Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-01
SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

A friend at Havsna ma, furnished the Editors
of the New York Gazette with the following ac-
count of the amusements at that place.
At the appointed hour, the large wooden am
phltheatre Or,clrcus. appropriated to tins amuse
men,, and known by the nameuf Plaza de To-
ro-,uas well fitted with spec Ators-among whom
there we're numbered about sixty or seventy fe-
mates. well dressed al sitting mostly 10 the
urper al the two tiers oi Boxes, which surround
the area on arena. Curiosity mpelled US, as DOUBT.
less il did hundreds of others, to witness di-
version So reun@n ned In story. Among those pre-.
sent ,hrnugb a similar motive, we're several of
the offers of the American vessels of war now
in port, VINO We're accommodated with seats in
the ,ur,aned box Of the Captain General OF the
Island
The first parts of the entertainment q ere sun
dry military eyolu ions, and s"rt Of mock con-
test carried on in The avenue between compa-
nv of infantry and company Of light Dragons
The command was gwen by the tap OF the drum,
aud the challenge BY trumpet, the answer, the
charge, the def, at and The retreat, were all re-
presented IN manner we'll worthy the applause
they recei ed.
These parties having retired, five or six toreros
(fsnters on fnoU and two picaJores ION horse
baCkl with long lantes, presented themselves,
atrired IN the costume OF the ancient day, and the
former carrying each scarf, either light blue, pur-
pie, or scarlet Suddenly side door was open
ed and black bnii came leaPing IN and stood
in the centre, looking wildly around and as 1t
hesitatins which side to attack. Presently q
ior-ro unfolds his scarlet scarf The ire of the
bull is excited, and he flies iuriousIy at it, while
the torero leaps nimby aside, or slips quietly
through one al the aperiures in the brrastwork
surrounding the circle, which are too narrow to
permi, his pursuer to follow. Sometimes when
hoIv pressed. and none of these apertures being
near. the toreru i. fam To overleap the breast
work. and leave his scarf TO encounter the vain
rage of his adversary. Another OF the bulls tor.
mentors presents himself on another side, and a
similar scene is enacred-and the same Is repea.
ted again and again. ANY successful exploit of
the animal. or peculiar agility ur dexterity Of
his fues, IS hailed with loud appIauses, while a
failure meets reproaches equal, loud.
Sometimes the bull comes in the vicinity of one
of the ho,semen and commences al attack, which
the picador, If successful, nuiifes BY striking
his adversary with his lance between the horns
and bearing hun to the ground Whtn the poor
animals fire begins to has, he is supplied anew
Ibv thrusting darts INTO his flesh, which adhere
and soad him on, and which are sometimes rem
dered additionally pungent by the aid nj fire
crackers. At length, being sufficiently nlangled
and distressed, the matador for killer is called
in to flash the work. He presents himself with
scarlet scarf in his left hand, and long sword
IN his right He endeavors to provoke the poor
beast to attack the scarf and as he passes him to
plunge the sword into his throat But either the
hand is too unsklifuI or unsteady, or the beast is
vet TOO agile. And tits only after repeated at.
tcmrts. and the gradual loss of blood, that the
buIl falls. This feat accomplished. shout aris-
es. negro strikes the expiring animal blow
with knife behind the head. where the spine
ioins the latter. he effect Of which is lns,antane.
ous-three horses caparisoned abreast. with blue
flags and jingling little BELLS come galoping into
the ring; the horns of The dead bull are attached
to them by thongs, and it is dragged off with the
speed Of lightning.
Such is something like history Of three OF the
fights on this occasion. The fourth bull was bait
ed by three bulldogs. but was not killed. The
fifth, though his life was not spared. fought with
more visor than his predecessors, and performed
a feat which had not been seen here IN two years;
he killed horse. spare halfstarved thing. evil
IDENTIFY a lineal descendant Of the renowned Bu-
y