Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1886-04-30
A MEXICAN BULL FIGHT.
The Glory Greed of the Greasers,
Slow Death and Merry Music.

Mexican Correspondence TO the Graphic.l
While it is true that the names
and fame of the Old Worlds fogotten
fiends have faded and that human
beings are no longer offered up in
the arena by slow torture or at the
stake and halter, merely to crafty
the public, yet we have race in
the New world
Whose thirst for scenes of death
All dressed in fresh bright gore,
Is as strong as it was in the souls
Of those in the days of yore.
Here too their thirst for blood is fed
Until the hearts black fount is full,
When tits not supplied by that of men
They use the blood of horse and bull.
Since we began our travels in
Mexico, we have attended a num-
ber of these barbarous entertain
ments and will here give a descrip-
ton of one recently seen at Saltillo.
1t was held ON Sunday afternoon,
advertised Saturday evening by a
street parade, in which there was
a band, fore runner who heralded
the announcement, and a few
mounted gladiators dressed and
armed with all the display conn ect-
ed with this relic of barbarism.
Another bore aloft banner,
representing savage bull goring
a horse while the rider was driving
his spear into the beast with all
force. Thus the "Gran Corrida
de Toros'' eight of the bulls) was
well advertised. Long before the
hour set for the fight, the Plaza de
Toros was well filled with an
anxious, motley multitude. The
plaza consisted of circular stone
inclosure. 1t had an entrance and
exit gate, also. a few strong pro-
tections on the inside of the wall,
to which the fighters escaped when
closely pursued. Outside the
arena there were tiers of seats,
one above and behind the other,
the whole forming a circle and
having seating capacity for about
5000 people. These seats were
divided into two classes, one in the
shade, being occupied by the
military and civil officers, the
clergy, professional men, mer-
chants, and ladies of rank; the
other in the sun was occupied by
the soldiers and their wives, the
Greasers, sandated and blanketed
pelados, orange peddlers, and
pumpkin candy fends. Soon the
bull fighters appeared in the Arena.
A few were mounted on gay and
active horses with silver mounted
saddles, and a very extensive dis
play of trimmings and trappings.
The riders wore buck skin suits
ornamented with tinsel and en-
broidery down the side, upon the
breast, cuffs and shoulders. They
had on wide, richly embroidered
sombreros, a pair of large bell
spurs and were armed with a long
spear. The others were Oh foot
and wore white knee breeches, 6
green silk jacket, and a close fit.
ting small cap which glittered with
various colored tinsel. Each ot
those carried a large red cloth
which was used to enrage the
bulls and also for a blind in case
of danger. When all was ready
those young, would be gladiators
passed in front of the seats OF
honor and bowed to the madrinas
young lady god mothers Of
the fight. and then turned
away to engage in battle with one
of the most desperate animals thai
the planes of Mexico can present
The gate is now open and wile
and fierce looking animal with lone
h h,rns, and head and tail erect
enters with a bound. The scene
which follows is more easily
imagined than described. The
men shout, the ladies clap theil
hands for JOY, while the enrageC
beast with lowered head and eye
balls fercely set, is dashing at the
nearest horse or man in sight. L
a man is the object of attack ht
usually escapes by a quick sidt
movement behind his red blanket
or else beats a retreat behind tht
projections; but if it is the hors,
there is no chance of escape, nor i.
mercy shown him by man or beast
He being blindfolded and urgec
forward by large spurs, more Otter
runs into than out of danger. Il
the former case the scene is pitiful
| ly cruel and barbarous in the ex
treme.
The faithful and unsuspeeting
horse bounds blindly On, only t.
add to the f. rec with which he i
received on the wide expandin,
horns of the enraged beast. The1
we hear a loud snort and a sub.
dued below from the bull, and
sickning, choking groan of pail
from the horse. AT times he utter
a piercing neigh of distress, whicl
is enough to curdle the very bloc,
of any human observer. Yet 'thi
is all received by The Grcaser will
high degree OF fendish delight