Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-02
A Spanish Esuii-Fight.

Courant. The writer states:
"Before taking my seat walked round
TO see the stables, and there saw the mer
who were to perform, as also their horses
Judge of my astonishment on seeing 0
small chapel lighted up with candles
W here the whole of the men are confessed
before they begin their perilous avocation
and where, in the event Of their being
mortally wounded in the course Of the
combat, the sacrament Of extreme JUNCTION
is administered. There was no laughing
nor joking either am ong the performers or
the lockers on; the former had quite the
mir of men who knew the risk they were
about TO run. The arena is about 100
PAGES in diameter, and surrounded by d
double barrier.
CATER q flourish OF trumpets the arena
was cleared of spectators, several soldiers
on horseback assisting to expedite their
departure. A procession then entered,
consisting of two masters of the ceremo-
mics, five plcadors on horseback, fourteen
banderilleros, including three matad0rs,
all dressed in red or blue silk, richly en-
broidered with gold, silver or black silk,
and two teams Of mules, three In each,
with nine or ten assistants, to draw the
dead carcases from the ring.
"The whole procession crossed the arena
and advanced to the front Of the royal
box, which on this occasion was empty,
but from an adjoining box bunch Of
keys was thrown to liberate the bulls from
their dungeons. The procession retired
with the keys, and none but the banderil-
leros renamed. A door in the barrier
was then thrown open, and No. / bull
trotted into the ring. He stopped when
he had got about twenty PAGES, and
gazed right and left In evident bewilder-
ment. Then, seeing the banderilleros, he
quickly trotted after them. They evaded
him, and engaged his attention by waving
flying cloaks OF different bright colors
about his head. The bull soon stopped
and stood steadily looking ut the banderil-
leros, who advanced close to him and
cleverly evaded the several charges made
by the animal. The latter was very un-
decided, and seemed afraid Of his oppo-
nents. The spectators now began to ex-
press disapproval of his cowardice, and
there was general kissing when tho bull +,
on being boldly confronted by Cuchares,
turned away. The trumpets now sounded
Gs the signal for another act Of the per-
Torrance TO commence. Darts were given
TO the banderilleros, who stuck them into
the shoulders of the bull; they were stuck
in, not thrown. The art of no doing re-
quires very active IN ovement, which, by
it's dexterity, is graceful. 1t is done whom
the bull is charging, and the darts-about
thirty inches long-are thrust in two at .
time. This must be done deliberately,
and the place of insertion is f1eshy part
of the fore shoulder. No wound during
the whole Of the performance is inflicted
on any other part Of the shoulders.
1.-The bull being coward, the spectators
called fuego, and the darts, instead of be-
ing plain, were provided with squibs and
crackers, which ignited as they entered the
flesh, and were seen blazing about tho be-
wildered and now Infatuated animal. Six
darts were thrust in, and although the
wretehed animal was wild with pain and
rage, he was not thought sufficiently
brave; flourish Of trumpetB announced
the last act, tho picadors not having been
put in requlsition at all.
"Cuchares, the principal performer, now
upon the scene with red cloth
and a long, thin sword. The bull WAS
completely frightened at him, and it was
only after being followed for some time
that he showed any disposition to turn
upon and attack his prosecutor. Cuchares
allOWSa MN w y WV VI bnE6b biIuCB,
inst stepping q foot or two aside, and then,
gazing steadily at him plunged his sword
nearly to the hilt in the shoulders of the
bull, which immediately fell on his knees,
and received final wound with poniard.
"a second bull now galloped into the
ring and at once began to chase the ban
derilleroB, who rem before him with great
GOODNESS, and at times waved their long
ttii<s t.56tt His hoTT15. 10 the bui run
faster than the men, the latter must either
turn aside or try TO battle him with their
bright red nantes, and this they gener-
ally succeeded in doing. This requires
very great adroitness, as well as activity
and presence of mind, for if the mantle
was not properly thrown, the performer
would probably step upon j and be thrown
down, at the risk Of almost certain death.
PicadoTs were now introduced, and the
bull ia pursuing the banderilleros sud-
denly caught sight of horse close TO
him; he seemed thunderstruck, paved the
ground, lowered his head, and rushed
upon the horse. The picador thrust at
him with his lance, but the bull broke
right through this defence, and, with a
tremendous gore, killed the horse. He
then rushed at another horse, was twice
repulsed by the lance, but succeeded
third timo and endorsed tho picador. A
bird horse suffered a similar fate, and his
rider received heavy fall, which disabled
him during the rest Of the day-indeed,
the only chance Tor his life was in the i'm
mediate rescue by the banderilleros. This
Dull was very clumsily treated by the
second matador, who failed no less than
i've times in the attempt to infict death
blow, and for which he was Missed by the
people.
"rhe third bull made what was called
he best fight Of the day During his
,areer no charged three horses in the mid
lie of the arena, one after the other, lift
ng them completely off the ground. The
,icador was thrown from one of them six
PAGES forward, and lay extended on the
ground. The bull was going up to him,
mad with rage, when Cuchares actually
eized him by the horns, and thus saved
he life Of the fallen man. This act Of
laring was greeted with tremendous ap-
clause. / may say the merit of bull is
judged by the Spanish llfci0nado (connois-
eur by the number Of times he enters to
he lancing charges of the pieador, with
tut turning back or appearing to dread
he prick Of the lance. If bull does not
inter at all, tho people have right to de-
nand .fuego, as was the case with the first
'ull this day, and the president in such
uiuna nppunnf for 1arto IN ha mad