Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-18
A SPANISH FANDANG0
A DANCE WHICH ONCE USED TO
AROUSE GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

ed-How One Ended.
You win find in the big dictionaries that
The word fandango is described as a 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 a 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, i'm 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 filed with adventures
from all over the globe, and whenever a
fandango took place they went as matter
of course Everybody dressed eXtraragant-
ly. s oritas who at other times dressed
as tho .h 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 a 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 iingling bell buttons
being interspersed ut 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 Nicuna hat, revolvers
incased IN patent leather scabbards, and
perhaps ther, were silver spurs.
The faudaugo was held In long, low
adobe house fronting the plaza. 1t had one
grand room for the dance, aanked 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
fandaugo ne attended in this adobe house.
1t was some 10 years ago, From the de
scriptious 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 20 his Stiletto a long sword.
This was incascd i'm a patent leather scab-
bard, giving the wcarer a fine martial ap-
pearance.
As the writer on the night Of the fan
dango approached the adobe house a noise
like that OF al g1r,h4Gake met his ear. 1t
was made by the guests inside getting
ready for the entertainment. They were
shouting, dancing stamping their feet
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- ~" "li" county ollclAis' cat
NC -. .''-. '.-''s'S III lull UNIFORM
~. 20 ga V'-eE persons VINO
vi 9l'. 49, ~ '' $500 @l..'.e pursuit
..iII' 49, ,1- --'' -A'-'1.-,-'h women OF
.ue u0.'e' Gas i- ne Le.ih3orhood IN
suose ga! : all1 2 .i.. OK tAe-A ever visited
iaiie'uso V.1 % .-1 numerous sources OF
Proh' OF rue l'-i.lAi 80 we tle gambling
yiihts playeu ID 'As pen court Inc most
iopataf game was .lttic1u monte. Besides
shis' There were dozen others in full blast
roulette aslC-Hsiie, chus,i q and faro.
Inc last was the most general
EVERYBODY toch 9 tG'n at It some time
aur'ng the niSAt Ahose tables were most
Irequentel ht Mhil. W men PRESIDED They
were Iiashlly dressed and smoked q sarettes.
one OF them wore a haH concealed stiletto
at her waist. She looked entirely self pos
sessed- and a. 1t TUNED out altt.ward was
perfectly able 10 take care Of herself.
While the ianCango was &c its height, the
excited dancers evidently trying to shake
the old house down. and the gamekeepers
calling out first IN spanish then in Eng
hsh the results oi 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 orderet society and the num-
Der OF men be had killed. This crowd had
Tor It's sole ousecs tue raising OF row. 1t
was unusual ier 9 iandango to get through
without some shooting or other disturb
anee, and 1911 Newman and his friends
were there on this occasion 70 supply it.
When the party reached the spot where