The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-10-03

rawbide. though, unless the picador be
a really good one, this affords but little
protection against the fury of an en-
ragged bull.
! following the picadores come the
banderilleros, whose business it IS to
torment the bull with banderillas or
darts by1ticking them in between the
shoulders and make the cruel sport
livelier These banderil!as are small. :
round sticks of pine wood, having =
sharp iron or steel point a5 one end,
and gaud " decorated with colored
streamcrs Of paper and tinsei. The
barb at the point of the banderIllas Is
shaped like the half o. an arrow head,
and is as sharp as a razor. Its size Is
about four to five inches, three of which
are inserted in the wooden handle, and
the remaining two inches pierce the
bulls hide and are left sticking there.
The espada, the one who usually ends
the bull mortal career with his sword
or espada, as 1t is called, next comes on
the enc. sword and red flag in hand.
1t is his business to dispatch the bull
with a single stroke of his sword-a
weapon about four feet long-by
thrushing it into particular spot just
in front of the left shoulder. so as TO
pierce the heart. 1t requires especial
nerve to be good espada as well as
practiced eve and steady hand, for a
false thrust may cost an espada his
life. Should the bull not be killed
with three thrusts of the espada's
sword, the matador is called into requi-
sition The bull is, in such case, las
| seed by two lazeadores and thrown
bodily to the ground. The matador
approaches with small, sharp and
narrow pointed dagger. and, by a sin
gle stroke, penetrates the brain OF the
bull, right between the horns. The
beast gives gasp and a culver and al
is over. Three mules are then brought
out and the carcass of the slain victim
is drawn out of the arena to m Ike room
for a fresh animal.
The bulls, about which all this fuss
is made. are usually selected from vari-
Gus haciendas having the reputation
of raising the most thoroughbred and
vicious horned cattle to be found in
Mexico. When selection has been
made, the bulls are corraled and placed
in dark Enclosures. They are given
but little to eat. and few hours prior
to being fought are given two or three
quarts of pulque. or native fermented
beverage brewed from the ..hene iuin"
or mageuy plant. This beverage makes
them ..lively'' and impatient to get
into daylight. which they can only see
through the cracks in the planking of
their place of confinement. Immedi-
ately upon bulls entry into the ring,
small banderillita, or dart, is stuck
into the back of Ii neck, and this
n axes him come out with a rush 10
his foes, to be dazzled with the glar-
ing light, and to court his own final
demise.
As will be seen from the programme
translated above, the corrida was given
as benefit to Bernardo Ga inc and his
associates. Gavino is the oldest torero
or bull-fghter extant. His present age,
although it may seem incredible. is
ei9hty-three years, and his nephew,
Ponciano Diaz. is another old and IA
nous torero of siNtv-e;ght years of age.
1 he son of Gavino;is a very clever and
agile banderillero. and was also pres
ent. The time set for the afternoons
performance was from four until six
o'clock; but long before that hour the
place became crowded, and fifteen
minutes before four o'clock the Judge,
accompanied by his bugler. made his
appearance, and was loudly applauded,
while the band which was in at |
tendance enlivened the air with |
rich and mart al strains of music. The |
signal is given by the bugler. loud |
hurrahs make the place resound, the |
mysterious portal to the left is opened, |
the first bull makes its app arance. |
A fine, brown, powerful looking brute, |
with enormous unsheathed horns it is. |
A capeador. taking advantage of the |
dazzled gaze of Ii s bovine majesty,
faunts his-capa in bis face, and chal- |
lenges him to the chase. The bull ac-
cepts the challenge follows the daring
capeador till one of his confreres, by a |
side movement of his capa, diverts the
bulls attention from his first tor
mentor. The, rest of the eapeadores
follow suit until the bull, viii h has
by this time turned out 10 be a really
terocious brute, became thoroughly eX-
asperated, This was exactly what was
wanted, and, at fresh signal being
given on the bugle, three mounted pic.
adores made their appearance, when
the fight began in earnest.
The chief pIcador was a big buck
negro. who went by the name of
".hiclanero,' the other two picadores
being Mexicans. whose names could
not be ascertained The bull glared
around, and, seeing fresh foes in the
field, looked about him for a suitable
place OF attack. He made a rush for
one of the Mexicans, who rode a
white horse, and the Mexican, SEEM
ingly p epared for what was coming,
wheeled his nag with its right flank
towards its enemy, lowered his spear
to stave off the bull in its furious on
set, but to no avail. The plea slipped
its hold from the bulls hide and the
bulls horns entered the horses stom-
ach, disemboweling the poor animal,
so that its entrails hung to the ground.
and IL staggered with the pain and
agony. The bulls horns were finally
extricated, all covered with blood.
The bulls next attack was on the ne
gro. who, however, was more success
full in staying his progress. Shouts of
applause greeted the successful picador.