Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-15
4 SPANISH FANDANGO
A DANCE WHICH ONCE USED TIC
AROUSE GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

In California the Fandango Was Often the
Scene of a Very Lively Brawl at Which
Men Were Sometimes Killed or Wound
ed-How One Ended.
You will find in the big dictionaries that
the word fandango is described as pecu-
liar kind of Spanish dance in three-four
time, supposed to be of Moorish origin
This is a true definition, but it does not de-
fine the fandango of the Pacific coast. Here
it means a big dance to which anybody is
welcome, and at which everybody is expect
ed make fool of himself generally In
the olden days it meant a 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
the time.
In the days of forty-nine this quaint old
mission town was filled with adventures
from all over the globe, and whenever a
fandango took place they went as a matter
OF course. Everybody dressed extravagant-
~. 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 a 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
shoes. the usual red Vicuna hat, revolvers
incased in patent leather scabbards, and
perhaps there were silver spurs.
The fandango was held in a long, low
adobe house fronting the plaza. It had one
grand room for the dance, fanked by two
other rooms, which made up the front of
the house, Two large 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.
It was some 10 years ago. From the de-
sciptions 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 revolvers. and to wear
in addition to his stiletto long sword.
This was incased in a patent leather scab-
bard, giving the wearer a fine martial ap-
pearance.
AS the writer on the night of the fan
dango approached the adobe house a noise
like that of an earthquake met his ear. 1t
was made by 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 a crowd of Seedy Indians, half
breed MeXicans and those other aimless
creatures who always turn up and hang
around whenever there is a big show going
on.
Among the dancers were gaudily dressed
rancheros and gamblers of the respectable
and fashionable type, who were regarded as
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 large number of other persons who
were engaged in 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
fandango. One of the numerous sources Of
profit of the fandango were the gambling
games played in the open court. The most
popular game was Mexican monte. Besides
this, there were a dozen others in full blast
-roulette, lasquinette, chusa, 81 and faro.
The last was the most general
Everybody took a turn at it some time
during the night. Those tables were most
freQuented at which women presided. They
were 1ashily 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 its height, the
excited dancers evidently trying to shake
the old house down, and the gamekeepers
calling out first in Spanish then in Eng
lish the results of various plays, a party of
half a 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
ffy~ ne cola oh aCS I,o 1e
was unusual for fandango to get through
without some shooting or other disturb
ance, and Bill Newman and his friends
We're there on this occasion to supply it.
When the party reached the spot where
the gambling was going on, Newman gave
the signal for 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 senortta with the cigarito
and dagger was dealing. Each of the rest
of the gang fired at Il, 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
moment a dozen cabGlleros had surrounded
the table. With well directed thrust of
her dagger she laid Newman at 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
in 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, a charming
native Californian who had that faculty en-