The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-31
A BULLS FIGHT wIrH A LION.

2 hchT-Ihru huu hhip
Eaur HuitdoKs htila Lionrss fbr tre"d
Hreak Into the AFrAa a slaughter BY
soldiers.
/ A correspondent Of the San Francisco
I Chronicle furnishes that paper with an
account of the amuSements indulged
in by the people of Lima. Peru, on
SUNDAY. He writes: On beautiful
/ Sunday morning recently saw the an
nounoement cOnspicuously posted IN the
, public square of Lima that "a grand bull
! light would take place that day at the
I Plaza De Acho. Securing carriage,
was speedily driven 90 the plaza, which
. | found densely crowded with u motley
assen blage OF humanity, embracing al
most all natiOnaliues. On the way
passed numerous splendid private car
riages, occupied by richly dressed ladies
aud gentlemen, chatting merrily. OBJ
| tanning "A ticket, | entered the enclosure
aud viewed the building and its sur
ruundiugs. IL is evidently very old,
having been built during the Spanish
occupancy Of Peru, and presents much
the appearance Of Spanish fortress.
A strong guard Of soldiers llnol the pas-
sagaways 10 preserve order. The walks
around the building were lined with
booths for the sale OF refreshments,
tended by stalwart sons and daughters
OF Africa, who did "A thriving trade with
the younger portion of the visitors.
As my ticket entitled me- to a seat IN
one OF the balconies, | made my way 10
that portion Of the house, and had hardly
been seated when heard NV name pro-
noimced in a soft, feminine voice in one
Of the adjacent boxes. Turning my
/ head in that direction | was greeted by
the smiling face of young Peruvian
/ lady to whom | had recently been intro
/ duced, and who WAS the daughter of one
I OF the leading families of the city.
Quickly making my way 10 her side,
/ was courteously invited by the fair
/ senorita, her mother, aud sister 10 share
their box during the entertainment.
/ The building Was thronged, as the
president OF the republic aud his family
4 were expected, and the enthusiastic as
I semblage were patiently awaiting their
coming for the entertainment - CON-
mence. suddenly the band struck up
+ the Peruvian national hymn, aud the
/ president accompanied by his wife aud
son, made his appearance. The signal
/ for the commencement of the perform
. Ance was now given, aud several mounted
picidorcs. their hurses splenddly capar-
/ isonei. entered the arena. There hC Tses
are nne specimens, aud Are carefully
trained for their dangerous profession,
many of them having served some NJ
I teen or sixteen years. The dates Of
T the picadures are 10 worry and annoy
the bull. thereby making him more
, ferucious. At one side of the arena is "A
gate through which the bull enters
Al given signal the gate opened, and
/ with terrific roar the animal spnng
into the circle. Now all was excitement
+ The people held their breath Aitd gaEed
I spell-bound at the conhatsnts. The
bull WIS gAyly decorated with scarfs Of
I various hues, aud on his head WAS
{ fastened beautiful boquet Of flowers.
When the animal entered the arena he
suddenly stopped His pause, however,
was of short duration, for, perceiyIng
/ the mounted horsemen. he fuuously
/ dashed at them. Bat the hurses are so
( we'll trained that his efforts were entirely
. futile, as when the euraged animal al
most reached them, and the spectators
I held their breath expecting - see the
noble animals gored 10y the bull, they
suddenly aud quickly wheeled 10 one
side. thereby escaping the attack. IL
frequently happens that the bull, meet
ing no resistance in his heailong speed,
stumbles and falls forward. breaking his
legs, when he il Immediately despatched.
Another signal was now given, aud
the picadores we're ordered 90 annoy the
animal This WAS done 10y shaking a
red cloth before him. The rel cloth
made him more furious, and he dashed
first at one and then az another OF the
horsemen. until at last, exhausted with
his vain efforts, he paused, glaring wildly
around. The horsemen retired, aud
several picadores on foot entered the
arena, dressed in different colorod COS
tunes, and ali wearing a red cap. The
bull. having recovered his strength, and
seeing these new enemies, renewed the
attack with increased vigor. darting
furiously from one 90 the other, and per-
fectly wild with rage. But the Willy
picalores easily cvaded bis charges.
The men were armed with spears, the
points of which were filed with an ex-
posiye substance, which. striking the
bull, left gaping wounds. The matador,
whose duty Il is % shay the bull. stepped
into the middle Of the arena, armed with
n sword. and having bowed TO the presi-
dent and then % the audience, prepared
TO engage the animal. The scene was
now thrilling and exciting. The audi
ence watched the combat with breathless
attention. The picadores tried 10 attract
the attention OF the bull 20 give the
matadOr an OPP ortunityt to use hissword,
but the bull, having caught sight OF the
latter, suddenly dashed toward him. He
spraug aside with lightning rapidity,
and then the sword was driven between
the shoulders of the animal, killing him
instantly.
The building shook with the thunders
Of applause that greeted the victorious
hero. Handfuls of silver were showered
upon him, and one enthusiastic spectator
presented him with 81 900.
The next scene ON the programme was
an encounter between bull and a bear.
Looking down into the arena, | saw an
attendant leading 10y strong rope a
small bear, which he securely fastened
in the middle of the arena. The bull
WAS let in, and tremendous applause
greeted his appearance. The animal at
first did not take any notice of his tied
antagonist. merely nufling the air and
then dnshing away. The picndOres APP
peared aud attempted to attract the
bull toward the bear This they succeed
cd in doing, and "a the animal, now
furious, spiel It's enemy, he dashed to-
ward Il with heal lowered, and catching
/ il on its horns, threw it violently into
/ the air. The bear made no resistance
except 10 growl fiercely, and tried 10
escape from its assailnnt. Again and
again was it tossed into the air, until the
attendant, seeing that the fight was en-.
/ tirely one-sided, led both animals away
amid shouts Of laughter from the spec
/ tators.
| An encounter next took place between
bull and a full-Rrown lion. An iron
cage containing the lion was drawn into
/ the middle Of the arena. The bull was
quickly put in, the grated door closed,
J and the two animals stood glaring at
each other. The bull was the first to
advance TO the attack, and charging
furously at his opponent succeeded in
driving his horns through the jaws OF
the lion, from which the blood flowed
freely. The lion, however, nothing
daunted, fought desperately with his
claws, fastening them in the sides OF the
bnll and lacerating the flesh. terribly.
The bull had the advantage, and al
. l.. -. ~, ahaIra nT bta