Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-02
A Spanish Bull-Fight.

A SPECIAL correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Telegraph, writing from San
lander on the Sd inst, says: :" 1t is some
what of a relief from the constant mar
ration of the civil war, with it's daily-in-
creasing barborities, to be able to divert
ones attention to different subject.
The great festival of Santiago, in honor
of Spain's warrior patron Saint James, is
being celebrated throughout the whole
country by religious ceremonies and bull
fights. Santander had another attraction
"a cattle show-but that exceedingly in
teresting exhibition deserved better
fate than to be deserted for the horrors
of the bull-ring. There is no Disgusting
The fact that the Corrida de Torres is the
ne plus ultra of delight of every Spaniard
of whatever station, age or sex. So pop
ular was this that the lowest price for
admission was raised to twenty-one
reales -four shillings and sixpencel and
even at that every place was disposed of
ON each of the two days of the spectacle,
Saturday and Sunday. The amphithea-
ter holds 10000 people, and, like all other
bull-rings, is open to the sky. If it were
otherwise the heat would be insupporta-
BILE. Six bulls were put to death each
day, but so many horses were sacrificed
on Saturday that few were left
for Sunday The espadas, picadores
and banderillos were far from per-
feet in the exercise of their pro-
fession-the main object of the
picadores, apparently being to thrust
their sorry steeds on the horns OF the
bulls, instead Of, by their own dexterity,
swerving them from the impending
danger. Each bull killed three, four or
five horses on the first day. If dared
to portray few of the repulsive features
of the scene, it would lessen the surprise
felt at the horrors of the war now raging.
The boxes are filled with ladies, many of
whom brought their children, possibly
upon Spanish principles, to harden their
feelings against what they may deem
false sentimentality. The lca1de, with
his brother. municipal officers, presided
To their credit they would not comply
with the reiterated shouts of the gods
(who were in their more proper sphere,
| the bottom instead of at the top of the
house, for more horses. This was less to
be wondered at after one more than usu-
ally disgusting spectacle of a horse
which bull tossed up and literally dis
emboweled before the eyes of all; the
poor wretch even then staggered half
way across the arena before it fell dead
| The bulls in their turn suffered from the
| bungling of espadas; one was to be seen
rushing wildly about the arena with a
sword buried up to it's hilt in it's carcass,
and it was only when from mere weari-
ness it fell down that it was stabbed be-
tween it's horns by member of the
troupe, who stealthily approached it
from behind and gave the coup de grdct
when all other means failed. The whole
company, with hardly an exception,
shaved such signs of timidity and mex
perience that the spectators expressed
their opinions in most forcible manner
| by liberal showers of bottles, sticks anC
other missiles nearest at hand, at each
fresh specimen of awkwardness. Al
Madrid, Seville and other large cities
more experienced operators prevent the
exhibition of such scenes as [ witnessed
at Santander; but until Spain's favOrite
| amusement ceases to interest her chill
dren she can never take her place
amongst civilized nations, who are taught
to look upon cruelty to the brute creation
as crime. One of the first things which
strikes an Englishman on entering the
country is the want of consideration
which is everywhere noticeable. Over
| laQlng is Inc leaSC anu mOSG common Vi
the cruelties practiced. One can only
now use the voice of reason, but that is
of little avail unstrengthened by the
hand of the law. 1t is fervently to be
hoped that the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Animals will be able
to induce the Government to permit it tc
extend It's career of usefulness to this
neglected people, and, by inducing them
to be merciful to their beasts, to be mer
ciful to their fellow-men.''