Smyrna times., 1868-12-30
A BULL FIGHT,
AS WITNESSED BY A sMYRNIAN.

DR.. Culbreth, Asst. Surg of the U. s. man,
ofwar Coontocook, flagship of the South At
lantic Squadron, now cruising in the West In
dia Islands, recently witnessed bull fight in
Havana. We are permitted to make the fol-
lowing extract from private letter:
Last Monday NOV. 3O) | went to bull
fight. These fights usually take place on Sun
day, which appears to be the day of amuse-
ment here, but this one was postponed on
account of the review. My impressions of this
favorite Spanish amusement are by no means
fllattering to it or the people that tolerate it.
The amphitheatre where the fights take place
is very similar to the lecture room of q medi-
cal college-where the clinics are held; the
arena, however, is much larger The fight it.
self is one of the most brutal and digusting
sights | ever witnessed. At the appointed
time the fighters entered the arena dressed in
gay costumes-jackets OF varlously-coored silks
! trimmed with profusion of gold, and breecheS
of like material, with silk stockings and slip
pers Over all they wore handsome cloak
nicely trimmed, which they toss to the audi
| ence lust before the fight commences. Each
fighter has his hair cropped short, except a
tuft on the back of the head which is allowed
to grow, and is worn plated something like a
Chinaman's pig. When every thing is ready
two men, called ptcddOrS, enter on horseback,
armed with what is called plea, very similar
to an ordinary pike the iron at the end, how
ever, is only about 3-inch long, and makes 9
wound about skin deep. The bull is now ad
mtted, and having been in rather dark per
for some time appears, at first, bewildered
But the shouts of the audience and the waiv
ing of scarfs by the fighters soon excite hin
and he commences to charge on those arounC
him. When fighter is hard pressed by the
animal he escapes behind serene, there being
four of these in the arena, equi-distant from
each other. The bulls attention is soon at
tracted in another direction by fresh tormen
tor, who escapes from his horns in the sam,
manner. The picadors ride in front of the an
imal and induce him to charge on them b.
shouting at him and waving their pixies. A
the same time a man on foot, from behind th
horse, valves a scarf so that the bull can Sc
it, the object being to make the animal charg
| on the horse and rider. This he quickly doe
2 and is received on the point of the pike. Some
times this fails to stop his headway and he AM
E rider are thrown to the ground, the horse Sc
verely goured and may-be killed. The ride
almost always escapes, for in danger the bull
r attention is attracted by the waving scsrfs o
/ the men on foot. After getting she anima
worried up to this state of pleasant sxOitemen
e another means is adopted to enhance the plea
sure of the occasion and tickle still farther tn
delighted audience The bull must now b
a made very mad indeed, he must becom
blinded with rage To effect this desirabla oh
n iect darts are driven into his neck by the me
q on foot These darts are barbod on the en-
4 like fish hook, and are inserted into sta
= about feot long, the staff being ornamente
b with strips of paper OF various colors tastefulI
}, arranged With two of the darts in his band
r a man stands in front of the BULL valves thel
e and shouts at him. The bull rushes tor th
q man, and when at proper distance the lattcc
1t punges the darts into his neck, Tho pal
r causes the bull to hesitate or turn esido, an
J. the man escapes. This performance is repea
IS ed until half dozen darts have been inserted
Il the animal by this time rushing wildly aboI
n the arena, the darts goading him at every pa
ton and the waiving scarfs inviting attack
o. from every quarter. This state OF things col
8 tinues until the bull begins to show signs
20 fatigue and the time for dispatching him b