Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-15
Spaniards' Sport With Bulls.
Batting and Fighting as Intensely
Enjoyed by the People of Madrid.

MADRID, August i4.-f'rom early thi,
morning the ticket Office IN the Gale
de Alcain was thronged with persons OF
all classes buying seats for the bull
fight of this afternoon. The Plaza de
Toros, or bull ring, is about mile from
the city. 1t is a large amphitheatre OF
granite and brick, capable of holding
1900 persons. It's proportions are ex-
cellent, and it is remarkably built. In
the centre is the hard, sanded arena,
around which run two board fences ton
feet apart, the second being little
higher than the first. Back of these il
the first tier of spectators, consisting OF
thirteen rows of seats on the solid stone,
and six rows of wooden benches above
them. The second tier, containing the
most desirable place, is entirely cut up
into boxes. A box can be obtained for
about four dollars; a good seat in the
shade for about forty cents; while q seat
in the glare of the sunlight can be bought
for less than that sum. A cloudy day
is never known in Madrid in summer,
time, and the bright rays on the granite
make such seats uncomfortable.
The bull fights commence in May and
in Madrid take place every Sunday and
Saints day until the end Of October.
The bull ring is owned by o stock
company, which is enabled to pay hand
some dividends.
The greatest bull fighters in Spain to-
day are Frasculo, who lives in q village
not far from this city, and Molina, or
Lagartijo, "The Lizard" resident Of
Cordova. Their names are we'll known
throughout the peninsula, as they 90
about from city to city. For instance,
Lagartijo will appear at Vitoria, in tho
north, tomorrow, and at great Corri-
da deToros, at Ciudad Real, far south Of
us, on the 18th instant. Each of these
two espades is paid $1,000 for every bull
fight in which he takes part, and the
annual income OF each rs about $50, 900.
They are of equal merit, but their joint
prominence is generally admitted. Al
though not yet forty years Of age, and
ignorant men, unable to read or writs,
their receipts have been for some years
past SO large that they are wealthy.
We drove oat little before O'Clock.
The amphitheatre was we'll filled.
Many ladies were present, aud little
children, and evon babies i'll arms. A
military hand gave forth some stirring
strains. At precisely s, the hour named,
two slguozils rode in on horseback and
saluted the mayor, who presided over
the ceremonies from his box in tho up
per tier. The mayor then threw the
key Of the bulls stables to one of the
officials, who, mounted ON handsome
gray stallion, spurred across the circus
and gave the key to an attendant. This
was the signal for the fray. The chu-
los, or men whose function is to worry
or tire out the bull, now cast aside their
cloaks and leaped over the barrier into
the arena. There are seven or eight Of
these chulos, and they take partin every
stage Of the fight, always running in
front of the maddened animal, Haunting
their red or yellow cloths in his eyes
and seeking to divert his attention from
the objectof attack. They wear breeches
and Jackets of blae, purple, green, or
brown, covered with silver spangles,
and flesh colored stockings.
A few hours before the performance
the bulls are separated, and each is
driven into his own cell, where he is kept
in total darkness until he is wanted,
when the door is suddenly opened and
the bull makes headlong rush for the
light arena.
As soon as the bugles sounded and the
chulos jumped over the barrier, two
armed with wooden lances
with steel points, rode i'll, mounted on
gaunt horses with one eye bandaged.
The horses used in the bull ring are
bought for about twenty-five dollars
apiece, and would not, even if they met
a less painful death, be spared very
long The picadores are dressed in
colored jackets and long buckskin
trousers, with gray felt hats. The door
was opened and brown bull rushed in.
The pcadores prodded him with their
spears, and urged their reluctant horses
against him. He succeeded in killing
two horses-ripping them open with
his horns--before he became tired. The
bugles gave a blast and two banderil-
lores appeared with barbed sticks or
banderillos, which they cleverly thrust
+i,, t,,tt, nanfy a., ba. in,uarad htc