The Dickinson press., 1883-05-12
A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

br0tAl Tragedy-A Scene that ONLY
Hardened Spaniaris Can Witness
Unmovel.
1t was a bright, beautiful Sunday in
December in Madrid. "plazad de Torosl"
The coachman did not need the order.
Where else would any one be going that
day! So we drove out past the pleasant
e Retro gardens, through the hur-
rying crowd, swarming from everv d.
rection. but with faces all turned one
way-people on foot, on horseback, in
tram, omnibus, cab and carriage; people
OF all ages ind both sexes, and every
condition of life; caballeros in their
cloaks, senoritas in coquettish mantillas,
working-men in blouse and scarf AMI
sombroro, peasant women with
cotton handkerchief tied over their
heads in lieu of lace mant;llas. mothers
carrying their babies, fathers leading
their boys, natives and foreigners-many
streams, but all converging toward IL
spot. That spot was a great yellow brick
structure, that might he seen long he
fore getting to it. This was the Plaza lie
torres, the circus, the amphi-
theatre where the bull fights
are held. 1t seats about $4,000 spec
tators, and is constructed much like the
old Roman Ampitheatres. except that it
IS a circular instead ofan oval form. The
immense area is inclcscd by a barrier
four or five feet in height. Beyond the
outer barrier are the seats for the spec
~ors-ston benches, numbered, at
nrst rising tier upon tier; then gallaries
tnrn'shed with leathern cushioned
chairs wooden benches, finally boxes
Designed for the king and court, tine
ministry, municipality, foreign embuss-
les and the aristocracy Of tlle city. The
real division of the upper from the lower
classes is by the side of the circus, the
former occupying what is known s:s the
sombra or shady side, which always
brings much higher prices. Four gates
IN Tue barrier, epui-distant from
one another. admit 10 the arena, respec-
lively, the heralds, the horses. the COM
batants and the bulls. The herald takes
ms position in a balcony over the toril
or entrance for the bulls; the band is
stationed opposite. In dark i~nclosures
beneath the gallery are kept the bulls in
waiting for sport, There, also, is the in
Urinary with surgeon in attendance.
where the wounded toreros are carried.
Formerly there was 81 chapel
IN connection will, the ring, where
the comtatants went to pray
and confess before beginning the strus-
gle, n where mass WAS said during
the lighting, Now, 1t appears they rely
more upon thelr 0Wn proves than on
supernatural aid; and the only religious
part OF the performance is vested in the
priest, who, with the consecruted host,
stands ready to administer :bsolntion
and ghostly consolation to the diving
gladiator.
The place rapidly filledup. The blare
of the herald's trumpet announced the
opening of the first act o! the perlor-
nance proper. Three picadores on
horseback rod u We're rather dragged
into the arena. The horses we're as
sorry specimens of their race, as wood
%en-looking Rosinantes as ever did equine
duty: What black paint and oil brnsh-
\ ,ng the gay trappings could do for them
it had done; but all the ~urtitice in the
world couldn't conceal the broken
knees, the spawned joints, the protrud-
ing zones and the hollow TANKS. In the
olden days OF chivalry. before the beau
Glful sport had degencratel into vulgar
hltchery 10y professionals, and none but
high born knights and gentlemen enter
w. VIZ "hSAioJ WV III oIlIf lOI llc Dur.
pose ofexhibitingtheir dexerity in horse
mauship and their W with the
lance, then only the finest steeds were
ridden; now that the horse has become
but a target for the BULBS horns, only
such are employed as are worthless
from q money point of view. The plea
dOres had a costume of their oW
low, broad-brimmed sombrero, a large
cal eand heavy leuthern breeches lined
Wi 1 strips of iron, to protect their legs
from the sharp horns OF the bull. Each
was armed with a long lance, Which,
however, was q weapon of defense
rather than attack, it having a point but
about an inch in length. The object of
the picador is to thrust this point into
the bulls neck as he makes a hinge for
the horse, and hold him Oft by main
strength until he turns his attack to
another quarter. The three picadors
stationed themselves at different parts
ofEbe ring, against the barrier, in such
position as 20 receive the attack of the
bull from the right side. Then the trum-
pet sounded, and every eye turned to-
ward the toril, whence the bull was to
enter.
Asmotheredcry ofdelightgreeted him
she came ina great, beautiful, massive
creature; that looked as though he
might have swept the arena with one
shake of his superb head, and tossed
his assailants sky high out of the circus
with those magnificent horns. The pic
adores recognized the qualities of their
foe, and braced themselves steadily in
the saddle. with lance firmly grasped, to
await the onset. He stood a moment at
the entrance as if staggered by the sud
den glare Of light and the novelty of his
position: 1t was only fora moment.
His quick, rowing eye had caught sight of
an enemy. Lowering his head he made
direct for the nearest horse. The watch
inl pleador was on his guard. The lance
descended swiftly, and the bull stood
transfixed with astonishment atthe n
pected reception. No sound of approval
greeted the skillfnl thrust that had saved
the horse. This was not what the spec
tators wanted. The bull shook himself
free from the dart. and rushed toward
another antagonist. The picador who
had escaped rode across the arena and
and got position for another attack.
The second hots"'man was not SO hap
Ply in recei ling the ..rlIt. The spear
grazed the bn!l's At,A aud the bulls
horns grazed the iron bound calf of the
horseman's leg and buried themselves
IN the horses belly, laying open Il fear
ful cash. The blood flowed like water
and the entrails protruded from the
open gap. The people clapped their
hands and shouted. The rider spurred
the trembling animal to the opposite
side OF the arena, a track of blood mark.
ing. his course, his en;rails dangling
against his legs. The attendants came
with needle and thread, stuffed back
the horrible mass, sewed up the wound
AID stopped the leakage with tow.