The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-04
A Spanish Bull Fight.

Edward King describes as follows a
bull fight which took place In Madrid
before the King and Queen of Spain:
a daring fellow, in green tights, white
silk stockings, and a jacket blazing with
gold and jewels, ran up in front of the
bull, holding in each hand flexible
dart enveloped in straw at one end.
Quick as lightning the bull sprang at
him, but the man went to one side and
the two darts were sticking in the ami
mails neck. It was as quick as thought.
The banderillos made the bull crazy
with rage; he shook himself, but they
entered more deeply into the skin; he
foamed at the mouth; he was terrible.
He ran at Il knot of his enemies and
frightened them so that they fled in
confusion, leiping the barrier. Now all
the devil in the bull was reused. His
motions were twice as quick as before.
Thousands of voices were screaming
advice from the benches. Rafael!
mind your steps! Well! well! Muy
bein! Lagaitijo! demonio! Anda!
anda! Now run for it. hombre! What
IN ass, burro, burrito!' Then a great
silence fell. The matador took a red
cloak in his hand, holding concealed
beneath it a sword. short and stout of
blade; He, stepped gracefully and
briskly to the bull and held the red
cloak directly before his eyes. The bull
flew at it. The matador made false
step, saved himself, and looked up, pale
and quivering, to hear tempest OF
maledictions. The bull was after him
agnin, and followed him. Lightly. as
thistle down flew to the rescue dozen
capcadors, who futtered their cloaks in
the bulls vision until he was directed
from his victim. Then they gradually
brought him to standstill, and the
matador came before him again. Now
began q terrible duel between man and
beast. The cloth was at the bulls
reach, he plunged at it and seemed to
annihilate the matador. But no! the
man was always out of reach, and his
cleaning blade was playing In the air..
The bull saw it, but the cloak was e.
fore him-S-s-s-t! Down came the
sword between the animals fore shoul.
ders; but the bull, with no.
BILE an impetuous molten, threw
it out of the wound, from
which the blood poured in large
streams. The matador drew another
sword, and the duel began again. Each
time that he stabbed the beast but
slightly the crowd cursed him. Then
he redouhled his energies and seemed to
lose his prudence. By-and-bye he made
flying leap, every one stood up, think
ing to see him lying gored to death.
But, on the contrary, he stood some
yards away, pointing to the bull, in
whose shoulder the sword was planted
to the hilt. The king was languidly ap-
plauding with his white gloved hands.
And the spectators! It was Bedlam.
The bull struggled, but the dreadful
sword sapped bis life. He ragged and
ran, frotLing, upon the agile cloak
bearers. They decamped, but returned
as they saw the poor animal walk away
short distance and lie down with his
tongue out. They flew to him and be-
gan to tempt him to renew the contest.
This was most piteous of all. He looked
up at them with glazing eyes, out OF
which all british malice had departed
as the great mystery of death overlook
him. It was horrible! I looked up at
the young queen; she had turned her
eyes away.