The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-24
A BULL-FIGHT AT SEVILLE.
by MARY AGNES THICKER.

by MARY AGNES THICKER.
[The bul-tight is n hackneyed subject. It
MS been described over and over again by
scores OF writer's, good, bad, and indiffer-
ent But the following account (Which we
nave segregated from story) is SO
graphic and spirited that we havo
been impelled to print it.-San Francisco
Argonaut.]
In the afternoon OF Easter Sunday
all the world OF Seville went to the
opening bull-tight OF the season. The
great circle was alive with twelve
thousand faces in many -colored mo.
salc, soldiers and the people sitting in
the sun the gentry and all who could
pay we'll on the shady side. The pro-
cession of performers had made
their entrance and exit the
band had ceased playing, the
key OF the toril had been de-
livered to the black-vested officer who
had ambled across the arena on his
black Andalusian mare to receive it,
and the picadores were at their posts,
set at distance from one another
III front OF the barrier.
All eyes were turned to the gate be-
hind which the bull was waiting to
enter. A profound and electric 81
lence reigned over the multitude. Then
trumpet sounded, the gate was open.
ed, the black front of the beast pre-
sented itself, and he trotted lightly
forward into the arena.
The gate closed behind him forever.
AT the same instant strange, half
human shrek was heard, and the
horse OF the picador next the right
side OF the gate fell back on his
haunches, crying out and trem-
bling with terror The bandape
had not been well adjusted over his
eyes, and he had seen the arena and
his adversary. Fortunately, the bull
had directed himself to the left, and
took no notice OF the frightened ami
mai. which was hurried out and re-
placed by another Neither did he
take any notice of the picadores be-
side his path, nor OF anything in the
arena, nor OF the bright mantles
hanging in heaps over the top OF the
barrier, nor OF the chulos, or runners,
at the other side, ready at a breath
to bound over and catch those man
ties and become butterflies. The vast
living circle above had caught, the
creatures first glance, and he made
the whole round of the plaza in a
light, elastic trot, gazing with lifted
head and wide eyes at the strange
spectacle. What might be the mean
ing OF this gigantic ring-serpent with
its tail in its mouth and its
every scale a human face. scintillating,
too, with a quivering motion, and
vocal with thousands of vivas?
For the frank, bold action OF the
creature pleased the crowd. A bull
which had the strength to carry his
own ponderous weight so lightly
would be q good fighter. He was
black, we'll made, and glossy, and his
front was like tower.
Reaching the place whence he had
started, his glance fell on the arena.
His pace had slackened; he accelerated
it a little at sight OF the picadores,
swerved aside and lowered his head
on reaching the first, flew onward,
with scarcely a pause, to the second,
another sweree and dip, with q swift,
cunning, horizontal movement OF the
head, and two horses lay disembow-
eled.
Attendants flew over the barrier to
pull the ridersu up, and chulos came to
the rescue with their mantles. For the
bull had treated thespears ofthepi
adores as though they were not, and
seemed to know thing OF the wounds
in his neck, from which few drops OF
blood were trickling down.
The third horseman Jared better
than the first two; for the chulos,
skimming about as light as swallows,
glittering in their silver-wrought cos
tunes Of pink, blue, or green, drew of
and broke the first charge, and coufus-
ed the second, which was made too
high, so that the bull was held at bay
by the spear OF the rider firmly plant
ed in his neck. He drew back and
made an angry rush at the fourth pic
ador, with q mind to charge low
enough now, and put an end to this
trivial business OF a few horsemen pre-.
suming to enter the space where he ran
at large. He charged too low this
time, fretted and blinded by the wav
ing mantles, and went quite under the
horse, and stuck there, horse and ri
der on his back. There was momen.
tary pause and suspense; then the bull
pushed forward, with the horse's fore
legs slipping along his spine, and came
out on the other side, feeling rather
foolish, one may imagine, after his
fasco-astonished, too, and quieted
for time. The horses forefeet droop
ed to the sand, and the rider kept his
saddle well.
Bravo, picador! The audience ap
plauded.
The bull walked off to the opposite
barrier, faced about, and began to
study the situation. His carriage had
been naughty and disdainful, like that
of creature which had always his
own will Hehad expected apparent.
ly, to brush these men and horses
away like flies. Now he had the sur.
prlsed and half incredulous air of one
who begins to think that thefs, is
something serious in what is Detailing
him.
On their side, the toreros and the
public had learned the bulls charac
ter. He was blood-thirsty, buoyant
bold, and daring, with q suspicion o.
4 cunning intelligence in reserve.