Crawford avalanche., 1891-09-03


owing 70 the ferocicus nature of the
mountain lion il would be necessary to
take some means TO prevent him from
leaping out of the ring into the crowd.
If his friends, the spectators, had no
better way 10 suggest he would order
that the lion be tied TO q stake in the
centre of the bull ring. This propos-
ition had the entire approval of thespec-
tatcrs, and especially of those who sat in
the rows nearest the ring. The lion was
tied with rope enough 10 allow him TO
jump hardly more than twice his own
length.
.'rie the bull, too!y called out voice.
"Fair play for the lionv' and the cry was
taken up.
The manager protested that he wanted
the fight to be as good as possible, and
he doubted the wisdom of tying the buh.
1t is not fair" the crowd shouted.
" The bull will kill the lion without a
fight"
What would you have?" said the
manager. "Shall let loose the lion
among you ALI"
"No, no. Tie the bull in front of the
lion. Give them an equal chance"
So the bull was tied to a stake with a
short rope. Apparently the lion would
have fair chance. At length the COM
baiasts were left face TO face. The lion
was free of muzzle and the two extra
ropes.
The animals watched each other for a
few moments, each one moving restlessly
as though uncertain what to do. Neither
seemed to be afraid. The bull slowly
paved the ground and waved his long
toll, at the same time shaking his head
and expelling from his nostrils such
quick blasts of air that the dust flew up
in his face. The lion now and then
crouched nervously, with snarling jaw
and jerking tail, but he did not spring.
The crowd. held it's breath again and
again as the crisis seemed to be ut hand.
At length the lion crouched. His
muscles moved under his soft skin like
steel springs. The bull stiffened his
thick neck and lowered still further his
wicked head.
Then there was a sudden flash of yel-
low in the last rays of the setting sun.
The lion had sprung at his foe. The
bulls great head went up into the air SO
quickly that the human eye could not fol-
low the motion, but the bull was too late.
The lion landed full upon the bulls
broad back and dug in his cruel claws.
The bull roared. His roar was answered
by greater, louder roar from the
thousand human throats in the circle out
side .tha ring The haman- animal was i'm
sympathy with his dumb fellow.
The bull jumped about and tried vio-
lently 10 dislodge the lion, but the yellow
beast stuck fast. In moment the blood
began to trickle down the bulls black
sides. Probably surprised by the noise
of the howling crowd, the lion made no
further hostile demonstration. Even the
smell of blood did not rouse him from his
wondering quiet. The rope which fas-
tened the bull to the stake was too short
to allow him much freedom of movement,
and SO she lion remained calmly on his
back.
"Give the bull chance" the crowd
began to yell. Don't you see that he
can't move his head? Give the bull more
rope. The lion will kill him like a tame
cow" Sympathy for the bull was ris-
ing.
KNOCK the lion off ~ howled the
crowd again. "Let the fight go on. 1t
will be dark before it's over. Knock the
lion off or we will cut the ropes. Give
the bull more rope" The bulls life
blood was trickling down into the dust
in steadily increasing streams.
The subdued manager yielded to the
will of the people. The lion was induced
to get down from the bulls back, where
upon he was dragged along to his stake.
He was getting ugly, and the men who
had hoid of his rope were careful to keep
we'll out Of his reach. Only the bull was
left to face his rising wrath.
The bulls rope was heightened so that
il was nearly the same length as the
rope which held the lion, and when he
felt his head once more free the black
fellow turned to lick his wounds. 1t
was only.for q moment, however, az he
seems to know instinctively that the lion
must be watched.
The crowd began TO yell again. $50
for him, lion! take him by the neck"
cheered groups of spectators here and
there. Take him under the forelegs,
built" shouted hundreds of VOICES; "toss
kills All tbs f 'earyes ana sfffsisehtShs fhs fhs
cows. Kill the thief and get even"
The lion began to growl and to walk
back and forth quickly, as though seek
ing for chance to spring in and finish
the work already begun. His wonder
and surprise had passed away, and he was
ready for more serious attack. The
bull wGs smarting with pain where the
lions claws had sunk into his flesh, and
he shook his head viciously. These de-
monstrations went on for few moments
without result, and the crowd yelled
louder and louder. In their excitement
men leaped into the bull ring to get
better view
Then the attitude of the two raging
animals changed. The lion crouched for
another spring, and in that same instant
the bull lowered his head and stiffened
his thick neck The lions quivering
muscles contracted with nervous strain
for the leap, but just OH the exact instant
the huge black beast rushed upon him
with lowered head and shining horns and
tossed him high in air. The horns had
caught the lion under the forelegs as the
yellow animal rosc for his spring. aud.
went upward the lion turned over on his
back, with his feet waving helplessly to.
and fro. He went the length of his rope,
and then stopped short with a sudden
crack that was heard distinctly by all the
spectators. Then he came down in n
limp and helpless mass, quivering in o
death spasm. The battle was over. The
lions neck was broken New York Re-
corder.