The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-19
POOLING WITH A BULL.
Terrible Tragedy in a Mexican Arena.
A Beast That Paid Off Some Old Scores
in Highly Beastly Fashion.
An Animal That Ought To Re I'm Spain.
[san Francisco Chronicle

there is no distinction of caste among them;
the rich and the poor meet socially upon the
same footing, and share together the same
sleeping apartment which, in the dry sea-
son, is the open air. 1 was anxious to con-
tinue my journey on the morrow, and told
my host that wished to employ guide
who knew the way across the country to
location which 1 designated. He informed
me that one could not be lad the next day,
as there was to be great bull fight on the
! edge of the town, and the man would have
to employ was to fight the bull; but that the
next day after could get him for my guide.
never find fault with the inevitable, and
decided at once to remain one day longer
in town, and also to witness the bovine
| contest with the man, The scene of
| the fight was to be in an old corral inclosed
on three sides by high and thick adobe walls,
and on the other by what appeared to be an
Impenetrable fence of growth of pitshaya,
cactus of futed columnar form, and
armed with bristling array of strong, sharp
thorns 1t formed a fence which neither man
nor beast would endeavor to break through.
A strong scaffoldIng had been erected out
side the adobe walls, to level with them,
and on this were arranged the seats from
which the spectators could witness the sight,
free from all danger. My host procured for
me front seat, from which could obtain a
! full view of the arena. / can never forget
the scene which was before me as 1 APP
preached the seat which l was to occupy.
The Mexican women delight in brilliant COL
ors for their shawls and dresses, and as the
shawl is an indispensable portion OF their at
tire, it is generally selected more for the
brilliancy of Its hues than for any other
quality The seats were all occupied, most
of them by women, and such an aggregation
| of gaudy tints do not think could be found
elsewhere. No matter if the dress was old
| and faded, the shawl must be warm in its
coloring and
| FLASHING WITH BRIGHTNESS.
The aged crone was there, dark in complex
! ion, wrinkled IN visage, shrivIed and bent
! in form, and whitened to the hue of snow in
her disheveled locks. The maiden was there,
OF pure Castillian blood, with cheeks of
purist white, eyes rivaling in blackness
midnights darkest hour, long glossy hair OF
! the tint of the ravens wing, resting upon
rounded and full-formed shoulders and
then falling away until they nearly trailed
upon the soil; forms full OF life, Plump, vol
uptuous and fascinating. The younger mat
ron was there, still retaining traces of a
beauty that is fading, oh! too soon. Maid
ems of mixed blood were there, too deep in
color to be termed brunette; they, too, had
eyes that spoke volumes as they glanced
from beneath their long dark lashes nor
were their forms less attractive than those
OF their white sisters. Old men were there,
seemingly so old that it might be thought
that death had overlooked them, Young
men were there, dark-visaged, scowling
jealously upon each other, and with their
mantas wrapped about their shoulders and
their wide brimmed hats shading their
brows and faces Some were fully clad
ed of merely trinity o. items-bat, sandals
and breech cloth. Some of this latter class
of men were splendid specimens of muscu-
lar development, 1.-the, active, self-possessed
and evidently conscious OF their strength
and prowess. One especially drew my at
tention to him. He was outside of the arena
as l passed onward toward it. l think
never saw more perfect form than his; it
was one that the sculptor would delight to
have as q model, or the painter would rejoice
to delineate upon his canvas. He held in
his arms his first born, which he fondled with
a fathers warmest pride, and placed him
self where 1 could not fail to notice
his infant son. L made some
at which his eye glistened with de-
light, while the mother, who stood near, re-
piled in q musical voice with her thanks for
! the notice of her babe. Back of the group
: upon the raised seats rose the white walls
! and dark, brown-tiled roof of the church
! while far, far away in the distance the
= lofty mountain tops, glistenipg in the sun
shine, closed the picture. After taking my
!, seat looked down into the corral, and could
!; not but admire my guide, not only for hi.
i powerful and perfect build, but also for hi
| good-humored expression and calm self-pos
! session. As he loitered about in the Arena
= there was q selfconsciousness of the victory
= he would achieve when his opponent should
I
y some little delay before the bull came upor
u the scene, but then large gate IN the adob,
). wall was opened, and he entered the CORA
y with q rush and q bound,
e TERRIBLE pREsENTIMENr
g of an awful tragedy seemed to thrill the en-
tire multitude. For myself, it SO PAINFUL,
e impressed me that If l could have easily lef
e the place 1 would at once have done SO
8. although but q moment before bad been q
(. anxious to witness the contest. 1t was
It spendid animal, well knit. strong and power
l; full. 1t seemed to comprehend the situation
1T at once, for with aloud tone it beloved fort
is its defiance to its antagonist, and then Will
rs head lowered to the ground, commences
L paving the earth and giving demonstration
g, of speedily commencing the combat. Tn
attendants waved their red flags before il
and irritated it still more by prodding
with their sharp pointed lances. Our her
closely watched its every movement wit
an Keen and intense interest, evidently awar
=, that it might make asudden rush at an
~ moment. With q roar that appeared
,; shake the very earth and that certaiDl
~ threw terror into every heart
ss that audience, 1t sprang forward, lowerln
~ its head with the design of tossing th
n Mexican into the air. but the attempt was
~ failure, for he spraDg quickly TO one sid
- - and goading with his staff the now incense
=. animal into state of fury as it passed hin
iv nerved himself for the more serious part
4, the conflict. / admired his fearlessness, an
lat saw .nas ae was . nau ~ uaius couaas
;or Two or three times the bull renewed II
he attack with no better result, and every tin
h he escaped the lunge of the animal II
~ audience shouted and cheered loudl
by nppea1ars ~ nave 9ssie s,m .ne plesen
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