Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-03-21
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TED FROM 2ND PAGE.

~ N'lM MI lN'tt..
up into the coast range of noun
tains prospecting for gold. We
took our guns along and we could
kill all the deer we wanted. There
were plenty of grizzly bears, too,
but Dad said he didn't need any
bears. We prospcctcd in Il great
many gulchcs and in many places
would find small PARTICLES of gold,
but not enough to pay to wash the
dirt. As we were gone some time
and took no change of clothing
aud wash day would come we
would take off our shirts, wash
them aud hang them ON bush
and lie in the shade until they
dried Dad said he was fond of
fun, but this was too big dose;
So we returned To the ranch. As |
have said, the natives were great
people for sporting Their sport
ing to us seemed both novel and
cruel. They kept tame bears for
the purpose of having bear aud
bull fights. They would 90 out
and drive up II bull, saw off the
points of his horus and tie him
and the bear together, letting the
rope be fixed So a. to not hinder
them in any way, and when they
were let together, using Dad :
words, they made fur fly. They
usually fought for about an hour
when the bull would fall from cX.
haustion and the bear would be
taken away to rest up for another
fight. Some ranchmcn built log
trap and caught very large bear,
and they came in and told the ma
tivcs, who had Il cage on cart,
So they took yoke of oxen and
hitchcd to the cart and went up
and backed the cart up 10 the trap
and ran the bear into ii and hauled
him out on the plain near the town
and five yararOs, or rs we would
say. cowboys. with their horses
and lasSos, brought up the most
savage looking bull ever saw and
tied him. They then let the bear
out of his cage, when he started
ON the run in the direction of the
mountains with the horScmcu at
his heels In less time than IT
takes to write it they had the bear
stretched out on his back and the
horses. being 50 well trained, held
him until the bull was brought up
and n rope tied to one fore foot
and the other end to the bear r
hind foot, then they were let loose.
In this ease the bulls horns were
not sawed off When they were
let up the bear made off, but when
he found that he was tied tO the
bull he turned and the fight began.
The bear would tear great Sits in
the bulls hide, and the bull would
make desperate lungcs at the bear,
sometimes tossing il into the air.
II was furious fight, and was on
" ended when the bull made what
seemed to be his last effort, COM
plctcly discmbowcIing the bear,
The bull being the victor, which
was an uncommon occurrence,
brought forth Il great and prolong-
ed cheer from the thOuSau / or NOR"
natives who were present, hcSld"
many Americans. After the fight
was over the crowd, all ON HORSE
back, rode into paiora, the village,
and the rest of the day, it being
Sunday, was spent IN playing
Monte, Il card game, and running
horse races. Their races were not
interesting to us, as they would
seldom run over two hundred
yards.
Another great sport of the IA.
tivrs was the foot ball race. which
amy number might enter and run
for prize. They would go ont
six or eight miles aud each woulc
carry football and at the glvcr
word all would start and kick th,
BAH ahead of him the entire way
II was "A rule that no matter how
far one would get behind hc la,
10 continue in the race 10 the end
When they would com" ont the!
would fall down like 50 many dra,
Indians, but after while woul,
get mp and go fill up ON muscaI
bad whisky, and stay drunk fo
about two days. These people ar,
the best horscmu in the world
. The SpauiardS who were able rod'
snlrudll Lnr.ns nul lLnn. snldLns