Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-07-08
FEMALE BuLL-FloHTERs.


rAs Dissraeefai Exhihation Recently w.t.
messed In m Old Frehch Town.
Bull-baitlng and fighting is not yet
over in France any more than in Spain.
Despite the outsry that was raised some
months ago relative to the disgraceful
scenes that occurred in the amphithea-
ter at Mines, in the southern province
of Gard, during bull-baiting carnival.
the same spectacles have been again
witnessed amid the enthusiasm of ten
thousand spectators. On Monday the
famous amphitheater, q monumental
relic of old Roman times, was full to
repletion with crowd of excited be-
ings who had come to witness the skill
and proves of the Metador Frutos and
his compeers. What was more, three
torcras were to appear, this being the
the first time that women have entered
the arenas ut Mines. At three o'clock
in the afternoon the performances be-
gan with a grand procession of Span
ish bull-fghters, male and female, who
rode proudly into the inclosed space to
che sound of military music. Three
toreras in fancy costumes. all spark
ling with filagree and bangles, headed
the procession. Then came the qua
lril!e, composed of five toreadors,
headed by the great Frutos himself, in
gorgeous habiliments. At the sound of
bugle splendid black bull of crossed
Spanish breed bounded snorting into
the ring. The women Immediately set
to work with their banderillas, which
they fling at the face and body of the
careering to,o. The tips of the animals
horns were covered with round knobs
of wood or leather while the women
were plying their darts, SO as
to prevent accidents, but these
projections were afterward re-
moved, 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, a young woman, professional
~ designated Senorita Bonita del Amo,
and knocked her over in second, but
not, however, before she had succeeded
in planting two lance-headed pennons
between his eyes. The woman was dis
engaged with surprising dizziness by her
male companions, and returned to the
charge with courageous persistence
worthy 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 Frutos, whose first proceeding
was to clear the bull with q pole as
easily as if he were clearing fence.
He then simulated death by lying still
on the ground, escaping with marvel
Gus adroitness as the bull came near
him with ferocious intent. The torera
Bonita del Amo then sat on chair in
the middle of the arena, and calmly
awaited the onslaught of a fresh ami
NAL. In the twinkling of an eye she
was caught on the bulls horns and
was tossed high into the air, falling
stunned to the ground. This was the
most depiorable part of the perform
ance, and no more serious accidents
occurred. The quad1Ille men instantly
attracted the bulls attention from his
PROSTATE prey, and the woman was
quickly sprinkled with water of vim
egar, and rose apparently uninjured
from the ground. Her light clothes
were torn to shreds. FrutOs repeated
the chair movement, but, more adroit
than the woman, he nimbly sprang
aside before the bull could bear down
on him, and thus escaped a terrible
horn-thrust. Six bulls in all were
let loose during the afternoon. The
women's performances were great feat
ures, and it is to be hoped that
through motives of humanity these
shows may be at least confined to men.
Cor. London Telegraph.