Crawford avalanche., 1891-09-03
BULL AGAINST LION.
QUEER COMBAT IL CENTRAL AMERICA.

Mr.. w. o. Wolcott, an American now
doing business in Venezuela, saw the
whole thing from beginning to end 1,
occurred in q small town in the noun
tains of Costa Rica. or somewhere about
there-but have forgotten 80 much OF
the story except the main facts that
would not venture TO put a name to the
place further than 10 say that il might
have been San Jose. 1t is entirely safe
10 call il San Jose, for there is an almost
uninterruI led 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 .hetween three native
mountain steers and a band of bull
fighters from the City of Mexico. When
business was dull in the City Of Mexico
these bull fighters made a 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 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 the
money taken in at the gate. but when that
was refused a cry arose TO lock the bull
fighters into the ring and turn in upon
them q 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.
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
gers announced thrt If tho spectators
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,
soft, flowing Spanish, Il 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.
eff my impatient friend will do me the
honor to wait a moment" continued the
manager, as he stifed 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 us large as a
mans hand rose out of the crowd near
the gate and scared high in air. 1t broke
within 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, tive bring ON the
great fight"
A door leading into the animal inclos-
ure just outside the ring opened suddenly
and a black bull from the mountains
bolted hcadlong into the ring. Three
vaqueros with lariats followed him. The
crowd leaned forward in hushed suspense.
What was coming?
A door opened with quick hang, and
the man who opened il jumped TO one
side.
Ah-h-h! The waiting crowd drew its
breath in n long sigh. A mountain lion,
muzEled>and led by three men with ropes,
stepped slowly into the ring. His yellow
skin shone like dull gold in q ray of sun
shine that came in through an opened
door, and his long tail twitched gently to
and fro. He seemed 10 be yeung lion,
although well grown and muscular. A
citizen of the town had captured him on
the border of Mexico few months before
and had only half an hour since sold him
for good sum to the pcrplexed but in
genious manager of the bull fight.
The lion took no heed of the crowd
and the bull until the spectators.began to
cheer and shout in an ecstacy of joy.
Then he glanced from side to side with
quick-seeing eyes. Apparently he did
not altogether approve of what he heard
and saw, for his tail took on ON added
motion with a spiteful little jerk at tho
end of each swing. The black bull
scented the lion and backed off slowly
with his head lowered and his right foot
scraping at the ground. The spectators
who had only few moments before beer
| ready to hamstring the manager, were
now willing 10 cry long life to him anc