The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-14
A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

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Of Americans-The scene ON ihe Road
and In the Theater.
Madrid Correspondents New York Commercial
Advertiser.I
We confess to feelings of moral re-
missness in the mad curiosity we had
been cuddling up to see the bull fight,
but our friends bad already purchased
tickets for the shade, and we were
booked" for the fight, the national
spectacle of Spain.
At 2 clock crowds began to assemble,
and gradually to form along the Alcala
Fiente to the grand amphitheater. This
structure is sabout eighty yards in diane
ter, built in the Moorish style of archi-
lecture, of brick, iron and stone, seating
comfortably $4,000 spectators. We
have witnessed often the excitement and
rush of going to the races, but never be-
held such joyous displays or maddening
crowds as we saw that day pressing,
rushing, tearing along to the Toros.
Afoot and on horseback, in carriages,
carts, and omnibuses, with two, four,
six, eight and ten horses ali dressed in
variegated ribbons and gaudy colors
the drivers halloing and screeching with
wild delight, and the animals running
at the top of their speed, apparently as
excited as their drivers. 4-
= Once arrived and seated, we beheld
with admiration the vast gathering
within the theater. 1t was estimated
that not less than twenty thousand
spectators were pressed within the
building. The marshals, clad in gay
and elegant dress, marched across the
arena and begged permission of the
Mayor to allow the game to proceed.
OF course, it was graciously granted,
and proclamation was at once made that
the exercises were to commence. The
fatal gate was opened and in rushed the
bull wild with terror as he beheld the
scene, and trotted to the middle of the
arena; with head erect and staring eye
he stoed collected, then shook his head
in attitude expressing the most pei feet
defiance. We enjoyed the spectacle
with the highest relish. The theater
was crowded to its utmost, and the
scene was very enlivening. avs. ~.
Next came the picadors with
their laneers and the flag bearer to
tease the bull. He dashes at the crimson
flags as they are faunted tauntingly and
deceptively before his face. To the
Spaniard, however, this is but by play,
and soon he calls for blood. The plea.
dor rides full in front of the bull, who,
with one plunge, cores the blinded
horse,
"TiIl yelIs the mad crowd DER entrails freshly
torn
Another presents himself, and now
again is seen the disgusting sight re-
peated of bloody horns goring another
; victim, urged as long as he has strength
to stand blinded sacrifice to the fury
| of the beast, until at last be falls dead
upon the plain. Sometimes he carries
> with him the stuffed and padded plea.
, dor, when the whole mass of spectators
rise on the instant with breathless ex.
| pectation for here, indeed, is danger
as the roaring bull, crashing the lance
plunges over horse and rider. Still al
| death lies the picador, and the foolish
!, beast is cheated of his prey; for, believ.
ing him already dead, he passes along
[ in an instant to be diverted by the flag
8 and spears of his enemies One plea
, dor became ,entaDgled with his failing
horse, and received q crushing treae
, from the bulls fOreleg as he passed ovel
} him. The painting .animal is nov
piled with flesh arrows, and wheI
sufficiently maddeDed, the cry fol
[ the espoda (sword) is given. Th'
matador comes forward, who is not al
lowed to leave the arena, but must seel
+ his safety in his skill. Arrayed in ele
CANT dress he encounters the bull. Th'
matador, poising his sword as the bul
a dashes at him, drives home the weapon
. If the aim is unerring the beast fall
on his knees, trembling for an instant
then stretches his carcass upon th
q ground But often the sword fails t.
y strike the spine, and the bull, fighting
q valiantly, drives the matador until sew
eral thrusts are made before he is de
spatched. When the sword passes .unde
the shoulder blade next the chest
piercing between the ribs into the lungs
the blood flows freely from the mouth 0
e the animal in a gushing tide that ez
hausts him nearly as quick as the fata
stroke in the spinal marrow. The figh
is over; then comes the mules to dra
away the carcasses, and the ring
cleared for another engagement. Dul
ing the fight, six bulls and sixtee
horses were killed. We looked anl
iously at the royal hox from time t
n time, but to his credit Alfonso did nc
4 make his appearance. Our sympathit
were aroused for the poor horses onl,
who were rode blindfold before the bu
r. to be gored, simply to madden him b
the sight of blood. e.aa 81.
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