The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-12

time gave place to the picadores and
mats,iores.
The excitement increased with their
appearance, for these men are full of
daredevil courage, and delight in the
wild fury of the bull, tantalizipg him
IN all the ways they can, and fitting
about him like gorgeous demons, often
flying across the circle with the bull
close at their heels, and gaining
place of safety just as you think them
doomed TO destruction. II tho beast
shows any signs Of falIering, darts are
thrown into Iia neck, and be again
grows furious, to be met by an increase
of torment from his agile prosecutors.
After this has gone on some time,
the leading metadore asks permission
20 kill the bull, which being granted,
he throws his cape over his sword, and
engages tho attention Of his foe. Now
comes the struggle between brute cum
ming and brute force, aud the excite
ment grows intense, though to me 1t
had q sickening horror attached that
destroyed all thought Of pleasure.
Keeping close TO the animals side, and
carefully watching his chance, the ma
tadore at last casts his cloak about his
horns, and while the poor brute 10 bat
ting with this unsubstantial foe,
thrusts his keen sword up TO the hilt
through the fierce throbbing heart. A
stagger, heavy thud, and the braves
tell that the first act 10 ended, the bull
being quickly drawn away By four
gayly csparisoned horses.
Not always do these tragedies have
a One-sided ending. Often both men
and horses are carried away dead; and
yet this does not stop the sport. The
death of one bull was enough TO sat
isfy me, however, and l left the ring
with my estimation Of the Spanish.
American considerably strengthened,
for he has never been favorite oi
mine.
AT a bull. fight il. Csuse.- Rgt l9RS
affair occurred. The matadore de,
puted to kill the bull made several in
effectual thrusts, was approached by q
chola, so drunk that he could but stag
ger, who took the sword from him and
determined to do the job. This the
bull.fghters objected TO, and they
tried to persuade the man to retire
from his perilous position, keeping the
bull cornered in the other part of the
ring. Their words incensed the man,
who began hacking at them with his
sword, and then the police were called
in. The rough part of the audience,
who would have much liked to see the
fellow gOred to death, now tsok hii
part against the police, and, jumping
into the ring, began assaulting then
with stones. Pistols were produced
and then troop of dismounted caval-
ry were marched in, and the fray begaI
IN earnest.
Swords and pistols were freely used,
and fragments of clothes and bodies
were soou flying about in all direc
lions. At last the bull broke away
from the matadores who had beer
guarding him and charged through
the crowd, paying no respect to per
son, and having impaled a negro BY
the back of his vest carried him arounc
the ring, the poor fellow believing
wildly for mercy. Even this did not stoI
the fray, and it was only by loading thei
rifles with ball cartridge that the troop
managed to restore order and get tn,
audience quiet. This done, tn,
wounded were dragged out to the hos
pital, and the performance again be
gan.
Truly, q bull fight is a wonderful
manifestation of the intelligence anC
refinement of the modern Spanish
American.