Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-24
BULL FIGHTING IN CUBA.
ENTHUSIASM OF THOSE WHO
REPORT THE PROCEEDINGS.
Pretty Devices to Interest the Bull
Torturing to Death Gallant al
A CowardIy Bull-The Monumental
Sword Thrust.

Ine chIonlSeTs OIL hdNdUd grow win
with enthusiasm over the unusually
brilliant succession OF bull fights, or,
rather, bull butcheries, with which Senior
Mazzantini and his troupe of artistic
cattle killers are now gathering in the
available coin of the Ever Faithful Isle.
They drop into poetry" and apostro-
phize the bulls after a fashion that would
be amazing IN an American newspaper.
The genius who illumnates the columns
of the Diario de la Marina with his ex-
cltement on the subject is especially Wig
orous in communicating the state OF his
feelings. He chanJs lofty paans in glori-
ticatiOn of the bulls mat killed horses and
chased men, and for those gentler beasts
that did little but suffer and die be has
words of such bitter scOrn and lOathing
that the animals were doubtless lucky IN
leaving life and the possibility of ever
learning mis- opinion OF them. Boiled
down to something like a PLAIN state
ment OF fact, here are the occurrences at
one of these entertainments, narrated by
him:
AT the clarion's signal, two algnaZils
rode into tue arena on rack-loOking horses
with Mexican trappings. The ugliest Of
the two with mani est anguish maintained
hAhoCli III JuC anu GNCubudlIy WIN
no other i'll consequence than his fright
accomplished, with his companion, the
duty OF opening the door for the entry of
the cavalcade. Mazzantini and Benve-
aida led the march. the former in mag
nlncent costume of green and gold (tne
first OF seventy announced), and the lat
ter in dress of silver and some indefna-
BILE color. Behind them were his troupe.
Three or four dogs that mad found their
Way into the arena were driven out. All
took their places. The clarion sounded
again and MonteSino, a bull OF the Mlura
drove, sprang into the ARENA large,
lean animal, with distended nostrils and
fine vigorous action. Nine times he
charged the mounted men, Badila and
Sanchez, making the proceedings so
lively Tor them that they were fain TO call
to their aid Cantares, who was waiting in
reserve. Badila succeeded IN placing in
the BULLS neck and shoulders three ban
derlllas-or short darts with streamers
ttached-dropped, and had four falls
Sanchez made three of his darts stick in
the bull, got three tumbles, and mad his
horse killed, and Cantares got IN two
darts, dropped his whip twice, and finally
lelt his worn out old horse dead in the
ring. The bull though naturally some
what annoyed by the things sticking In
his hide, seemed to be having things
pretty much his own way until Luis
stepped into the ring and Insulted him
with red jacket, so drawing his atten
ton from the other man, and with art and
furious serenity evading his avenging
rush. Two new ASSISTANTS, BarOi and
MeZzanti IL (Tomas }, Won the plaudits OF
the crowd by their audacious worrying of
the now weary MOntesino.
The supreme moment arrived. The bull
stationed himself near the dead horses and
refused any more futile endeavOrs to gore
his aglle termentors. Luis, an accom-
plished matadOr, went to him with that
exasperating red cloth again and tempted
him to nine fruitless rushes at it. Even
tually one of those dashes was stopped by
a long, keen blade that flashed tor an in
stant in the matadOr's hand and then
was buried in the bulPs neck, and the
animal fell dead. Some persons among
the spectators whom the chrOnicler stig-
matizes as 'Zulus") believed that the
beasts throat was cut--which would have
been an inartistic tinish-because a tor
rent of blood poured from his mouth, but
the intelligent public knew better, and
applauded Luis and threw many cigars
to him.
The second bull was Mancheguito of
the Nandin herd, black, lean, treacherOus,
with a face like cows, shOrt-horned.
with great tOupee of hair over his eyes.
In an ugly manner he received seven at
IdCho ny DdulJd, SdDCueZ anu GduJST6bs
and in return gave them four tumbles aud
KILLED one horse, but in mere retaliation,
uncertain of exercise, and without feroc-
Ity. Primite and Lopez, attacking him
from opposite SIDES, managed to plant
three pairs of darts in his hide, evading
adroitly his short da hes at them. The
around was carpeted with Jackets drop
ped before him. Luis crowned the
measure of the brute's disgust with the
.gn1 inn nty Lfn hOf inn IL
in alteration of his toupee, aud then when
tossing him seemed most certain and
easy, quietly getting out of the way and
throwing gravel in his nose. Then the
keen sword flashed again and the second
bull tell dead.
The third bull was Candelero (scorn-
fully stigmatIZed as ''the oX") chestnut
in color, enormous in stature, weak OF
courage, lean, cOwardly, stupid, a beast
that ran away, jumped the barrier.
and when brought back was still lam D.
like until he was so harrassed by red flags
and carts that he made three Dlind
dashes at his tormentors, and actually
succeeded in killing two old horses.
Eventually MaZzatlni himself, in fine
lOathing for such a gentle bull, walked
calmly out to him with q sword, jabbed
him twice to the bone TO awaken his re-
sentiment, and when he turned 20 make a
show OF light contemporary cut his throat
which deprivation of the honor of the ar
tistic death earned by gallant bull was
deemed a just punishment, and loudly APP
plauded By the spectators.
The fifth victim, Plnero, was little more
than a calf, merely tit TO give an idea of
what he might have done If they had let
him live until his horns were fully grown.
He bounded out with animation and was
met by LUIS, who encouraged mis- activity
with half dozen fiery darts, TO the en-
thusiasLic admiration of everybody but
poor Pinero. But, young as he was, the
bull hustled people around with all their
available CELEBRITY. Canteres he landed
on his head 4and Cantares' horse he
killed. Badlla stuck a couple OF mic c
keen darts In his hide and got away
Then lot more of the fellows fastened
their barbed decorations in his sides and
shoulders. Enrique Sancnez had the
honor Of finishing OFF Pinero with sharp
toll, lot sword, with which he tnrus
deep seven times to reach the vital spot
at the nape OF the neck, but did t do so
until the weary beast threw himself down,
was twice again worried TO mis- ieet, and
the last time got mis- happy release.
Rompedor, black, intractable, gaunt,
ugly, but proud and OF great bravery, was
the nth bull that day. Badla and San
chez "larded" him eight times with darts
and Cantares twice, in EXCHANGE for
three ugly falls. Luis and his brother
respectively stuck two and one barbed at
niupas ahOt1f