moment" continued the
manager, as he stifed hot desire to cut
ne throat OF the gentleman from Guate-
lala, 81 will explain that we are now to
e favored with one of the strangest and
lost novel combats that has ever taken
lace in the arena. Not even in ancient
.ome, in the days of Nero
A piece of hard earth as large as q
lan's hand rose out of the crowd near
le gate and scared high in air. 1t broke
ithin a yard of the managers feet.
mother followed little closer. The
me for words was over.
Behold" called out the manager. NOV
lg quickly to one side, 1--WE bring on the
reat fight"
A door leading into the animal inclos-
re just outside the ring opened suddenly
1d a black bull from the mountains
olted headlong into the ring. Three .
aqueros with lariats followed him. The ;
'owd leaned forward in hushed suspense. {
hat was coming? s
A door opened with quick bang, and |
e man who opened it jumped to one {
de. !
Ah-h-h! The waiting crowd drew it's {
'eath in long sigh. A mountain lion,
uzzled and led by three men with ropes,
epped slowly into the ring. His yellow
lin shone like dull gold in ray Of sun
line that came in through an opened 7
'or, and his long tail twitched gently to \
ID fro. He seemed to be young lion. i
though well grown and muscular. A t
tlzen OF the town had captured him on
g border Of Mexico few months before,
d had only half an hour since sold him 7
r a good sam to the perplexed but in
nious manager Of the bull fight. )
The hon took no heee of the crowd q
d the bull until the spectators,began to
eer and shout in an ecstacy Of iov. n
ZEN he glanced from side to side with r,
ick-seeing eyes. Apparently he did o
t altogether approve Of what he heard n
d saw, for his tail took on an added !,
,tion with spiteful little jerk at the
d OF each swing. The black bull q
snted the lion and backed off SLOWLY. +
tn his head lowered and his right foot +,
'aping at the ground. The spectators. h
Q had only few moments before been il
ldy to hamstring the manager, were I
v willing to cry long Life to him and )