Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-10

A Patriotic Entertainment in DIR. In
gals state.

@aiAs tAtttCs
The first genuine bull fight ever held on
the North American continent, says a
Dodge City, Kansas, special of the 9th
instant to the Philadelphia Press, took
place yesterday in this typical town Of
the Southwestern frontier. The gamblers
and wantous who have for years diverted
themselves by plundering the cowboys OF
Kansas, the Indian Territory and the
Panhandle Of Texas, have found new
amusement which furnishes plenty of
blood. The idea Of the bull fight was
conceived some two months ago by A. b.
Webster, Pennsylvania, who IS Mayor
Of Dodge City.
A fair is being held, and the Mayor, be-
lieVing in making as many additions TO
the attractions as possible, had large
bull ring and amphitheatre laid out and
one of the finest half-mile tracks in the
West built, the whole enclosed by huge
board fence. The fighting was done by
twelve wild Texas bulls and five mata-
doris, who arrived three days ago from
Mexico, They were all fierce looking,
and when Jesu Mort V Bale, Mexican
bow. climbed up the fence to look at the
bulls and fell over they gored him nearly
to death. Ten thousand dollars in pre-
miums were offered, and the cowboys swore
there should be no hippodrome. Two men
were beaten and one killed in a house of
evil repute Thursday night, and Friday
morning the whole town was agog.
PREPARING FOR THE FIGHT.
In spite of the prohibitOry law in Kan
sas, Dodge City has always kept its sa-
looms open. To-day beer at fifteen cents
a glass and whisky at twenty-five cents a
drink We're dealt out in large quantities.
The dance halls did an immense business,
and gaudily dressed women arrived in
droves. OF the thirty business buildings
in town, nineteen are occupied by dance
houses, gambling halls and saloons. Some
of the most noted characters in the West
ern country reside here, among whom are
the Masterson boys, three in number, and
long the terrors of the border. But Mas
terson, formerly Sheriff of Ford county.
has record of having killed twenty-five
men. Mayor Webster has only killed
three men, but is highly respected. Every
body who dies natural death here is bu-
ried in the cemetery called Gospel Hill,
the others are planted in BOOT" Hill.
THE SCENE AT THE BULL RING.
By O'Clock yesterday the crowd began
to assemble in the amphitheatre. In a
short time every seat was taken, and the
excited crowd began crying first for more
room and then for blood. A heavy enclosure
had been built about a large area. arrang-
were shot from chute one at time. At
O'Clock the manager of the bull fighters,
Capt. Miard, of Paso del Norte, Mexico,
addressed the audience. He was cut
short in his speech by yells for the fight
ing to begin. To the sound of music and
the shouts of 10000 hoarse voices the
Mexican matadors bounded into the arena.
They were gaily costumed in bright
cOlors, and presented brilliant appear
Il. H.
plauded by the ladies, and were in reality
fine-looking fellows. They seemed to per-
fectly understand their business and say
they have been engaged in it since boy
hood. They inspected twelve bulls and
pronounced them fierce and very danger
Gus. The bulls had been kept IN confine-
ment for some time, and rendered as fierce
as possible.
As soon as the matadors took their sta
tions in the arena, the first bull. savage
black, was let in. He was Immediately
Infatuated by flags, banners and sharp
darts; little spears were thrust into his
TANKS. The beast was chased about the
arena in a wild frenzy, his tOrmentOrS
having several narrow escapes while pur-
suing him.
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE SURVIVOR.
Finally, when all the sport was worried
out of the bull, he was laSsoed and drag
ged from the ring. Three more bulls were
treated in the same manner, the excite
ment each time growing more intense.
The crowd was now worked up to the
proper pitch, and the last bull was let in.
He was the fiercest of the lot, and made
hard fight between the picador on horse
back, and the matador, on foot. Goaded
to desperation, the beast made a plunge
at one of the matadors, was pierced by
the pIcador's lance, and then stabbed in
the neck with short sword, and fell
dead. AT the sight of blood the audience
shouted vociferously. The matador him
self was badly wounded about the ribs,
and was rolled over and over in the saw
dust.
Then the first days fighting was de-
clared over and the crowd of strangers
poured itself out into the town. They
were Hospitality received, and sought out
the sights, gazing, among other things, at
the depot, which has been literally shot
full of bullet-holes. In the gambling
houses all kinds of games were going on,
Spanish monte, keno, hazard. chuck-a-
luck, roulette and poker. The games
where a dealer is required were presided
over by women. The stakes ran high.
and it was not uncommon to see $25, 900 to
50,000 change hands at one table. Money
eaamad tO no n g pIon tif,1I q @ vvo+or