The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-09-26
A SPANISH BULL FIGHT,

A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Enquirer sends to that paper an account
of a bull fight at Seville Spain. The
writer's account of the brutal spectacle
Is as follows:
How the bull got into the ring I do
not know. l was looking at the process
sion, the members of which were ar
ranging themselves in place, the swords
man and daggermen having retired be-
hind the fence, the mantle carriers stand
ing in close to the face of it, and the
picadors stationing themselves at their
four respective stands. All this time
the music was resounding, but | really
became conscious of it only when it
stopped. and then saw the bull punging
toward the center of the ring.
No lover of nature could withhold
tribute of admiration from this magniti-
cent beast. He was black as coal, big,
brawny, and so fiery that sparks seemed
to fly from his eyes. A great rosette
with many colored ribbon streamers had
been stuck into his sides. With leap
and a bound he reached the center of the
ring tossing the air with his head and
fairly smiling with exultation at
his might. For short moment he stood
panorama opened out before his eyes, but
only for a moment, and then it was a
question with him which man or horse
should he kill. 1t was truly an embar-
rasse DIES richesse Scattered along the
fence were the fellows with the cloaks
Right and left were the horsemen, all
clad in colors odious to his eyes. Straight
way he tore down the ring at man
But the man quickly sprang behind the
shield, and the bull disdained to look
again. For here was another victim
right in front. This man had to spring
for his life, and over the fence he went.
Now, then, what Leaping all the time,
he next rushed upon picador. But
somehow the horse got wind of the beast
he could not see, and suddenly whirled
about, so that the horn of the bull en-
tered deep into the flesh Of his rump, and
tore up deep cash over a foot in length.
The blood streamed in current from
the poor wounded horse. ran down his
leg and weltered on the sand But he
could still stand upon his legs, and the
brutal picador, who had received some
Kisses for having permitted his horse to
turn, stuck him deep in the flank with
the giant spur he wore, and faced him
about again in place.
The bull, with his right horn, drip
ping blood elated by his victory, was
still plunging on. lie had as yet re.
ceived not a scratch since he came into
the ring. Every enemy he had met had
taken to his heels. But what audacity
is this before his eyes2 A man was actu-
ally waving red cloak in challenge and
defiance. TO reach him, to rip up the
cloak with his horns, was the work of
second, and now the man was waving
the piece he still held At him again
with sudden turn, but the cloak was
successfully swung about his head. Here
is now another Eicador, ten PAGES off sit
ting stolidly upon his horse, lance at
rest No sooner had he seen the bull
making in his direction than he lowered
\, and as the bull reached him, stuck it
20 the rim through his skin. But no
such obstacle as that could for second
check such momentum as the bulls. He
was now at the horse, head down, horns
under his breast, and the next moment
oh most sickening sight, the horse and
rider were both lifted bodily into the air
Whatever goes up must come down, how
ever, and down they came in mass, bulls
llOlSC DiL llOl sc anu IlucT
fat on the ground. The bull, with some diff
fculty, eXtricated his horn which had en-
tered to its base the bowels of the horse, to
turn Immediately upon the rider, fastened
to the ground by the weight of his horse
on his leg. In three seconds more the
horn of the bull will penetrate the breast
or the bowels of the man, but here came
running at breathless speed whole
crowd of chulos with their banners,
which they spread over horse and rider,
completely covering BOTH and so con
fusing the bull that he does not seem to
know which man to attack. Pretty soon
he dashes at one waving cape, and is
thus seduced away from the fallen plea
dor. His comrades now carefully drag
him out from under the horse, but he
cannot stand, and he is carried out like
wounded soldier. with all the honors
of war, to be cared for, as / was after
ward informed, by physicians for his
body and priests for his soul-ministers
both in constant attendance at the fights.