Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-15
oNE.slpEp puEL
fertile Combat Between a Bull ana
Bear.


In former days, before Southern Cali
fornia had been so completely Ameri-
canized, the sports and pastimes of the
people had flavor of Old Spain The
bull fight was a common occurrence,
while sport with the javelin and sword,
batting various animals of opposing
temperament, were the entertainments
that enlivened the people on Sunday
afternoons The vicinity of the mis-
sions was often the scene of these en-
counters, especially the fine old mission
of San Juan Capistrano, where the in
terror court, embracing several acres.
formed model arena The contests
which were enacted here still live,
though the mission is a ruin, an earth
quake having destroyed the roof several
decades ago.
A famous sport was to bait bull and
bear, and at such times the roof of the
fine colonnade, which still stands, would
be crowded with natives and the fami-
lies of the big ranch owners that came
in from the surrounding country for the
performance.
Bear and bull batting still fingers in
the hearts of the Spanish and Mexican
people of southern California, and not a
few Americans are willing to partici-
pate in the novel sport. Over the line
in San Diego county the little town of
Tia Juana is occasionally the center of
such an interest-numbers of Ameri-
cans who protest vigorously against the
sport in their own city, going down
here to enjoy it on Mexican soil
Sometimes the contest is witnessed on
| the American side, such an entertain
| ment being given in Los Angeles re-
Gently.
The announcement was made that a
| ferocious bear had been obtained, and
that it would fight duel to the death
| with a bull that had earned a reputa-
ton as a bear killer in many long
! contested battle. This was not espe-
cially dwelt upon in the papers, as there
was a possibility that law relating to
such events might be resuscitated and
put into force, but word was passed
from one to another among the Next
can populations; old stories were revived
of famous bulls and bears that had won
| glorious victories in bygone days, while
| some remembered famous bull fighters
in the old country.
| So in one way and another a goodly
public interest became central in the
, contest, and at the hour announced
the seats were well filed. There was
a crowd anxious for blood, who, like
the old Romans, would have turned
their thumbs down to man or bear,
consequently there arose murmur of
disappointment when the bull sprang
out, with horns long and slender, but
capped with brass, and consequently
not very important factor as bear
killer, though instances have been
known Of bulls that could kill their OBJ
ponent by mere force of strength.
There was, however, no cause for dis
satisfaction, as the combat was fierce
enough to suit the average mortal
The bear, a fine fellow, big and
bulky, was pushed in, and for a few
moments shufled about the enclosure,
looking iuquisitively up at the faces,
and glazing covertly at the bull, NUT
tering in the curious manner common
to bears in general. Finally the bull
was irritated by the skillful application
of darts, and dashed at the only enemy
in sight, then stopped suddenly, and for
a moment the attitudes of the two were
worthy the attention of an artist.
The bull tossed its head, threw its
nose into the air, defiantly paving the
ground and hurting dust upon its back
|
the crowd. The movement was not lost
upon the bear, that at the first snort
faced about and rose to it's full height
swaying its bulky body to and fro, as il
inviting attack. The bull accepted the
challenge, and, perhaps encouraged by
more darts deity fired by the promo
tiers of the fight, lowered it's head and
dashed ahead. The bear possessed al
the courage necessary, and by quick
movement tried to seize the bull by the
neck, but it was not quick enough, the
bull striking it solidly in the neck
bowling it over like big tenpin. The
bear, however, revenged itself by tax
ing warm and unfriendly grip about
the bulls neck, holding it down, al
which the crowd roared and cheered al
ternately for both.
The bull, after much more plungina
and paving, retreated, while the bear
now warmed up growlingly rushed for
ward and rose, to be again bowled over
The bear was evidently a philosopher
and, in the expressive language of the
prize ring, went to grass, calmly anC
with evident generalization, but always
making an attack upon his assailant
when down. What the bull would have
done had its horns not been guarded il
is difficult to imagine, as it plunged anC
lifted with its natural weapons thai
gilded over the thick skin of the grizzly
as if nothing more had been expected.
Again and again the two met-theil
eyes cleaning with rage, their struggles
filling the air with dust, until, finally
the bull refused to fight so handicapped
and the bear was dragged ANONYMOUSLY
from the ring for failing to slay it's ad
versary.
This duel, one-sided and unsatisfac
) tory to those who desired to see blood
shed, was eminently more to the taste
) Of the Americans, who were repaid il
seeing the maneuvers of the bear il
avoiding unnecessary work. In all its
J movements bruin reminded one of the
typical prize fighter, hulking, SLOUGH
ing fellow, suggestive of reserve force
| and not Ef&1a