Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-20
"A Bun Fight in Havana.

A correspondent gives the IohoWlDg
account OF the Spanish national sport:
I have been to see bull fight. do
not approve Of bull fights per Sc, but as
traveller after information, could not |
feel that my thirst for knowledge was
adequately slsckened till | had seen so |
preminent feature Of Spanish civiliza-
ton. 1t took place on Sunday, which is
the sensational day--bull fights, cock
fights, operas, and, in fine, all the best
things coming off on Sunday-and the
announcement stated that six famous
bulls, Yankees and natives OF the coun-
try" would fight in honor OF the volun-
teers and the management went on TO
declare that ut would be ungrateful If it
did not say, in view of the legitimate
rights proclaimed in this noble land,
Viva Espana! Viva Cubal Glory
, to General Dulce pa sort Of patri.
otic. outburst now become dreadfully
common, aud figuring on every printed
thing, from the theater bills to an adver..
tisement of corn-plaster. A large and
apprecistive audience collected at the
Plaza de Toros to see the fight, among
whom were all the Americans in Havana.
Three or four ladies were present, who,
to their honor be it recorded, soon got
sick and left. The Plaza de Toros is
large smphitheater, with fne arena,
and tiers of seats admirably arranged for
seeing. Il has no roof, hence the prices
of admission are graded according as
YOU sit on the shady or the sunny side
being one dollar for the former and sixty
cents for the latter The mode of con
ducting the performance is about as fol-
lows; A bull is turned in, who goes
rearing and rsmping around, and is ex.
cited into deeds of daring by colored
cloths continually faunted into his eyes.
Two or three horses, whose days OF
| usefulness as beasts of burden or
of draft have passed, are blind
folded and ridden into the arena,
the object of their riders being to
place them where they can be most COM
modiously tossed and gored by the bull
Presently one of these miserable crea-
lures has his bowels jerked out Of him
with tremendous applause. This is the
fun. As q general thing, the poor horse
shows very little emotion. Doubtless,
compared with what he, has undergone
during his life-long vassalage to the
aaooLran &c his town a scratch with a
SuIra hora = hnt q osntla t;t;lationl He
LUIS. Iu,, III" ,ha, 1nsace waits him on the
49," hL &c oharonn - and tbitber he do.
sao s,s ;thont nnnscss.arv comment Tn
psdas pa,os ~ s.;mnlate tbs bnJl 10 nnt forth
o.a 49, do,arm;nad eforts a man goes in
f.on, or him and hv a dexterous move
ment ;nsar,s a long dart. covered with
:o, &c ooIorod naner into each sboul.
dar s;x of these darts are planted in
~, hofo-s he Is dome with. and where
aS,ra .,;mnlat;on ;s reonired these darts
have 6reworks attached TO them. which,
GS1;ng and exnIodin0 around the bulls
haad dr;vs him rav;ng distracted Great
| : now tho havoc among the borses and
90 oorresnond;nglv res great ia the annianse
e., ths anran;u-ed and;ence. On tbis
oaaas;on Nov abopt twelve vears old
49, ;fba hsd haen a son If mine sbonId
SS"ro 49, han uos, @ tborougblv and emnhat.
;oaIIv snanked for beinr in sueh com.
ranyN 1olnntaarad m ;nsert a mari of
thass & dsrts The daring feat be ac
oounI;shod most 6axterouslv. and the
iona Wild and entbns;astic greeting he
.oos;vad ,oo for II will nrobablv lead him to
his IhQ last anan0 n single conn., l
-, ha,woen Iba rsatador and the bplI In
,nh;os ~ ,bo man armed with n sword es.
VIZ VIZ ~ iii tbe animal His mislicks
ssy: .;,a ~ ..ast contamnt from the snecta-
eAo ,ba srncss.ful hlow il baiIed
~;,S .G doassn;ns sccIamations. and the re- |
VII. m'u oeS;o antssonist are ignominiousIy |
dragged off by pair OF gaudiiy bediz,
ened mules to the sound OF tiumphal
music.
At this entertainment where SIX
famous bulls, Yankees and natives, hg-
ured, one fought indifferently, two well,
and two very well; while one--who was
of the Falstaffisn breed, that deems dis
cretion to be the better part OF vslor-
would not fight at all. This one was
oiaegso' ".n auu oea and ' oonssmns % Of an ont.
WIN 'ue S.ia. ST.. - ana b.v;ng saved his
tasen p.opv af ~ Sonhs l;ves ~ ,b;s
pus pus'',n "n nb;"o, oS osstnmsly and derision
aa' % ,sns SnII 6gb,srs An old rsbeI
" a., .Inoa I.s III Kill narform.d n~od;o;as of
gray eo'o 5 ~ e. S ,ha way IN wb;cb he
Vslo,' ano, ,a;ioa,s IN M orsa, bnnes os
upse' ms e"i Jl--," 80 go oe