Morning journal and courier., 1886-06-03
FEMININE HTERs.
A New But Not Successful Feature
Added to n Disgust1n. show.

| A New But Not Successful Feature
Added to n Disgusting show.
Paris Letter to the London Telegraph
Bull-baiting and fighting is not yet over in
| France any more than in Spain. Despite the
outcry that was raised some months ago re-
| latiye to the disgraceful scenes that occurred
| in the amphitheater at Mines, in the south
| ern province of Gard, during bull batting
| carnival, the same spectacles have been
again witnessed amid the enthusiasm of ten
! Thousand spectators. On Monday the fa-
| nous amphitheater, monumental relic of
old Roman times, was full to repletion with
crowd of excited beings who had come to
witness the skill and prowess of the Matador
Frutos and his compeers. What was more
three toreras were to appear, this being the
first time that women have entered the
mas at Mines At three o'clock in the after
noon the performances began with grand
procession of Spanish bull fighters, male and
female, who rode proudly into the inclosed
space to the sound of military music. Three
toreras in fancy costumes, all sparkling with
fligree and bangles, headed the procession.
Then came the quadrille composed of five
toreadors, headed by the great Frutos him
self in gorgeous habiliments. At the sound
of bugle a splendid black bull of crossed
ring. The women Immediately set to work
with their banderillas, which they flung at
the face and body of the careeTing toro. The
tips of the animals horns were covered with
round knobs of wood or leather while the
women were plying their darts to pre-
vent accidents, but these projections were
afterwards removed in some instances while
| the men were performing. A second bull,
red one, which was next let loose, made
straight at one of the toreras, young wo-
man professionally designated Senorita Be-
nita del Amo, and knocked her over in a
second, but not, however, before she had
succeeded in planting two lance headed
pennons between his eyes. The woman was
disengaged with surprising deftness by her
male companions and returned to the
charge with a courageous persistence wor-
thy of Nine. de Valsayre herself. She was
loudly applauded by the public for her
performance. A fresh bull was introduced,
which brought out the finer play of Fru-
tos, whose first proceeding was to clear the
bull with pole as easily as If he were
clearing fence. He then simulated death
by lying still on the ground, escaping with
marvellous adroitness as the bull came near
him with ferocious intent. The torera BENZ
to del Amo then sat on chair in the middle
of the arena and calmly awaited the on
slaught of fresh animal. In the tWinkling
of an eye she was caught the bulls horns
and was tossed high into the air, falling
stunned to the ground. This was the most
deplorable part of the performance and no
more serious accidents occurred. The quad
rifle of men instantly attracted the bulls at
tention from his prostrate prey end the Wo-
man was quickly sprinkled with water or
vinegar and rose apparently uniniured from
the ground Her light clothes were torn to
shreds Frutos repeated the chair move
ment, but more adroit than the woman, he
nimbly sprang aside before the bull could
bear down on him and just escaped terrible
horn-thrust. Six bulls in all were let loose
| during the afternoon: The women.s per
formances were great failures, and it is to be
| hoped that through motives of humanity
these shows may be at least confined to men
| if thew are to be continued at Mines.