The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-05-25

gusta--A Good Ple,e for Father
Bergh to Pass his Winters.
From the Chronicle and Constitetionalist
Tho following letter was written
from Havana by former resident
of this city, who is now in Cuba, to
his relatives in this city, and con-
tains matters which doubtless may
prove interesting to our readers:
~ "Mr. Springer called
for mo last Sunday afternoon at
three o'clock in the Consul's carriage
and insisted that 1 should drive
with them to the large ampitheatre
known as "Polar Qua Mendos," for
bull fighting. went; but I do
assure you it is my last time. At
four o'clock horseman, we'll
mounted, rode into tho arena,
saluted the governor, who tossed
him the keys to open the gates,
after which eight or ten "teasers"
with red flags marched into the
ring, followed by two men on horse
back, with long spears. It was not
long before the bull himself, already
greatly infuriated, cavorted before
us, dashing about from side to side
after the fiery ensigns, and plung-
ing at the nearest horscman. The
story is one long and sickening, so
in summing up the affair J. have
only to say that one man was killed.
[ didn't care fig for the man, nor
his relations and friends, for such
gladiators Deserve no pity; my
sympathies were with the horses
and bulls. Two steeds were killed
by tho first and third bull, and one
SO lacerated by the fifth animal that
it had to be driven from the ring,
almost torn open. Then I was
wrought up. I was mad with the
governor, Spain, the Spaniards, and
even Christopher Columbus did not
escape my i'll wishes Weak though
l was, [ wanted to fight about three
Spaniards, though I was still weak
from malarial fever. Seven bulls
were tortured to desperation and
then butchered. After tho horse
men were through with worrying
them, two angling Spaniards, on
foot, with barbod reeds, gayly
decorated and brightly polished,
would dance around the enraged
bull, stick him in the tender parts
of the shoulders, inficting horrible
agony into the poor beasts ex>'
hausted body. But the diabolical
sport did not end until another
relay of friends would dance around
and thrust into the quivering, dying
animal sharp darts, loaded with
torpedo at tho end, which would
explode directly under the skin,
causing the most excruciating
agony. The poor bulls, now unable
to defend themselves against every
form Of attack which ingenuity
could devise or human wickedness
employ, would dash themselves
wildly against the wall, endeavoring
to wreck their miserable existences
or, failing in this, would run around
the ring, looking piteously into the
faces OF the multitude above them,
appealing in their mute misery to
the stony hearted spectators. It
was simply terrible. By the time
the bloody sport was over I was
nearly dead myself, and, although
the day was very warm, drops of
cold perspiration beaded upon my
brow and chilled my forehead.
Men, women and ministers of
religion would first cheer the men
and then the bull, and each un-
fortunate rider, as he was dethroned
by the bull, would be frightfully
hissed by the spectators. I haven't
eaten boefsteal since my visit to
the bull fight y
ct would like to see this beautiful
island annexed to the United States,
for. then, instead of subsisting
1,225,000 people it would be capa
bic of supporting twenty million
inhabitants. The country is mag
niticent, the climate good, and, if
properly cultured, every one could
have a plenty. Very few peo-
pie, however, work; but all live
easily upon the fruits Of the
island"
Thousands and thousands of