The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-03-26
Correspondence New York Times.

Dts " VIC ATT III tic i ltLt utl lauIbr.
and have taken our seats In the balcony of
one Of the houses surrounding the square.
In the center, occupying about two-thirds
the area OF the plaza, a ring has been rallied
of, and IL is within the confines OF this
ring that the bull-flght Is TO take place.
In one corner OF the square Is stationed a
band Of" music" was the first word
which suggested itself, but to give a more
accurate idea, IL Is better to say Z" instru-
ments," for the discordant noises issuing
from the players are without harmony or
symphony In the very smallest degree.
III scene before us was a most animated
one. The weather was fine, and as mild
as a May day In the States. This being
the case, the Senoras and Senoritas had
come out In their gala attire, and every
tint of the rainbow was represented In the
colors OF the dresses and mantillos, or
rather head-gear, of the ladies I'm the bal
comics. while the attire of the Dons was
none the less gay. just outside of the in
closed circle was q sort of box, something
like a Judge box" at a race meeting, i'm
which the " Master Of the Ceremonies
was seated. just as we are seated. a pro-
cession of Picadores, Chatos, and Bander-
tHos passes round the inclosure. The pro-
cession is followed at a short distance by
the Espada, who, as well as the Chuios ana
Banderritos, (dart-carrlers, whose office ii
is 10 stick little darts one on each side of
the neck of the bull), is on foot. The Pic
adores are mounted, and carry long lanccs,
the use of which will be afterwards ex-
planned. The Chnios carry g~audy-colored
cloaks to attract the attention of the bull,
in case he succeeds in ~dismounting one OF
the Pfoadores, which is often the case.
All the performers are dressed in the gau-
diest colors imaginable. The Espada Tor
executioner) is armed with a sword with
which he Is 10 give the death-stroke to the
poor beast when the proper time arrives,
or is called into the circle TO dispatch some
unfortunate horse who has been MORALLY
wounded in the conflict.
THE FIGHT.
A horn Is sounded, and Immediately the
band ceases; complete silence reigns in
the plaza, and every body Is on the Iip-toe
Of expectation. The only occupants of
the inclosed space now are the four pica-
dores who take up their station about half
way across the circle. They sit m~otionless
upon their horses, standing about five
yards apart in a line facing the opening in
the Enclosure by which the bull will enter.
A narrow passage runs from the Enclosure
TO a courtyard beneath one of the houses
In the plaza. In this court the bull is con-
sAAA1tss 81 khtoAtAA VI wi all hlll-
cult TO understand or appreciate, the Mas
ter of the Ceremonies hands the key OF
the courtyard to an attendant. The door
Is opened and Immediately afterward the
bull PUSHES forth. Charging at the centre
horseman. he Is received on the point OF
his lance, the steel tip OF which Is about
an inch long, and turning his horse sud-
denly TO the left, he :. caroms'' the animal,
as IL were, on 10 the next picadore, who
wards of the charge in a similar manner.
Thus was the poor animal passed from
picadore to pteadore, until one of the men
missed his fence, and the bull rolled horse
and rider on the ground. The rider
escaped, but a horrid cash in the side of
lfhe poor horse told a sad tale. The horses
were blinded by bandages round the eyes,
so that they could be brought to face the
bull. Most of them were worn out brutes
that We're OF little or no use but for the
purpose OF satisfying the Spainard's ap-
petite for bloodshed. The Enclosure was
covered with blood ten minutes after the
bull had entered Ii, as were also the horses
and pteddore. One of these men was
thrown by the ball right up into the bal
cony OF n of the houses surround
ing the square. He landed there upon his
hands and feet, and n couple of minutes
after ward he entered the arena and re-
mounted his horse. 1t is not my inten-
ton to describe the horrible sight to
which was an eyewitness for the first
time at any great length, for the details
connected with a Spanish bull-fight are
particularly disgusting. After the animal
had been tortured sufficiently by the pica-
dores they retired. and the bandttleros en-
tered the ring. There were three of these
men, and one after the other they stuck
little darts on each side of the bulls neck.
The poor animal, Infatuated before, was
now perfectly mad with rage. and a cou-
pie OF minutes afterward the bandilleros
left. and the espada was alone with the
bull. He was armed with a long thin
sword, and carried "A flaming red cloak in
his left hand. At the moment he entered
the circle. the bull, covered with foam and
blood, was paving the ground in rage and
agony. He made straight at the espada
with head lowered and tail erect. There
were no chutos now to wave their cloaks
in the face of the animal for the purpose
of drawing him from the charge. 1t was
simply a contest between one man and
the bull. IL the former lostiis presence
OF mind, and failed to mortality wound
the bull at the first thrust, the probability
Is that he would have been gored to death.
This would have amused the spectators
greatly, as the excitement would, of
course, have been intense. Another espa-
ia was waiting just outside the ring
give the final coup to the
bull if the other one failed In doing
so. A priest was also standing near pro-
vided with the " Host" which he would
been called upon to administer to the
man had he been seriously injured. This
proceeding was not necessary. for the bull
at the cloak which the man held
at arms length. So furious wa his ,
that his horns pierced the wooden
that surrounded the ring. At the
moment the espdda plunged his
att.nrd M 10 TIN ltlf tutn fAn Lnl.r &C A.