Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-09-05
A SPANISH FANDANGO
A DANCE WHICH ONCE USED TO
AROUSE GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

In California the Fandango Was Often the
Scene of Very Lively Brawl Mt yyhfc.,
Men Were Sometimes Killed or wound
ed-How One Ended.
You will find in the big dictionaries that
the word fandango is described rs n pecu-
liar kind of Spanish dance in three-four
time, supposed to be OF Moorish origin.
This is n true definition, but it does not de-
fine the faDdango Of the Pacific coast. Here
It means q big dance to which anybody is
welcome, and at which everybody Is expect
ed make fool Of himself generally. IN
the olden days 1t meant general, confused
mingling Of men and women, revolvers,
gaming tables, boots and spurs, soft, me
lodious music, in curious contrast to the
surroundings, and liquor first, last and all
tho time
In the days Of forty-nine this quaint old
mission town was filled with adventures
from all over the globe, and whenever
fandango took place they went as a matter
OF course. Everybody dressed cxtrayagant-
ly. Senoritas who at other times dressed
as though they had barely enough money
to live on wore elaborate silks and satins
and were otherwise decorated in costly
manner. The men also spent good deal
of money on their clothes. The usual swell
Mexican costume consisted Of trousers of
black velvet, laced on the outer seams from
the hips down, little jingling bell buttons
being interspersed at intervals of about an
inch. The jacket was Of black or blue,
braided with gold. There was a red fam
ing sash around the waist, patent leather
shoes, the usual red Vicuna hat, revolvers
incased in patent leather scabbards, and
perhaps there were silver spurs.
The fandango was held in long, low
adobe house fronting the plaza. 1t had one
grand room for the dance, thanked by two
other rooms, which made up the front of
the house. TIVE largo wings extended to
the rear, containing rooms usually used as
dressing rooms.
The writer remembers distinctly the first
fandango he attended in this adobe house.
1t was some 10 years ago. from the dc
scriptions of the affair he had heard care
lessly let drop by various persons in the
town he concluded to carry two more than
the usual number of rcvolvers. and to wear
in addition to his stiletto Il long sword.
This was incascd in patent leather scab-
bard, giving the wearer u fine martial ap-
pearance.
As the writer on the night Of tho fam
dango approached the adobe house q noise
like that of I'm earthquake met his ear. 1t
was made 6s- the guests inside getting
ready for the Entertainment. They were
shouting, dancing, stamping their feet,
clapping their hands and doing other
things which would tend to cheer up the
| spirits of any who might feel out of sorts
In front was crowd of seedy Indians, half
| breed Mcxicans and those other aimless
creatures who always turn up and hang
around whenever there is big show going
on.
Among the dancers were gaudily dressed
rancheros and gamblers of the respectable
and fashionable type, who were regarded q.
great men by those who made their money
in honest callings The tin horn" people
were on hand also. There were merchants,
store clerks, town and county officials, cat
tie dealers, naval officers in full uniform,
and a large number Of other persons who
were engaged i'll some reputable pursuit.
There were very few American women of
the better class in the neighborhood in
those days, and none of them ever visited a
fandango One of the numerous sources of
profit of the fandango were the gambling
games played in the open cotrt. The most
| popular game was Mexican monte. Besides
this, there were dozen others in full blast
roulette, lasquinette. chusa, 81 and faro.
| The last was the most general
| Everybody took Il turn at it some time
! during the night. Those tables were most
frequenued at which women presided They
were flashily dressed and smoked cigarettes.
One of them wore half concealed stiletto
at her waist. She looked entirely self pos
sessed, and as it turned out afterward was
perfectly able to take care of herself
| While the fandango was at it's height, the
excited dancers evidently trying to sSake
the old house down, and the gamekeepers
calling out first in Spanish then in Eng
lish the results of various plays, party of
half dozen particularly tough customers
entered the place They were led by one
Bill Newman, gentleman noted for his
dislike of well ordered society and the num-
Der of men he had killed. This crowd had
for its sole object the raising of row. 1t
was unusual for q fandango to get through
without some shooting or other disturb
ance, and Bill Newman and his friends
were there on this occasion to supply it.
| When the party reached the spot where
the gambling was going on, Newman gave
the signal for a raid on the gold that was
being freely displayed ON the tables by
| turning out one of the lights. Then he
quietly rolled under the monte table at
which the fair senorita with the cigarto
and dagger was dealing Each of the rest
of the gang fired at lamp, and soon the
shooting became general. Newman upset
the table, and his pals began raking in the
| gold which now lay strewn about the floor.
The woman shouted in Spanish, and in a
moment Il dozen caballeros had surrounded
the table. With well directed thrust of
her dagger she laid Newman 1T her feet
Two others were shot and killed, and the
other three were badly wounded. The raid
had not been quick enough and had ended
i'll dismal failure.
Meanwhile the Indians and hangers on on
the outside began firing off their revolvers
in an ecstacy Of glee. They had heard the
noise on the inside and knew that the usual
shooting melee was on. They were adding
their mite to the general jollity of the occa-
| sion.
The sala was soon cleared, the guests be-
ing evidently accustomed to such hasty
exits. After the smoke had lifted and some
light been turned on, the host, charming
native Californian. who had that faculty en-
! viable in IL landlord of making everybody
feel at home, announced with some show
of regret that lowing to q little disturbance
the fandango had been brought to an end
for that night, but that another more grand
and more enjoyable would be given on the
following evening. Los Angeles Cor.
New York World
nj