Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-02

WmOu ha'O uutDcu point, anu arc uuOThcu
with huttering papers of variegated colours.
make the bull attack. Ii he do not, this
operation, like the final office of the nsatador
IS full OF danger; for cupricious motion oil
the horns by cowar,ily bull, is infinitely
moro TO be dreaded than the straight
forward career of ciaro. The bull in
question was Of this description. With q
dart therefore in each hand, one of the chulos
now become banderiiero, placing himself
before the bull, and invited him to attack by
brandishing his weapons. When ut last the
bull rushed with closed eyes 1T his antago-
mist, the 6anderiiiero likewise ran TO meet
him, and directing the darts ut each side of
his neck, allowed the horns Of the animal to
pass under his right ann, whilst he ran away
to gais the security of the lobby, or to get n
new supply of bandcriiIas. With the rope
tition of this torture the bull became mad
der than ever; rubbed his neck against the
boards Of the barrier, in tho vain hope of
alleviation--a hope which was set ut nought
by his own i'll directed cxertions, or by the
malice of those IN the lobby, who would
reach over and force the darts deeper, until
ut last the prosecuted beast bounded foam
ing and frantic about the arena.
The bravery of the bull, though fatal to
the life Of more than one victim, can never
avail to save his own. Nor can the tor
mcnts he has suffered, be urged in alievia-
ton Of his destiny. The laws Of the Plaza
are incxorablc--his name is .uuerio, and
the red ribbon iiuttering from his neck pro-
claims that he must die. The co,regidor is
seen to wave his handkerchief, tho trum
pets blow warlike blast, and the a,rufador
faces his antagonist.
! The man who now entered the lists at the
sound Of the trumpet, was no other thun
the principal naatodor of Spain-Manuel
Romero by name, if my memory serves me.
4 lie was a short man extremely well made,
though inclining TO corpulency, with small
regular features, a keen, sure eye, and such
an air of cold-bloodcd ferocity as became
one whose business it was to incur danger,
and to deal death. The dress of Romero
was that of a majo, covered with more than
the usual quantity of lace and embroidery:
, his hair combed backwards, and plated
into fiat queue, was surmounted by black
/ cooked hat. In his left hand he held q
, sword, hidden III the folds Of banner which
was fastened to a staff. The color Of this
, banner was red, deepened here and there
t into deadlier dye, where it had been u:cd
after former COmbats to wipe the sword of
the n,ataddr. 1t was to him at once a tro-
, ply and buckier, as with the warriors of
old, who carried their achievements emilia
zoned on their shields.
/ Romero did not enter with the iaunty air
of one who knew his own force and despi-
sed his adversary; nor as though he had to
; hide faint heart under careless brow;
but with fearless, determined, yet decent
step. Having approached the box Of the
corregidos, he took off his hat and made q
low obeisance; then returned the salutations
which greeted him from the whole circuit
of the amphithcatre. This done he threw
his hat away, brushed back few hairs which
had escaped from the plating of his queue,
stretching his limbs to ease the elastic tight
ness of his costume, and then taking his
well tried blade from beside the banner, he
displayed long straight Toledano, such as
were once worn by cavaliers and crusaders.
Meantime the chuLoS were occupied in
running before the bull and waving their
cloakS IN his eyes, in order to excite the last
TIT OF ferocity, which was TO facilitate his
own destruction. In this way, the bull was
enticed towards the spot where the ,,,atador
, awaited him. Holding out tho banner, he
allowed tho animal to rush against it, seem
ingy astonished at its little opposition
This was twice repeated but on tho third
time the matGdor held the banner project
ing across his body, whilst with his right
, hand extended over the top, he poised and
directed the sword. Here is the last and
most interesting moment Of the whole con-
test; the multitude once more rise upon the
benches, and each assumes, according to his
disposition, a defensive or inundated air.
All eyes meet upon the glittering point Of
the weapon. The bull now makes his final
career; the banner gives way before him;
his horns pass closely beneath the extend
cd arm Of the nlatador, but the sword which
he held moment before is no longer seen.
1t had entered full length beside the back of
the bull, and the cross at the Hit is alone
conspicuous.
Having received his death blow, it is usu-
al for the bull to fly Following to the extre-
nifty of the arena, and there fall and die
But the animal which had this day sustain
ed the contest so noby, was courageous to
the last. he continued to rush again and