The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-07-16
AMExICAN BULL FIGHT.
Mcm In Ribbons md Spnngles
Making N beast Mad 10 Kill
Him.

Him.
The Mexican correspondent of the
Boston Transcript writes:
THE bull fight is still an institu.
ton of Mexico, performances being
given nearly every Sunday and holt
day. 1t is relict of harbarism in.
herited from Spain. ! will eRdeaVor
to give an account of the main fea-
lures CT one of these shows which
observed few weeks since in Cunnt-
titan, town reached by ride of an
hour and three-quarters over the
Mexican, Tolucas and Cuantitlan
1farf1M.gangc road. This road has
been largely built from the proceeds
of lottery. The cars are taken in
the central portion of the city and are
drawn by mules until without its
limits. We are left within short
distance of the Plaza de Toros,' so
called, which Is circular hfeha of
about seventy-fve feet in diameter,
surrounded by n board fence six feet
high, which is striped with the Ma
tional colors, red, white and green.
Outside of this are the seats for the
spectators, made Of rough boards and
arranged in five tiers, each about two
feet above that below. AT the top is
a space rooted over and divided into
sections, which are provided with
chairs. The main portion Of the
arena is entirely exposed to sun and
rain. A band of about twelve pieces
occupies stand at one side and
furnishes music continuously thro'
the whole performance. Cries of
'Toros! Torosv begin to exhibit the
impatience of the audience at the de-
lay in commencing. AT length doors
to the East are thrown open and the
performers enter. These consist of
two clowns, three men mounted on
poor, faded, blfhdfolded horses, and a
number of men with red cloths to ex.
asperate the bull. The men are
dressed in suits of green or red,
spangled with silver tinsel, with short
knee brooches and white stockings,
and they wear their hair knotted in
queue down the back. The riders
are provided with long poles, armed
on the end with iron points to ward
off the attacks of the bull. A door
to the west is now opened and the an.
imal enters, walking first to the cen
tire Of the circle and gazing around
with an astonished look at the scene
presented. A red cloth is now faunt-
ed before him, and with his head
lowered he dashes toward the one
who has dared to offend him. The
men easily Jump to one side, or, if
hard pressed, take refuge behind
guard consisting Of boards placed at
distance of two feet from the enclos-
ing fence. The bull often rushes at
the horses, and, in spite of a thrust
from the lance of the rider, succeeds
in goring them, often in throwing
both to the ground. Sometimes the
bull himself is thrown. Nearly eve
~ bull kills one or more of the poor
horses, but the men are seldom hurt.
When this has continued for some
time the horsemen retire, and one of
the men, holding n pointed stick
adorned with variously colored pa
pcrs and ribbons in each hand, APP
proaches the animal and throws
them into his neck. They penetrate
deep enough to draw blood, and the
slight pain exasperates him. Finally
the matador appears with sword in
the right hand and red cloth in the
left. Concealing the weapon behind
the cloth he boldly approaches the
now Infatuated animal, and, as no
lowers his head to rush at him, stabs
him in the neck. When done BY an
experienced man the wound proves
fatal in few minutes. The bull
staggers and falls, and is dispatched
by thrust from short knife into
the spinal cord in the back of the
neck. A rope is now fastened to his
horns and some horses drag out the
carcass. The earth is shoveled over
little, and the arena is ready for
another combat"
Tur Nrw Do,uvraN onI XVhno1;,<y