Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1886-03-11
BULL-FIGHTING IN MEXICO.
Experience of a New Yorker Among the
Greasers-TIe Place and the People.

A Picdras Negras, Mexico, CORES
pendent of the New York Mail and En-
press writes: Here we are in Mexico,
after passing through Texas This is
famous location. although few in the
north know anything about it. The
place gained its name through a stall
wart negro, known during the Mexican
war as Black Peter. which in the Span
ish-Mexican language may be translated
Piedras Negras. Peter was character
well known along the Rio Grande, and
on the Texan side it was common say
ing to ''go down to Black Peters," 1t
was mere shanty in those days, but
something good could always be had
round the spot where Black Peter had
his howell. It is across the river from
Eagle pass, and to those who have been
used to the ferries on the East and
North Rivers, it would be amusing to
see the way the ferry is conducted here.
1t is done by means of fat-bottomed
boat, in which three or four only can
sit, and Mexican with the peculiar hat
of the country forces the boat along by
means of long pole. / believe the
river might be forded at this point, but it
is more comfortable to ride. To New
Yorker this.is one of the most God-for-
saken countries imaginable. Houses
are made of mud (adobe) and stone,
covered with plaster. The hotel where
| stopped was one of Slese. The plas-
ter had, however, broken off, and the
stone-embedded dried mud was visible.
1t was called Fonda el Americana. If
it was hotel for Americans, / am not
surprised that so few patronize it. There
were certainly three meals each day, but
it was corn-cake and sow belly, black
coffee and grease with each meal. The
cigars are, however. good. But it is
not about the hotels, cigars, or ferries
that [ intended to write. wish to give
YOU an account of Mexican bull-fght,
which was the main cause of my visit
to Piedras Negras. Bull-fghting is one
of the features of Mexican life, as much
as horse-racing and trotting-matches in
the north. At bull-ight both sexes
collect. The greaser is a more wretched
individual than the southern negro, and
my observation of them since the close
of the war shows that they are as bad
almost as anything American can be.
There We're Mexican soldiers-about as
awkward with their guns as cat would
be; Mexican police with swords by their
side, and revolvers in their belts, but
with no idea of drill or discipline; Mexi-
can gentlemen with broad-brimmed,
high felt hats, deliberately trimmed with
twisted gold lace where the band should
be, and ornamented at the side with
embroidered flowers and gold and
colored silks; cowboys with their broad
brimmed sombreros. skin clothing, and
rifles and Mexican ladies with their
broad-brimmed hats completely hiding
their flashing dark eyes and foreheads
from ordinary beholders-
The bull-ring is an inclosure some
thing like Northern baseball ground,
but much larger. 1t forms complete
amphitheater, around which the specta-
tors sit. In some respects it reminds
me of the fireworks grounds at Coney
island. The spectators pass in and out
through door in the high fence; over
which nod cocoa palms and other tropi-
cal trees A short distance from the
Enclosure a number of houses built of
stone and mud are located. But the
immediate vicinity of the bull-ring is
vacant ground. The spectators are
seated high above the fighting ring,
which is surrounded with another fence
with gates on the level with the ground.
Through these gates the bull is driven
into the arena, while the fence serves as
vaulting place for the torredos, or
bull-fighters. to keep out of the way of
the enraged bull when really mad.
When | visited the place everyone
seemed ready to fight except the bulls.
They appeared to be lazy. Red cloths
were flashed before their faces, and al
though they would occasionally make a
dash for the holder. as soon as he leaped
over the fence the bull would become
quiet. A Mexican. armed with spear
or lance and mounted on swift-run-
ming horse, would try to stir the bulls
into fighting mood; but beyond sud
den dash for order very little fight
could be got out of the animals. Still
it was very interesting to one who had
never seen a bull-fight. and even hun
dreds of those who had were willing tt
pay to enter the Enclosure in order It
see what might happen. 1t is not al
unusual thing, as | have been told. fol
| the bull TO become SO enraged as to teal
| both men and horses to pieces. When
| this happens to be the case the joy o.
the spectators is unbounded. Of course
the lives of the bull-fghters depend or
their agility in leaping the fences and
| eluding the well-directed dash of the
wild animal. who is rendered more in
furiated by the flashing of red cloaks
and other garments before his eyes. Blu
no lives were lost during my visit, ant
none of the torredos were injured; ye
the spectators appeared to enjoy the
sport.