New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-05-12
LETTERS FROM H!!yAlA.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
Bull-Fights-An Observation-Disclosures
-lsvlums-Monks. &c.

Excepting the Theatre, Bull-fghts are the only
public amusements in Havana. was induced 70
visii one, al the 'Paza de Toro,' on the shore OF
the bav. about one mile from the city, not so much
from desire, as at the solicitation Of several friends
who, like myself, mad never witnessed one OF these
barbaroua and disgusting sights Il ls held within
large circular building, having galleries around
the sides like an amphitheatre. capable OF seating
800 persons and at 80 cents admission j, Is gene
Tally filed a large circle in the centre strongly
defended by plank ceIiing to insure the safety OF
SPECTATORS, is reserved for the Bull and his an;ago
aiss Soldiers are stationed n every part 10 pre-
serve order, and large box reserved for the Judge
or presiding officer. without whose permission no
thing can be done Below hlmis the orchestra, who
open the game with an overture, snc perform al IN
,ervals as may be required All being ready al i've
In the afternoon cadaverors looking man with
huge military cap on his head, riding an animal ap
parently without flesh entered the circle at a door
opposite the judges box, and amid the most up
rSarous hootiDg, DOTTED his head gear, bowed so
low as as nearly 10 fall from his saddle, and begged
TO know if the sport should commence The
judges assent beng given, he made sui lower
bow the people actually roaring with dellhsi, and
went out, when side door under the galleries
few open, and fine young bull dashed INTO the
arena AT first he seemed only frightened, but
soon began 10 paw the sand and show signs OF
wrath immediately on this, four or five Zen on
foot carrying different colored scars, and two
pcadores on horseback, dressed N heavy buckskin
clothes, with poles Ike lance-statis, having
barb about two inches long at one end, entered
The men with the scars ran before the bull. thrust
ing them out TO taunt hun, while the plcacofes,
with their spears, attempted 10 cut the rosetie.
which ls fastened 10 the animals back rs the VIC
tors prize, To push The bull over as IL sometimes
done, or kill him by severlns the spine Just back
of his head, the slightest blow properly struck
will accomplish this. Alter twenty minutes
toll, during which the bull had driven the scarf
men several times 10 their loop holes. ENDORSED Int
pcadores more than once, aud severely gored the
hors, = they all lett the ing, and four young men
entered with long dart IN each hand 10 winch
were attached flags, and making the bull furious
bv first running before them, they dex;erousy ono
after the other fastened these barbs IN his shoulder
and then ran off At this point, the poor brute
roared with pain, tore W The ground, and dashed
about perfectly mad, when the mdd6or with IA
pier nearly three feet long made his appearance
amid the most terrific shouts OF The mob In h.s
left hand he bore d red flag TO taunt the bull ana
conceal the weapon IN hls righ', and after bOwins
very coolly Ia the multitude, he commenced his
attack. Shaking his red flag he drew The bull TO-
ward him, and az he sprans 10 toss him up, down
went the rdpler missing the spine, lar INTO the
breast OF the beast, who, he dlrted back, threw
the weapon far lRto the ar Then did the crowo
hiss and yell, for II only death by the flrst blow
that WINS the prize. Seven or eight times The mat
ador repeated ms attack and as many times tailed,
while the blood spouted IN several streams from
the mad and halt exhausted bull. Once the SWORD
entered Just over and between his tore shoulders,
and was driven with such force as 10 pierce down
through the bull e0tlre, 10 the very nut, and he ran
several tunes round the ring before he shook /, out.
while from every part OF The gallery, men byr,ach'
ing forward could thrust their canes through the
handle. The sight made me faint and sick, but
the scene soon closed, for the bull fell from loss oil
blood and was immediately despatched. Three
negroes, leading three coils with no gear except
straps ned about their necks and fastened 10 i
hook, then entered, and after some struggle 10 hold
their wild team, succeeded in hichlns The hook 10
the bulls horns and drew him ont. The SECOND
was served by the plcadores as before, but was
killed by a one-armrd matador al the third blow.
The third could not be goaded into Anything mood.
and was set on by dogs, who tore han dreadiuly,
when he was driven out The fourth, alter killing
one horse and nearly killing two men. was drs-
patched at blow and this matador bore oil the
prize The fifth and last did not see, as II was
already nearly dark, nor do ! wish ever To look
upon 80 horrible and revnltlns scene again -
These Exhibitions are sanctioned and PaironlZedby
Government, and take place every three weeks,
ana are OlltE NlSlleu CIOWtS VI NbiItH a. tIl4S
there were only three present. The meat OF the
murdered animals, as was told, Is served W and
sent 10 market, IN the shape Of beet, veal, and
even yenison Ii Is morally impossible that any
people should grow up accustomed 10 SUCH ihlnss,
w.,hou, being savage and blood thirsty themselves;
that such are features III Spanish character needs
no proof but an acquaintance with Them or then
history Bat was destined 10 see more butchery
than this IN one day. After returning 10 the CITY.
about in the evening, while walking on the Gov
eminent Plaza with a rl.nd, tor the purpose ct
hearing the splendld military bands that perform
every day al that hour for the pubic, we heard =
shri cry close behind Us, and turning beheid a
woman Just In from, of the guard-honse, lying on
the ground bleeding proiusely from wound made
BY dirk stab Just back OF the risht shoulder A
few people from the crowd on the Plaza, gathered
around her but no one attempted 10 touch er help
her, though she still breaihed, rather sasp-d, 10
The agonies OF DEATH No one Il allowed, under
tue severesl penalty 10 give and, until magistrate
Is caed-not even 10 cut his own father Gown
were he hanging al ropes end, ana IL was ln>'
forty minutes before an ottlcer came, when she Was
taken up dead and carried away All this took place
within four feet OF the sentry, who never liied q
finger IN the matter nor did the assassin attempt 10
escape lie was tall, welldressed >paniard, be-
longing 10 the Post Office and she flne looking
Young woman, said 10 BE- an object OF MS jealousy
He marched 10 guard house, and The neat
day saw HIM chained with negro on his way Ia
prison. Beyond this the pubic can never know,
d. the press Is under the most desPorc censorship,
and never publishes the crimes or punishmens thai
take place What horrible state OF things, may
we exclaim; bu, the Spanard shrugs his shoulders
and thinks il IS all right, or II he thinks eIs-, the
gIstening bayonet teaches him 10 suppress his
thoughts
ON the following morning saw a murderer exc
culed bv the saToue He was taken from prison al
sunrise executed, and left as a public show TIL
shutdown, when he was taken down and barred.
The prison Is at the foot OF he " PdSeo isG5e4d,
or Isabe!la's road, near the Cult and the place OF
execution quite on the shore 81 The Cult all within
instrument 10 the galows, thai Is without irying
il, though the sight OF man. aye, hing torm.d
and colored like ourselves, sitting a.! DAY long, the
sun blacNenins hin, ana the riies peo?lins MS
mouth, nos;rS and ears, by Whatever ceain ~
may die, Is something 50 awful, thai Il Can never
leave the vision II has flashed upon The sarotIe
IS platform, raised say siX feet high, win STEPS
leading 10 IL; through the centre ascefds square
post WIKI an lrou slide SIDE, IN which Is y
serted sharp lance abou; Two inches long, coEi-
mon char is set asains; the post on that SIDE in
winch the prisoner Sis, dressed In PaIr OF panie-
iorps Shiri sforkircS and nun1res with lznCktr-