The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-04-20
A South American BuII-Fight.

A South American BuIl-Fight.
OF course, when in Rome one mus
learn the customs of the Romans, anC
so / was induced to visit a grand bull
| fight, the proceeds of which go towarC
the support of a hospital. 1t is a tasl
of some difficulty TO obtaih a seat in the
Lima Bull ring, there being three differ
ent admission fees that must be paid ere
the seat can be counted secure After
submitting to this slight extortion,
looked around the building. 1t is a cir.
cular edifice, said to be the largest in
the world, and can accommodate 10000
people. The day of my visit being a
feast day, the place was crowded with
would be considered falling from grace
should the chola not attend the bull
fight, even if he should go hungry for a
week to accomplish this. There was a
fair sprinkling of the foreign population,
and many beauty whose nerves would
have shrunk from contact with mouse,
now impatiently waited for the bloody
struggle between mans ingenuity and
brutal force.
THE FIRST To APPEAR.
The capeadores, picadoaes and mata-
dores were the first to appear, the former
mounted and plainly dressed, the last
two gorgeous in colors, and with bright
red capes jauntily thrown across the arm.
They marched slowly around the circle,
and it was a study to note the the cold
glitter of their eyes, that seemed full of
an expectancy that only blood could sat
isfy. One could very plainly see that to
these men the value of human life was
worth only the pleasure its taking would
give.
But though so willing to take life,
they are provided with numerous places
of refuge should the bull press them too
hard, and thus they can safely employ
all their skill on a foe placed at great
disadvantage. After the authorities had
been saluted, bull, maddened by hun
ger and other tOrtures, came bounding
into the ring, and with wild eyes glaring,
stood and watched his foes. Soon ca
peadore approached, and by provocation
sought to highten the fury OF the beast,
which rushed at full speed upon horse
and rider; but just as the sharp horns
seemed about 10 gore the former, the
capeadore, by a dexterous movement,
eluded the blow, and his companion took
his place, so, drawing the danger from
one to the other, they kept the bull
rushing wildly around the ring, and
after time gave place to the picadOres
and matadores.
TANTALIZING THE Bulls.
The excitement increased with their
for these men are full of
daredevil courage, and delight in the
wild fury of the bull, tantalizing 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
lust as you think them doomed to des-
tructien. If the beast shows any signs
IF faltering, darts are thrown into his
neck, and he again grows furious, to be
net by an increase of torment from his
lgile prosecutors.
After this has gone on some time, the |
eading matadOre asks permission TO kill |
he bull, which being granted, he throws
lis cape over his sword, and engages the |
Lttentien of his foe. Now comes the
truggle between brnte cunning and
Drute force, and the excitement grows
intense, though to me it had a sickening
orrOr attached that destroyed all
hought of pleasure. Keeping close to
he animals side, and carefully watching
is chance, the matadore at last casts his
loak about his horns, and while the
oor brute is battling with this unsub-
tantial foe, thrusts his keen sword up to
he hilt through the fierce throbbing
cart. A stagger, a heavy thud, and
ne bravos tell that the first act isended,
ne bull qeing quickly drawn away by
, urgayly caparisoned horses.
Not always do these tragedies have a
1e-sided ending, Often both men and
orses are carried away dead, and yet
lis does not stop the sport. The death
Owever, and l left the ring with my
Itimation of the Spanish American con-
derably strengthened, for he has never
zen favorite of mine.
ABLoODY ROW.
At bull fight in CallaO, not long ago,
rather amusing and sanguinary affair {
,curred. The matadOre deputed to kill
le bull having made several Intellectual {
trusts, was approached by a chola, so
.unk that he could but stagger, who (
ok the sword from him and determined s
do the job This the bull-fghters oh.
cted to, and they tried to persuade the '
an to retire from his perilous position, !
seping the bull cornered in. the other 6
art of the ring. Their words incensed
le man, who began hacking at them
ith his sword, and then the police were
.lled in. The rough part ot the audience,
no would have much liked to see the 8
How gored to death, now took his part
sainst the police, and, jumping into the |
Dg, began assaLlting them with stones.
istols were produced. and then a troop
dismounted cavalry were marched in,
nd the fray began in earnest. s
Swords and pistols were freely used, {
nd fragments of clothes and bodies were
ION flying about in all directions. At ,
st the bull broke away from the mata-
ores who had been guarding him, and {
larged through the crowd, paying no s
.spect to person, and having impaled a {
ecro by the back of the vest, carried
i'm around the ring, the poor fellow bel
wing wildly for mercy; even this did {
Of stop me fray, and it was only by their :
qes with ball cartridge that the troops
anaged to restore order, and got the {
Idience quiet. This done, the wounded
ere dragged out to the hospital, and
,e performance again began.
Truly, a bull fight is wonderful man.
estation of the intelligence and refine
ent of the modern Spanish American. 1
Cor. ". Y Evening Mail.
Another American Prima Donna.