The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-12-21
A BULL FIGHT.
Its Terrors and Horrors-Glory to the
Rull


Bull.
The murmur of Thousands of vo ces,
the cries of the venders of oranges and
fresh. water, and the cheers of eager
spectators, as different movements were
made. preparatory to the combat, all
formed confused roar, comparable to
nothing ever heard before At length
there came a shrill blast of trumpets,
the signal for the area to be cleared OF
all its lingering occupsnts. In few
moments the last had left the incosure.
The arena. was empty. Another flour
ish of trumpets, and in through one of
the principal entrances marched the
future actors in the bloody drama. At
the head came the picadors, two men on
horseback with lance in hand, and
dressed in brilliant colcrs. Next came
the chulos, bearing on their arms the
scarlet cloaks with which it would be
their duty TO inlurate the bull. These
were followed by four or five bandiller-
os, who were to.act IN way which
snail presently describe. Last of all ap-
peared, in the place of honor, the mat
adoers, who finally give the bull his
death blow.
After description of the costumes,
with which all are more or less familiar,
he says: Two officers dressed in black
and with long nodding plumes in their
hats now rode in, and halting before the
royal box, asked permission of the gov
ernor I f. the spectacle to admit the bull.
hn synu ff>t lor, ~ l. r.
the den where the bull was confined,
and riding rapidly across the arena the
officers handed this to the keeper of the
gate. Amoment of breathless suspense
followed, during which the officers dis.
appeared. Not a sound was audible.
Every eye was fixed on the gate wav.
Fifteen thousand hearts were beating
with excitement. AS for myself, con-
fess it was one of the most intensely ex-
citing moments of my life. l cannot
we'll account for it, but in the vast multi
,tude around me, the thought that was
actually in Spain and about to witness
Its great ltional sport, the dread that |
had of the Bloody characteristics, and
then, too. the fact that three ladies were
with me who might possibly faint on my
hahds-all these combined to agitate me
greatly.
At length, almost before was pre-
pared for it, the gate swung open and
huge, iron-xray bull rushed forth from
perfectly dark den into the arena. For
q moment, astonished and daZzled by
the spectacle around him, and startled
by the ye!ls of thousands OF voices, be
halted, his nostrlls quivering. Then,
catching sight of the cnulos, who at
safe distance We're waving their red
ln Inr l,ic a Il
dashed at them with fury. Nimbe as
squirrels, these men leaped lightly over
the railing OF the arena into II circular
space beyond, and the bull stopped with
IL violent shock within foot of their re-
treating heels. With snort that de-
noted mischief the bull glared around
him. Twenty feet away was picaior
OH horseback. Straight at him the bull
now went. The horse, whose eyes were
blinded by cloth, obedient to his rid
er's spur. wheeled to one side. and the
plcador pressed his lance into the bulls
shoulder as he passed, intlicting only
slight wound, however, for the iron on
the lance is purposely made very short.
The bull turned savagely about. ami ir-
ritated by the cut, charged once moro
upon the horse. Horrible, most nor.
ribie!
This time the picador could do moth
ing; and both horns plunged to the very
voices greeted this with yells Of approval
"Bravo, Toro! Bravo, Toro!" resounding
in deafening shouts from all parts Of the
arena This was bad enough, but | felt
almost faint when l saw the bull actual
ly shake his head up and down, until,
by his enormous strength, he lifted
both horse and rider from the ground
and reiied them -over in the dust. All
was now frenzy and excitement. The
bull drew out his dripping horns and
prepared for new Charge. If he made
it, it would be all over with
the picador. But now the chulos
came to the rescue. Three or tour haun-
ted thei, c!oaks in his face and drew his
attention tothemselves. AS he advanced,
howe> er, these agile men slipped aside
and the / uil struck only the cloaEs,
which passed lightly over his head.
While this was being done other men
had assisted the falling picador to get
upon h feet. He could not have risen
without al for besides being bruised
by his fall, his legs were encased i'll iron
plates of great weight, made to resist
the buli's horns. AS for the poor horse,
lie WINS left 10 die III agony, writing up
on The sand while his ii e blood poured
out in streams. as he struggled iinpati-
emily to rise. But by this time the bull had
charged in fury upon the other picador,
Almost the same scene was now repeat
ed, save that the bull succeeded in
plunging only one horn into the horse g
side. Therefore, for the next i've or
ten minutes, the wretched animal actua-
aliv galloped about the arena, urged
hither and .hither Ivy his rider, while
~. Ia, Il @
heels and the blood was gushing forth
in copious Jets! need hardly Fay tina.
the ladies OF my party shielded their
eyes from this horrible sight. A Ger
man lady near me wept. But the :alr
Spaniards seemed to think of nothing
but the men and the bull.
The second horse also dropped in the
agonies of death. and as now picadors
came III, the bull within fifteen minutes
had killed fit cen horses outri ht und
horribly wounded q fourth! he present
ly stopped as if exhausted. The .rrac'
ticed eye of the governor detected now
the moment for change OF tactics. He
gave signal. which was followed by Il
Blast from the trumpets. The piadors
at once withdrew fIom the arena much
to our relief, although the welterlni
corpses of three horses still lav upor
the eAnd. Inc cnulos no" Csiue ptoW
inenIly forward to take more
decided part in the cont, st than they
had previously assumed, AMI to per orn
some of their most daring feats, that O.
jumping over the head OF the chargln
bull and giving him love pat on tn,
neck will. the foot in pass ng! This they
never would have dared to do when the
bull was fresh; but now fatigue rendered
his charges shorter and more easily
avoided. DO yun wonder that he wa
wearied? Up to this time his exeril IN
had been trepellloas. The psrspiratlol
ptistened on his painting sifes,. wml,
Flood coated both shoulders witha,rim
son ,nanrle. proving that the lances o
the p,cadors had done their work.
I A.. Ak.s