The National tribune., 1882-04-01
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF A SPANISH
BULL FIGHT
George P. LathroP, in Harper.

thO "LOt0 great IOunu, peOpleu Dy db Ic<SoO
ten thousand beings, is divided exactly by
/ the sun and the shadow-sOL sona5ra; and
from our cool place we look at the vivid
orange sand of the halfarena in sunlight,
| and the tiers of seats beyond, where swarms
of paper fans, red, yellow, purple, and green,
are welded to shelter the eyes of those in
the cheaper section, or bring air to their
lungs. No connected account of bull tour
ney can impart the viyidness, the rapid
changes, the suspense, the skill, the pictur-
esqueness, or horror, of the actual thing. All
occurs in rapid glimpses in fierce, dramatic,
brilliant, and often ghastly pictures, which
iade and reform in new phases on the in
slant. The music is sounding, the fans are
huttcrIng; amateurs strolling between the
wooden barriers of the ring and the IOwess
seats; hatless men are hawking fruit and
aguardlente-whent trumpets announce the
grand entry. 1t is a superb sight; the plea
dores with gorgeous jackets and long Iances
on horseback, in wide Mexican hats, their
armor-cased legs in buckskin trousers; the
swordsmen and others on foot, shining with
gold and silver embroidery on Scarlet and
blue, bright green, saffron, or puce-colored
garments, carrying cloaks of crimson, violet,
and canary. At the head is the mounted
digUazH in ominous black, who carries the
key Of the bull-gate Everything is punctual,
orderly, ceTemonious.
Then the white handkerchief, as signal,
from the president Of the games in his box;
the trumpet-blare again; and the bull rush
ing from his lair! There is a wild moment
when, if he be of good breed, he launches
himself impetuOus as the ball from a thou
sand-ton gun directly upon his foes, and
sweeping around half the circle, puts them
to flight over the barrier or into mid-ring,
leaving a horse or two felled in his track I
have seen one fierce Audalusian bull within
ten minutes kill five horses while making
two circuits Of the ring. The first onset
against horse is horrible to witness. The
poor steed usually lean and decrepit, is
halted until the bull will charge him, when
instantly the picador IN the saddle aims q.
well-pOised blow with his lance, driving the
point into the bulls back only about an inch,
as an irritant. You hear the horns tear
through the horses hide; you feel them go
through yourself. Ribs crack; there's d clat-,
ter of hOois, harness, and the riders armors
a sudden heave and fall-disasterI and
then the bull rushes away in pursuit of .
yellow mantle fourished to distract him.
The banderilleros come, each holding two
ornamental barbed sticks, which he waves to
attract the bull. At the brute's advance he
runs to meet him, and in the moment when,
the huge head is lowered for lunge he
plants them deity, one on each shoulder.
and springs aside. Perhaps, getting too near,
he fails, and turns to fly; the bull AFTER.
within few inches. He fees to the barrier,
drops his cloak on the sand, and vaults over;
the bull springs over too into the narrow
alley, whereupon the fighter, being close
pressed, leaps back into the ring light as
bird, but saved by mere hair's-breadth
from tossing or a trampling to death The
crowd follow every turn with shouts and
loud comments and cheers. 60 bad little
bull!" "Let the picadores charged" "More
horses! more horses!" "Wel done. Gal
Ito" "Time for the death! the matadores!"
and so on. Humor mingles with sorie of
their remarks, and there is generally one
bufoon whO choosing lull in the
combat, shrieks out rude witticisms that
bring the laugh from thousand throats.
But If the management of the sport be not
to their liking, then the multitude grow in
'tantly stormy: risisg on the benches, they
below their opinions to the president, whistle,
stamp, scream, gesticulate. 1t is the tumult
If mob, appeaSable only by speedier blood
he'd. And what bloOdshed they get! A horse
IT two, say, lies hfeless and crumpled on the
,arth; the others, with bandaged eyes, and
ides hideOusly pierced and red-splashed, are
purred and whacked with long sticks to
make them 90. But it is time for the band
and after that for the swords1nan.
lie advances, glittering, with q proud, ath-
etlc step, the traditional chignon fastened to
lis pigtail and holding out his bare sword.
makes brief speech to the president: g go
o slay this bull for the honor of the people
f Madrid and the most excellent presidents
f this tourney" Then throwing his hat
way, he proceeds to his task of skill and
anger. 1t is here that the chief gallantry
f the sport begins. With q scarlet cloak in
ne hand he attracts the bull, waves him to
ne side or the other, battles him, re-invites
im-in fine plays with and controls him as
he were kitten, though always with eye
lert and often in peril. At last, having got
i'm in position" he lifts the blade, aims.
I'D with forward spring plunges it to the
lit at Il point near the top of the spine.
erhaps the bull recOils, reels and dies with
hat thrust; but more often he is infuriated,
nd several strokes are required to finish
i'm. Always, however, the blood gushes
eely, the sand is stained with it, and the
erried crowd, intoxicated by it, roar savage
:. Still, the many-headed beast" is fas-
duous. If the bull be struck in such way
; to make him spout his life out at the nos
lis, becoming a trihe too sanguinary, marks
disapproyal are freely bestowed. One bull
one for, the music recommences, and mules
snowy trappings are driven in. They are
lrnessed to the carcasses, and the dead
Ilks of the victims are hauled bravely off
a gallop, furrOwing the dirt. The grooms
IN at topmOst speed, swapping their long
hips; the dust rises in cloud, envelopinp
e strange cayalcade. They disappear
rough the gate flying, and you wake from