Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-09-30
A SPANISH FANDANGO
a DANCE WHICH .oNcE USED TO
AROUSE GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

In California tho Fandango Was often the
Scene OF VERY Lively Brawl at which
Men Were Sometimes Killed or wound
ed-HoW ono Ended.
You will find in the big dictionar.es that
the word fandango Il described a. a pecu-
liar kind Of Spanish dance In three-four
time. supposed TO be ~ Moorish origin.
/ This II true definition, bat ii does not de
/ fine the fandaugo % the Pacific coast. Her.
II means big dance 70 which anybody i
welcome, and ~ which every body Is expect
cd make a fool u himself generally. In
the olden days II meant n general. confused
mingling Of men aud women, reyOlver-,
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 flied with adventurer.
| from all over the globe. and whenever a
fandAngo took place they went a. a matter
Of course Everybody dressed rxtEvagaui
I ~. @enoritas who AT other times dressed
as though they had barely enough money
/ To live on wore elaborate silks and satins
and were otherwise decorated ia c0stly
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 intersperscd 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 Nicuna hat. reyalycr-
incased in patent leather scabbartls. and
perhaps there were silver spurs
The fandango was held Ia a long, low
adobe house fronting the plaza Il had one
grand room for the dance hanked bv two
other rooms, which made up the front Of
the house. Tive large wings extended 10
the rear, containing rooms usually used a.
dressing rooms
The writer remembers distinctly the first
fandango be attended ia this adobe house
IL was some 10 years ago. From the dc
scriptions Of the affair be had heard care
lessiy let drop by various persons IN the
town lac concluded to carry two more than
the usual number Of revolyers. aad to wear
IN addition to his stilettn a long sword
This was incased ia "A patent leather scab.
bard, giving the wcarer fine martial an.
pcarance
As the writer On the night of the fan
dungo approached the adobe house a nuis.
like that u an earthquake met his ear. II
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 10 cheer up th,
spirits Of any who mi ght feel out OF sorts.
In front was n crowd OF scedy Indians, half
breed MeNicans and those other aimless
creatures who always turn up and hang
Nths 4 Is.,.. A..
on.
Among the dancers were gandilv dressed
raucheros aud gamblers Of the respectable
and fashionable type, who were regarded ~
great men by those who made their money
in honest eallings. The "tin horn people
We're 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 neighborho1d In
those days, aud none Of them ever visited "a
fandanep One Of the numerous sources Of
profit Il the iandango were the uanlblju.s
games played ia the open court The most
popular game was Mexican monte Besides
this, there were a dozen other. ia inlt blast
roulette, la~quiucttc chusn u and fara.
The last WAS the mos; general
Everybody took turn at it somp time
during the night Those tables were most
frequented at which women presided. They
were flashily dressed and smoked cigarettes.
One Of them wore a half concealed stiletto
at her waist. she looked entirely self pos.
ses-eit and as il turned ont afterward was
perfectly able 70 take care Of herself
While the fandangn was at it, height, the
axf s483AA 4H4sEs-s ]
the old house down. and the gumckcpper,
calling out first ia Spanish then in Eng
lish the results Of various plays. party Of
half "A DOZEN particularly tough customers
entered the place They We're led hy one
Bill Newman, a gentleman noted Tor his |
dislike OF well ordered society and the mum /
Der Of men be bad killed This crowd hnd |
for il sole object the raising II a row, Ii /
was unusual for a fnndaugo To get through !.
without some shooting or other disturb !
ance, aud Bill Newman aud his friend. 1
were there Oh this occasion to supply il.
When the pagty reached the spot where
the gambling was going on. Newman gave /
the signal for a raid on the gold that was 4
being freely displayed on the tables by /
turning out one OF the lights Then hr I
quietly rolled under the monte table at /
which the fair senorta with the cigariio
and dagger was dealing Each of the rest 4
Of the gang fired at "A lamp. aud soon the |
shooting became general. Newman upset /
the table, anl his pals began fakiug ia the |
gold which now lay strrwn about tho floor
The woman shouted IN spanish. AMI in 4 4
moment Ii dozen Caballcrus Lad surrounded /.
the table. With a we'll directed thrust II
her dasgcr she laid Newman at her fae,
TIVE Others were shot and Killed. and ths 4
t4t her ire Kytf,. ba,Iy ,,,5fff5fl45I tfbr