The Daily Gate City

BULL VERSUS BEAR.

On one occasion during my residence in California, in 1853, I had occasion to proceed upon business from Stockton to the mission of San Jose, a distance of between eighty and ninety miles. I was in the saddle betimes, as my business was of importance, and had made two or three miles before the first streaks of the coming day became visible in the east. The air was cool and balmy, and laden with the perfume of the flowers and herbage; whilst, as the sun arose, the dew drops glittered everywhere upon the twigs and grass blades like diamonds. The deer, as they left their coverts to feed, gazed fearlessly on either side of the trail as I passed; and every now and then I disturbed a bevy of quail, who, after a short flight, dropped in the edge of the chapparel, or into the wild oats. The country was rolling and park-like, dotted here and there with live oaks of immense size, standing singly, or with smaller trees in clumps.

After an hour or two's ride Mount Diablo became visible in the distance, looming up cloud-like in the thin air, whilst, upon my left, the coast-range ran along almost parallel to my route.

Gradually, the breeze ceased, and the air became close and oppressive, and continued so until I stopped for my mid-day bait, to allow my horse to feed. Unusually sultry as the day had been, it became still more so, and so silent that not even the buzzing of an insect could be heard, and the air felt as though it had been heated in a furnace.

Stretched on my blankets, I had tried to smoke my pipe, but even that lacked its usual soothing effect.

Presently, a low muttering sound was audible, which gradually increased. It was the moaning of the storm-wind, which came sweeping gustily along. Then came a flash of the most vivid lightning I ever saw, instantly followed by a tremendous peal of thunder, the signal gun of the advancing storm, which rent the air and made the earth tremble. A deep silence for a brief interval, followed, which seemed more terrible than the previous uproar: then came the lurid flashes and crashing thunder, not in low, grumbling tones, but in deafening peals, whilst the wind roared, and the rain descended in sheets of driving water. For two mortal hours did the tempest rage, and the wild winds swept by, whilst I cowered under my blankets, with bent head and back to the blast.

At first, the thirsty and parched prairie drank greedily up the flood of water poured upon it, but soon it became saturated, and could contain no more, and the overflowing waters collected in great pools.

My horse, who had at first been terrified by the thunder peals and lightning flashes, had strained upon his picket-peg, as he plunged, snorting with terror, but had failed to either break the tough raw hide lariat or draw the peg; and satisfied that he could not get loose, I had devoted my attention solely to sheltering myself as much as possible from the downpour.

Upon looking around when the storm had somewhat abated, what was my consternation to find that my horse, as soon as the ground had become thoroughly saturated, had pulled out the peg, and had left me on foot in the prairie. It was no use to think of pursuing my journey thus, and I sorrowfully prepared to retrace the long miles over which I had ridden in the morning. Rolling up my saddle, bridle and tin cup, in which I had made my coffee, in my saturated blankets, and hiding them as well as I could in some stunted shrubs, I followed in the direction my horse had started, hoping to be able to trail him by his hoof marks in the softened ground, and by the drag of his long lariat and picket-peg, which I hoped might entangle themselves around some bush or sapling, and thus bring up my runaway to a stand still.

It was not, however, without great difficulty that I could discern the trail for the driving rain had washed it out, save here and there occasionally, but still, by keeping the line, I managed now and then to come upon some traces of the fugitive.

More intent upon the trail than on surrounding objects, I had proceeded four or five miles when I discovered that I had become an object of curiosity to a large herd of cattle which were closing in upon me with no friendly intention.

I had lived in Texas long enough to know how hostile prairie cattle always are to footmen, though a horseman might ride close to them unregarded; I also knew how helpless I was when opposed to such a tremendous aggregation of brute force as the three or four hundred wild cattle possessed which were now rushing bellowing toward me.

The herd of cows and steers and yearlings was led by a fierce old bull, who occasionally stopped to tear up the earth and shake his horns then again he would advance, the mass crowding together, switching their tails high in the air, uttering fearful bellowings, while they tossed their horns, staring wildly in mingled rage and wonder.

There was no time to hesitate: I had only just perceived my enemies in time. A herd of wild cattle rushing furiously at a man upon an open plain soon assists him in coming to a decision. Four or five hundred yards behind me was a tree which I had lately passed, and just behind that again some bushes along the margin of a little creek. I determined to make for the tree, and climb that if possible: if not, and I was too closely pressed by the thundering herd, I would try and gain the bushes, among which, or in some hole or cranny in the creek's banks, I might hope to conceal myself.

Most pedestrian races are timed, my race was not, but I have reason to believe that the same distance was never covered quicker by any mortal man. As I gained the tree I looked back, and saw the foremost of the herd about a hundred yards from me.

I never was considered an extraordinary climber when a boy, at school, nor perhaps are a pair of heavy Mexican spurs an advantage in climbing, but I went up the tree like a squirrel, and had gained a safe position when my pursuers rushed underneath. Although I had gained safety for the moment, still there was something very fearful in my position for I could form no idea how long the fierce beasts, who were tearing up the earth and glaring at me with their wild, fierce eyes, would keep me "treed."

A most unlooked for adventure relieved me. For some time most of the herd remained gazing at me, but at length, as though feeling satisfied that I could not escape, they became less stationary and moved about snatching pettishly at the grass, less from a desire of grazing than for restlessness at their disappointment in failing to catch me before I could "tree."

While thus sauntering aimlessly about, my especial enemy, the bull strayed into the bushes that fringed the ravine, and suddenly there arose a fearful loud roar, and it was evident that the tawny lord of the herd had got into trouble.

A hoarse bellowing and confused growling, intermingled with a crashing of the bushes, while the taller saplings swayed to and fro, showed that some desperate struggle was taking place on the edge of the ravine in which the bull was engaged, but with what, I could not discover. Presently, the bull emerged with bloody head and huge furrows plowed upon his shoulders, from which hung long strips of bloody skin like ribbons. His eyes were red with rage, and it was evident he had no idea of giving up the contest, but had only retreated to gain an open space where he could fight to better advantage. Hitherto, I had only noticed the bull as a ferocious beast, who had, from pure ill nature, put me in serious danger; but now, as he stood glowing with rage, I could not help noticing his admirable proportions.

Long, lithe and wiry he stood a perfect model of strength and activity, while his massive shoulders proved what force he could bring to aid the thrusts of his straight, long sharp-pointed horns.

I had not more than a second or two to take in these points, when his antagonist appeared upon the scene in the shape of a huge grizzly bear. No sooner was the bear fully in the opening than the bull lowered his head and charged straight and true at him with the seeming force of a steam engine. The bear rose up upon his hind legs to receive the attack, and catching the bull by the horns, bore down his head upon the ground by his great strength and weight, clinging to the head with his fore-legs, while he worked his hind ones, clawing with his cruel talons the sides and shoulders of the bull. The match was an equal one, as far as weight was concerned, and nearly balanced in other respects: for while the bear worked "tooth and toe nails," the sharp horns and greater activity of the bull served to equalize them as to weapons; and as both antagonists possessed equal courage and determination, it was clear the duel was to be a la mort, and the victory, I could see, between such well matched foes depended upon accident.

Locked together thus in deadly strife, they remained some minutes, the bull each moment striving, as it were, to contract himself for his repeated thrusts, and the bear endeavoring to hold the bull's head to prevent their force, never intermitting for an instant raking with his claws the ribs and shoulders of his foe. For a moment or two they seemed to pause for breath by mutual consent, a lull which the bull artfully took advantage of by a sudden backward spring to get clear of the bear.

During the whole of the combat the other cattle had stood around in awe struck wonder, not attempting in any way to aid their champion. The bull, covered with gore from the gashes cut by the claws, and the head gnawed by the teeth of the bear, was a horrible sight to see, though the bear appeared as yet but little injured. As soon as the bull had gained space sufficient to give impetus to his charge he again rushed furiously at the grizzly and this time succeeded in plunging one horn into the bear's belly, and, jerking his head up brought away upon his horns some of the entrails of his foe; but the next moment he was borne back by the grizzly, and both rolled over in another deadly struggle: and now so furiously and rapidly did they fight, whirling over and over, that only an undistinguishable mass could be seen. Again the bull fought clear of his antagonist, but he presented a far more deplorable appearance than before, for his eye had been torn from the socket, and his ears hung in shreds, whilst all the forward part of the hips was a mass of blood and mud, and his tongue which protruded beyond his swollen lips, had been bitten through, and hung by only a piece of skin.

But the bear had evidently had the worst of this second encounter, for he lay almost motionless, his entrails wound round and round him like gory belts; and, whilst in this state, the bull gored him repeatedly till finally a long shiver passed through the bear and he lay dead. Convinced at last that his enemy was dead, the bull raised his head in triumph, and, as well as his mutilated tongue permitted, gave a roar of victory. It was dearly purchased, however, for he tottered as he bellowed, and though he set his legs wide apart, he swayed from side to side; presently his head drooped lower and lower, till at last he sunk down groaning to the ground. Then came two or three vain efforts to recover his legs, and after a few convulsive shudders he too lay dead beside his foe. The herd sniffed round the dead bodies for a few moments, and then wild with terror, started panic-stricken across the prairie.

Finding the coast clear, I descended from my perch, and, with due appreciation of the dangers of foot traveling, set off in search of my horse, expecting a grizzly bear to make his appearance from every clump of bushes that I passed. After tramping of several miles I was fortunate enough to find my horse, whose lariat had become entangled around some shrubs near which he had stopped to feed: and, mounting him bare backed, I turned his head toward where I had left my saddle and other impedimenta, nor was I sorry, soon after sunrise the following morning to see the long avenue of stately live oaks which line the road as you approach the mission of San Jose.