The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-11

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It was q bright beautiful. Sunday in
J December in Madrid. ePlazad Toros!"
The coachman. did not need the order.
tWaere else would any one be- going that
\ day! Soiwe drove out past the pleasant
Buen Retro gardens, through the ,hur-
rying crowd, swarlning from everv d.
4 rection, but with faces all turned one
s.way-people on FOOT on. horseback, in
tram, omnibus, cab and carriage; people
fsof all ages. and both, sexes, and every
condition of life; caballeros in their
cloaks, senoritas in ooquettish. mantillas,
working men in blouse and scarf and
ssombroro, peasant women with
cotton handkerchief tied over their
heads in lieu of lace mantillas, mothers
carrying their babies, fathers, leading
their boys, nativesand foreigners-m
STREAMS, but. all converging toward one.
spot. That spot was 9 great yellow brick
fore getting to it. This was the Plaza de
Toros, 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
il circular instead of an oval for m. Til 9
immense area is inclcsed by barrier
four or five feet in height. Beyond the
',Outer barrier. are the seats for the spec
tators- stone benches, numbered, at
first, rising tier upon tier; then eallaries
furnished with leathern cushioned
chairs andwooden benches, finally boxes
designed for the king and. court, the
ministry, municipality, foreign embass-
les and the aristocracy OF the city. The
classes is by the side of the circus, the
former occupying what is known las the
rsombra or shady side, which always
brings much higher prices. -Four gates
in the inner barrier, eQui-distant from
lone another, admit to the arena, respec-
lively, the heralds, the horses, the COM
batants and the bulls. The herald takes
his position ina balcony over the toril
or entrance for the bulls; the band is
stationed opposite. In dark Enclosures
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 e chapel
the combatants went :. to pray
and confess before beginning the strug-
gle, land where mass was said during
1.-THE fighting. Now, 1t appears they rely
more, upon their own proves than on
supernatural aid !; and the only religious
part of the, performance is vested in the
priest, who, with the cons ecrated host.
islands, ready to administer absolution
and ghostly consolation to the dying
gladiator.
The place, rapidly filled up. The blare
of the. herald's trumpet announced the
opening of the first act OF the perfor-
nance proper. Three picadores on
horseback rode or were rather dragged
into the arena. The horses were as
sorry, specimens Of their race, as wood
,en-looking Rosinantes as ever did equine
duty. What black paint and oil brush
ing the gay trappings could do for them
lit had done; but all the artifce in the
world couldn't conceal the broken
knees, the spawned joints, the protrud-
ling bones and the. hollow TANKS. In the
olden days of chivalry. before the BEAU
tiful sport, had degenerated into vulgar
bntchery by professionals, and none but
ihigh'born knights and gentlemen enter
pose ofexhibiting their deXerity in horse
.manship and their prowess with the
lance, then only the finest steeds were
ridden; now that the horse has become
;but,a target for the bulls horns, only
such are employed as are worthless
from a money point of view. The plea
.dores had a costume OF their own-a
low, ,broad,brimmed sombrero, large
cal land heavy leathern breeches lined
wi strips of iron, to protect their legs
from the sharp horns OF the bull. Each
was armed with a long lance, which,
however, WAS a weapon of defense
IL Il, - l.
about an inch in length. Tie object of
the bulls neck.as he makes lunge for
the horse, and hold him off by main
strength until he turns his attack to
another quarter. The three picadors
stationed themselves at different parts
of the 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 toriI, whence the bull was to
enter.
Asmotlered cry ofdelight greeted him
as he came ina great, beautiful, massive
creature; that looked as though he
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 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 caughtsight of
an enemy. Lowering his head he made
direct for the nearest horse. The watch
full picacor was on his guard. The lance
descended swiftly, and the bull stood
transfixed with astonishmentatthe unex-
pected reception. No sound of approval
greeted the skilliul 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. Tie picador who
had escaped rode across the arena and
and got position for another attack.
The second hOrS-ran was not so hap
ply in receiving the ,,ult. The spear
grazed the bnlls neck and the bulls
horns grazed the iron bound calf of the
h0rseman's leg and buried themselves
in the horses belly, laying open fear
full 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 entrails dangling
against his legs. The attendants came
with needle and thread, stuffed back
the horrible mass sewed up the wound
and stopped the leakage with tow.
Meanwhile the fun was growing warm.
Another horse had received his death