Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-03-27
Ball Fights In spain An Americans Opin-
m

....l .t. ion of Them. rr,n,
A correspondent of the New York Evening
Post writes from Seville Of the national sport
Of Spain, after his arrival at the amphi-
theater: ...-..f .- d.. .
81 judged from a rough estimate that there
were four thousand persons present, and the
seats would have accommodated at least
thousand more. There were very few women
among the spectators. The arena is circle,
and the seats rise around it in steps above
each other. They bore different prices, ac-
cordng to position. Those on the north side
of the arena were not rooted, and were ex-
posed to the sun. The eight highest steps on
the south side were covered by a root, and all
the seats on the south side were shaded
The prices varied from twelve reals, about
sixty cents to one dollar and half. Two
bands of music were stationed opposite each
other, separated by the diameter of the arena.
First came into the arena gentleman on
horseback, dressed in black, in n picturesque
Spanish costume, and advanced toward the
place where the chief parsonage was sitting.
Taking off his hat he held it forward, and the
KEY of the bulls den was thrown to him by
the man in authority. II missed being caught
in the hat, as the horse became restless, being
frightened at the crowd. Next came the bull
fighters in procession. They were gally
dressed in circus costume of various colors,
red, blue, green and purple, their dresses
richly spangled. Three were on horseback,
armed with long lances, the spear-head OF
which, however, could not penetrate over an
inch. The horses were sorry-looking steeds,
worth about fifteen dollars each. Better
horses are not used because the horse is most
exposed to the attack of the bull, as soon
learned.
After entering into detailed account of
the killing of one bull, the correspondent
adds:
Six bulswere slaughtered in this manner, and
about ten horses killed. One of the horses
received the bulls horns in the belly. We
saw cash about foot long, the next instant
the bowels gushed through and dragged upon
the ground, as the poor beast galloped with
his rider. The horse felt them striking his
hind feet, and kicked furiously in his agony,
shaking them away from him, and they
strewed the ground. He still carried his ri
der some little distance, but at last fell just
before the place where | was sitting. The
sight of the poor creatures dying struggles
was not very entertaining, but had the BEN
eft of il for some time, as he was long while
dying, and was not removed till the bull was
killed. The horsemen were several times
thrown violently, the horses sometimes falling
upon them, but none to appearance was Sc
riously injured, though one came within o
hairs breadth OF having his brains kicked
out by his dying horse. As soon as horse
was disabled his saddle and bride were re-
moved by the attendants, and the rider ap-
peaTed in the arena with fresh horse.
When the spectators wished to express ap-
probation of any particular feat, they threw
their hats into the arena, which the person
complimented picked up and threw back
again. The sport lasted over two hours, the
sun all the while shining brilliantly into the
arena and upon the spectators, and lighting
up the cathedral walls, which were visible
over the heads ofthe spectators on the north
side Of the amphitheater; the graceful flying
buttresses, the Gothic pinnacles, with the
beautiful frost-work of solid stone, and the
ancient Moorish tower, so massive, tall, and
rich with barbaric ornament, and the famous
girdldd or vane surmounting it glowed in the
bright sunlight One should learn all he can
of the peculiarities of the people he travels
among, but one bull-fght has satisfied my
thirst for information in that particular.
think could never be tempted to attend
another