The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-03
4 Grand Amateur Bull Fight.

able audience It is we'll known that the idea
of this amateur bull fight originated with Mr..
Barron for the laudabe purpose Of replenish
ing the Golfers Of the Hospital de Pobres.
The attendance was large and fashionable, for
there were at least four thousand people pres
ent, and the elite Of Mexican society filed the
boxes, presenting galaxy Of beauty and
fashion " such as has not been witnessed at
the opera during the whose Of the season.
The performances were announced to COM
mence at half-past three O'Clock P. II, bus as
the spectators did not begin to assemble until
that hour, it was just four o'clock when the
first bull was let into the arena.
At five minutes to four the Young ladies Sc
lectcd to preside over tue performance en-
tered the Acaldes box, when they wcreim
mediately greeted by a spontaneous AMI hearty
burst of cheers. First entered Senorita Con-
cepcion Vizearra, followed by Scnorltas Juana
Riyas, Antonio Barandiaran, Conception del
Moral Rondero, Luisa Garcia Condo, and Sc
noras Caralina Barron de Escandon and Cay
etana Rubio. As soon as these fair ones had
taken their seats, the trumpet was sounded
from their box, and Immediately the perform
ers entered the arena-a gay and picturesque
blue jackets, tufted sombrcros, and mautilIas
Of all the brilliant colors. Ga5y walking
across the arena, the procession halted in front
Of the ladjes--the "QUeuns Of the Amphithe
atrc ''-whose Uins0mc smiles and graceful
bows chccred them on to the graceful sport
and gave Eetnness to their rivalry. First in
the procession came the Espados or Matadores,
and The ChuIos, dressed in light fitting white
trowsers with blue trimmings, red sashcs, blue
jackets, and little black caps, and bearing in
their hands the g-y-colored mantilas that
were to lure the bulls upon the sword point !;
then the Picadores, jauntIy in their chaparre
ras, fur Jackets and wide spreading sombreros,
and carrying in their hands the sharp pointed
lances shat were to defend them and their
horses as the bulls rushed to the combat, the
doomed steeds being covered with leather
trappings; then the gentlemen Of the lazo and
the cola mounted on high melted steeds, in
all their various costumes; and lastly followed
four magnificent chestnut colored horses from
the stables of Mr.. Barron, harnessed two
gay housing end the folds Of the Mexican flags
which waved from statfs attached to the har-
ness, and mounted by two English jockeys in
inc service OF III. Barron.
Cheers which assembled in joyous, uproar
ous food from the crowded sombra and the
well-flled boxes told the satisfaction Of the
spectators, and their anticipation Of exciting
sport. At signal from the queens, the
trumpeter behind them blew his horn, the pic
adores stationed themselves around the arena,
with lance poised, and foot firm in the stirrup,
awaiting the outset. A man drew a bolt from
the door, shutting himself behind it as it
opened, and from the dark passage thus
opened, the bull rushed forth, springing out
with head erect and defiant, with tail out
stretched, looking round ferceIy upon the gay
chuIos and jaunty picadores, and bounding
round at lis utmost speed in every direction.
Then pausng for moment as if to select his
enemy, and drawing back a step Or two as he
dehandy piowed up the earth with his feet,
fercely and with his full force rushed head
long at Luis Rivas, whose lance, firmly
grasped, steadily poised, fell heavily into his
shoulder. A momentary struggIe-tbe cool
borseman throwing his :whoIe weight and
force on to his Iancc-the Infatuated bull DASH
ing and charging at the horse with might and
main-the brute is turned aside and rushcs
past Without stopping he made straight for
another pcadore, as though he would bury
the full length Of his horns deep into the horse.
But Joaquin Obregon's lance with a steady
aim came down upon him. and again the now
fast madlening bull was turned aside. Moth
ing daunted, and as if anxious to measure his
strength with each Of his enemies, he charged
with apparently irresistible impetus at Alberto
Rivas But again the lance and a steady
strong arm turned him aside. Then with q
toss of this head, he rushed 1T the chulos,
whose blood-red mantIa5 attracted him from
the horses. Now furiousy lie ran at this one,
then at that then at another, then at a fourth,
keeping the whole arena on the move. Pass
ing Luis Riyas he suddenly turned, paved the
earth, then with head down and tail up, made
straight at the bold picadore, who, standing
firmly in his stirup, graspIng tightly his lance,
received the furious charge of the brute. Just
as his horns were about TO pierce the doomed
horse, the rider once more plunged his lance
fairly into the Shoulders of his struggling and
brave enemy; horseman and steed were saved
amid uproarious cheers which rose from every
seat in The spacious anphithcatre. At this
moment the trumpet sounded from the box
where the queens looked down upon the mad
fury of the bull and the cool courage Of the
picadores; It was the signal for the banderi-
las to take the field While lis comrades at
tracted The bull with the blood red cloths, Blu
chcli took up his position with the many col
ored banderiIlas in his hands, watching the IA
yorable moment to plunge them into the
brute. The opportunity soon came. The bull
turned to rush at red cloth, BucheIi ran at
him obliqueIy, and placed the banderinas
firmly in his neck, as he savagely tossed his
head and made dash at the daring youth
but before he could touch Buchel, the agony
caused by the banderllas suddenly brought
the maddcned beast to stand. After sew
eral more had been as smartly placed in his
shoulders, again the trumpet sounded-to give
the signal for the matador to advance In a
moment Corcoles confronted his enemy. He
waved his red cloak-the bull rushed at him
he jumped aside, passing the cloth over the
bulls head, who turned and rushed at him
again. AS the bull brought his head to the
cloak, Corcoles made a lun2e at him with his
sword. Il struck too high; the bull rushed
off unhurt.
A second and third time the encounter was
resumed still the bull was unhurt, though
bleeding. The fourth time he rushed upon
the matador, the sword plunged into the
shoulder-it had reached his heart! Stagger-