Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-16
AN AMERICAN BULL FIGHT.
The Run Observation-Disclosures Escape
of his TOrmenfOrs.
From the san Francisco Chronicle, Oct. &c.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 2G.
On Sunday morning the steamer Contra
Costa left her wharf, at the foot of Davis
street, with a cargo of Mexicans, Span
iards and Barbary Coast Rangers, en-
route for the San Rafael celebration.
The company was not large, neither was
it very select. No sooner had the boat
left her mOOrings than the taste of the as
sembly manifested itself in various species
of gambling and speculations on the pro-
bable ''pickings' to be gathered at the
festival Arrived at San Quentin half a
dozen stages, filled from boot to drivers
seat with as choice a collection of San
Francisco low life as could anywhere be
gathered, speeded their way, not to the
States receptacle for her moral depravity
near at hand, but to the little town of San
Rafael, three and a half miles distant
This structure gained we took dollars
worth of seat on the top bench of hasti-
our inspection. The time for the COM
mencement of the proceedings in the are
ma was set for 2 o'clock. At this time,
however, but few had gathered within
the enclosure, and the music had not ar
rived. We had ample time, therefore, to
ascertain that the two bulls in their wood
en- cage were from the mountains, that
the pit was 80 feet in diameter and of
circular shape. After ascertaining this
much we again assembled the flight of four
steps conveniently near an upright post,
in case of accident, and with patience
worthy of better cause waited the COM
h,lf ct ho 81
sound of six trumpets and big drum ap-
preaching from the village gave warning
that the performance would soon COM
mence. The swarthy Spaniards and
McXicans soon began TO file in, their
wives, sweethearts and children accom-
panying them. The gentry from the
Barbary coast, arTayed in their holiday at
tire of thread-wOm coats and glittering
jcwelry, obtained front seats, and all was
i'm readiness for the battle
THE PERFORMANCE
commenced with piece of music from
the aforesaid horns and drum, composer
and air unknown. After this Senior
Nicolas Martinez, who had, during the
music, been industriously arTaying him
self in a green jacket and tights, with
clowns head gear made leap into the
arena and saluted the audience with q
Spanish song and dance This, doubt
less, was amusing. If not erudite but it
failed in toto TO satisfy the gentleman
from the aforesaid coast, who clamOred
loudly for the bull After the drum and
its accomplishments had again given forth
their resonant strains, the gate was raised,
the bull came forth and
THE BATTLE COMMENCED.
The bull, a five year old, of mouse
color, fighting weight 500 pounds, proved
as wild as the most exacting could require
His bullship proceeded to the pits center
and began paving and snuff1ing in the
most approved style. Capt. Jesus Arana,
with Senior AntOniO-the one arTayed in
scarlet body and tights and white straw
hat; the other clad in crimson uniform
with brown rowdy headpiece-now en-
tered the ring. With scarlet cloths and
with shouts they strove for the bulls at
tention. They succeeded fully in their
design. The bull dashed frantically at his
tormenters-frst on one side and then on
the other. The clown, who also took part
in this performance, had some very mar
row escapes from the bulls horns, which,
it is proper 10 remark, had their sharp
points cut off. This worrying continued
until Senior Antonio, by slip in endeav
oring to scale thegeight-foot barricade
which separated the actors from the
crowd, was caught on the bulls horns and
landed outside the ring. The injuries sus-
tanned by the Senior were trif1ing It
would have been well if the performance
had here closed. The enthusiasm of the
assembly was, however, aroused by this
accident, and the torture of the bull con-
tinued till the Infatuated bovine had dashed
himself into culver of rage.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT
now married these little pleasantries.
Capt. Jesus Arana, who for years has
faced the wild bull in the ring, again,
with Haunted cloth and painted pin in
hand, stroYe to render the excited beast
still more furious. After striking the.
gaudy pin into the animals neck, he at
tempted to scale the wall of the enclosure,
ia order to avoid an. attack, but his foot
slipped, and Immediately the bull sprang
upon him. The widest excitement prs-
vailed. The bull caught his victim, who