American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-02-06
A Peruvian Bull.Fight.

| fired off-the band struck up a spirited
march, and the little army of capeadores,
| picadores and matadores entered the
| arena and made a partial circuit around
the amphitheater, stopping in front of
the city officials, whom they saluted with
characteristic grace. The .capeadores
were on horseback, two in number,
| plainly dressed in dark blue-wearing
| broad brimmed hats-their brilliant capes
hanging gracefully over the arm. Fol
| lowing, came two picadorcs carrying
barbed arrows, and dressed in soft shades
of blue and violet, the knee-pants mag
nificently embroidered in particolors at
the side, the waists a glittering network
of jet; black caps and delicately shaped
capes on the arm completed these unique
costumes, which seemed to serve as
shadows to set off the gorgeous mata-
dores, or bull-killers, four in number,
who were attired in magnificence far be-
yond the others. Finely-formed men
they were-the matadores-dressed in
yellow satin and other bright cOlors, the
knee-pants worked with red and white
and green deliberately; the upper part of
the dress seemed blaze of silver en-
broidery, and threw out scintillations OF
| light with every step, while the black
| caps, long, cleaning swords and glowing
capcs all combined to set off the rich
Moorish face, full of naughty pride,
fire and cruelty. The little procession
wound around like a glittering ser
pent, as beautiful as it was cruel
| fascinating yet repulsive, keeping time
| to the grand music and-waitingI 1t may
| be well to say here that a labyrinth of
poles is in the center of the ring, driven
| in close enough to be a refuge in case
the bull-fighter is too hard pressed, and
many other retreats there are, built near
the high fence inclOsing the arena.
| Soon side door opened and bull,
maddened by previous torture, bound
| ed into the ARENA train of tOrpedOes
| saluting him. He stood still an instant,
painting with excitement, his beautiful
eye filed with a wild expression; then,
paving the earth furiously, he was APP
preached by a capeadore, who Haunted
his bright capes in his face. The en-
ragged beast rushed at full speed upon
horse and rider, but just as the horns
were lowered to gore them the capea-
dore, with wonderful dexterity, turned
his horse quickly in another direction and
repeated the teasing, which was followed
by another attack-the bull being out
Unanswered by the sudden approach and
irritating display of the other capeadore
and thus they drew the danger from
one to another. But not always does the
capeadore escape; many times a year
horse and rider are killed or severely
wounded by an unusually fierce or fleet
bull. When at last the poor animal be-
came intoxicated with frenzy, then the
wild play between the matadores, the
picadores and their victim commenced,
and the excitement made one shudder
and grow sick with horror.
1t seemed as though evil spirits clothed
in dazzling garments were before us,
tempting death in every motion; flying
in every direction they were, their long
capes now trailing on the gIOund-wind-
ing in and out of the labyrinth of
poles-rushing at full speed the whole
length of the arena, the bull, like a wild
demon, close at their heels, till some re-
treat was reached and the baffled animal
given chance to make but a plunge,
when another chase was given him. At
last he began to show fright with his an
ger; then a picadore, win the most in
siduous daring and graceful motion, APP
preached the bulls head, whirled a
scarlet cape in his face, and with a
swift throw fastened into the neck a
barbed arrow. Three or four of these
weapons were thus planted, and wreath
of blood encircled the suffering Great
ure's neck. Shaking his head and
bounding with pain he became terrible
in his fury, which met with a correspond
ing increase of agility and power on the
part of the matadores and picadores. AT
this juncture matadore presented him
, self before the master of ceremonies and
asked permission 10 kill the bull. II
} was granted; he bowed low in acknowl
edgment of the favor, and came forward
: with proud bearing, sword in hand
J over which gay cloth was thrown to at
, tract the poor animal to his death. Their
/ this fearful tragedy in pantomime in
} creased each moment In fascination an(
cruelty, blanching the cheek of a novice
l and bringing the color of excitement t.
! the faces of those accustomed to sucl
scenes.
No words can describe the Infatuated
: passionate, bleeding creature, pantin.
with fear, tossing his head madly witt
pain, paving the earth in desperation
and yet relentlessly pursued by his tor
mentors, who grew more daring as tn,
: excitement increased. Recklessly thes'
1 men exposed themselves to danger
darting under the bulls horns. runnin,
races with only the trailing cape between
them and most ignoble death. But il
the whirling of all those bright color
and the evolutions of those splendidly
costumed men there was method at thi
stage. The animal had to be driven int
and kept within certain limits, and afte
while confined to plunging from one t
, another. The bull-killer kept close b,
his side, watching his opportunity, ant
calculating with a nicely worthy a bette
!, cause the mOtlOnS OF MS VlCtlm. KNOWN.
when a mad plunge would come, an,
with his cane at the end of his sword h
e met it, with an incOmparably graceful
$ spring. Thus the brute without a sou
and the brute with soul met face t,
e face in the almost equal contest for life
0 Quick as lightning the long, gleamin!
: sword was thrust behind the shoulder
= blade, that it might find the heart. Oftel
q the first thrust is not succ essful and tn
: tortured creature, bounding and writhin
! with agony, loosens the sword and
falls out, when the chase has to com
il mence again. Sometimes, it is said, h
: dashes near the box CT some brave {?
/ senorita, and she reaches out her tawn
hand, blazing with diamonds, and plunge
: deeper into the wound the cold steel
u Our matadore, being successful, burie'
}, the sword to the hilt in the animals body
!, when he soon staggered and fell with
|, heavy thud while his tormentors circle
> around him, waving their brilliant cape
d in exultation The bands struck u
d triumphant strains, accompanied by tn
tumultuOus acclamations of thousand
l. of spectators and the firing of rockets
1. Four horses then were hurried into til
e arena drawing pair of low wheels, t
u which the dead bull was attached, an
urged on at full speed by the lash the
dashed out through a gateway. This la.
act seemed the very climax of cruelt,
r yet was an appropriate inspiration f,
the next scene. On the afternoon
g question eight bulls were slaughtered.
&c Loves Young Dream.