The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-07
Reviving the Terrible Sports Of
Ancient Rome in Texas.
A LION FIGH T
A Bull YanQuishes a Queen
OF the Forest.
EXCITING SCENES.
A Dangerous Battle Elk
pected To-Day.

A Dangerous Battle Elk
pected To-Day.
IBx TxLE0RAPH TO TIE HERALD.1
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 9. 1878.
Tho nnt Of series Of bull lights took place in this
town to-day. Thousands Of people in attendance
nom points distant some twenty miles on each side
Of the RIVER The contests had been very extensively
advertised and deep interest created. The novelty
IVES 70 consist in the contact OF African lions
with Texan bulls II was expected that tho
furious king Of the forest would make short
work OF the OK. and exhibit the animal captares
and eats his victims In the desert II be a
vva OF tho glorious sports OF Romans represen.
tstve Of those bloody in the amphheatre Of
The Colosseum before the Empsrors OF Rome All the
giadiatoriai glamour was thrown around the events
rne lion Infatuated BY the shouting and demonstra-
lions OF the people, and gored BY the crazed BULL
70 seize and partly cat his Texan opponent in right
royal style tA asa tea f6
= EXCITING ADVERTISING.
The announcement read thus :-"Ths terrific con-
dict between lions and bulls, AZ San Antonio, COM
African ioness and Wild Texas bull" Also, "a
bull nght with six celebrated Mexican bull lighters
selected as the best in the country Again, Fan
encounter between the full grown black named
lion Old George the man eater, we'll known Tor
erooty, having killed his keeper in Tennessee two
years ago. and Texas bun, well known for his courage
and agility. An immense den or cage forty feet
in diameter sixteen feet high. weighing 5000 pounds
has been constructed this 10 to be surrounded by
immense amphitheatre 45o feet in crcum terence,
10 900 people" t+t
BETTING OK THE yrcnrs.
Hundreds OF people have paid daily visits to the
animals. some coming from the hoart Of Mexico The
bulls are very wild, ana some heavy bets have been
made in their favor, tho Mexicans generally being OF
she opinion that they viii come on victorious in
nearly all tho contests 81 .tsg8s3s ve< !
For days past this place has seemed like = huge
fair 90 intent the visitors enjoying the Sports
II was thought that tine lionoss might kill shef
psctsd chs bull" would kill him. Facts are against
this idea now. .4s.
1Hx xxrADoR conTxsTG
with reference to the Matador encounters the
Hsxcans will mot be allowed their bull order
TO win the prizo they throw him. then cut him
until he Lassoes prohibited. II ID to be what
b known 70 Mexicans hand and horn contest. II Is
Just possible that several Of these Will be killed
II they adhere TO the rules As have stated, tho
bulls very wild, and old herder hero tells mo
even with tho lasso.
FIRST DAYS SPORT.
Candor compels TO state that the nrst days sport
considering the great expectations rather tame
Affair." Al four o'clock this afternoon q handsome.
well built Texan boil, with stout short horns was
turned the large cage prepared tho occa-
sion. Tho lions sprang at the bars OF their cages,
,oared and glarcd at the bull, who went caperng
Tound the edges Of the ncIosurc evidently inim.
dated at the sight OF che monsrchs OF Africa Al
terrific enacted in the vcspasian anphthestr
OF the fate Of ST. Martina ST. Ianatius Potitius and
the unnamed thousands OF Christian mon who fell
victims the to the brutal fanaticism OF the
victorious warriors to snake Roman holiday
ENTERS A noSEss.
Shortly amer four O'Clock Iioness let into the
cage with tho bull She wac full grown, but evidently
OLD and cmaciated. Several years ago she killed her
keeper. and by hor appearance would imagine sno
has been continually punished ever since. small
allowance Of food and good deal Of the iron rod
seems TO nave been her lot People accust omed to
tno pretty. sleek vol fcd animals in the zooogcai
department In Central Park would have looked with
dsdain upon this heroipc, II such title DO gwen
nor. A. nrst sue seemed lams, but the limp appears
TO have been temporary only
on entering the cage she sprsng upon the bull al
most Icapiug over him. This was evidently in play
~ she did attempt TO bite scratch him. This
nrst round was watched with brcalhlcss slencc but
the crowd became disguised whom tho animals sep
afatcd and cantcrcd on opposite directions After
lew minutes Of quiet fun tho bull began 10 witch
she antics Of has opponent she rushed around tho
cage. and no charged At her furiousy several times
She managed TO escape him each time, however, for
about I've minutes.
AIR.
At length tho bull msdo an extraordinary charge.
and catching tho lioness on his horns tossed her
about six ieet 10 the air, then inclinng his hcsd
ni,le no caught her again on mis- horns as sho came
down. twirlcd hcr about In the afr, and nung her
some twenty foo, away from him. The Iioncss foil
70 the ground like log, and lay mo,ioness for about
half a minute. She was stunned. When she
recovered she glanced hastily at the bull,
then dashed against tho cage, as n she
desired to escape The hull, evidently DESTROYS OF
completing his victory, again charged the unforiu-