Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-05-13
A BULL FIGHT.
The Bull Fight In Mexico.

Mr.. VIM. E. Cramer, the senior
editor of the EUening Wisconsin,,
writes an interesting letter from the
City of Mexico under date of April
10th. He. describes bull fight which
he witnessed, as follows:
BULL FIGHT.
AS Mexico was Spanish colony,
its amusements are very like those of
Spain. A bull-fght is everywhere
recognized as the most grateful
amusement to the ordinary Spaniard.
The same may be said of the Mexi-
can. A bull fight was advertised at
Flalnepantila, small village about
nine miles from Mexico. The bulls
were reputed to be of the most savage
description aud quite sure to kill
some of the Mafadores. This, of
course, added to the attraction. The
amphitheatre in which the fight was
to take place was very like that of an
ordinary American circus, with the
exception that the front seat was ele-
waited at least five feet to prevent the
bull from jumping into the crowd of
spectators, and then also a rope is
stretched about two feet above the
front seat in which his horns would
be caught should he attempt to leap.
There were at least three thousand
spectators present-price of admission
seventy five cents The arena was a
circle of two hundred feet in dame
ter. Punctually, at four o'clock p M,
the FIRST bull was turned into the arena.
In order TO render the bull more fu-
rious, the rule is to cast small jave-
lin into his side as he is let out of his
cage. This javelin has a barb which,
once fastened, cannot be shaken out
by the tortured animal. The Mafa-
dores then advanced with red blank
cts to fiaunt in his face; he makes a
rush; the Mafadore runs; if the bull
pursues he drops his red blanket; the
bull stops to smell of it; if he contin-
ues to pursue the Mafadore runs be-
hind wooden shield, where he can
not be seen. The animal is thus baf-
fled. He is similarly annoyed, by the
other Mafadores, until, perhaps, he
cores horse, then he is lossoed by
horsemen, thrown down and butcher
ed. His carcass is drawn out By
mules. Another bull is let in-seven
or eight Mafadores, and four horse
men are, as previously, pitted against
one bull. The whole affair is cow
ardly barbarism, and could only de.
light cowardly race. There would
be something manly-if there were
bnt one Mafadore and one horseman,
or three or four bulls were let into
the arena at once upon the twelve hu
mans, then there would be some real
maniness in the amusements, but now
it is so cowardly that the bull is by
far the nobler animal. The Romans
evinced a grand barbarism in their
ADJUSTMENTS. When the gladiators
fought hand to hand with swords I'M
til one or the other fell dead, there
was savage grandeur in the contest;
even when the Christians were thrown
into the arena to contend with the
wild beasts for their lives, there was
something terrible in this sport. But
the Spanish Mexican mode of tortur-
ing and killing half-starved ard in
furiated bull, excites contempt only.
In this bull fight FIVE horses were
gored, four bulls were killed and one
Mafadore who could not run fast
enough was punched by horn ofthe
bull, in his seat of honor, but it did
not harm him as he was soon again
scampering about. No one can deny
that the Mexican has good legs when
his hide may be in peril.