The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-08-23
)EATH In THE ARENA.
'rapbsc Sketch of a Bull Fight in
Spanish Plaza De Toros.
thrilling Incidents Described-NarrowE Es-
capes From Death-Mazzantini'sE Ex-
pert Methods-Eag of the
Populace for the Sport.

Spanish bull fights are the most
horribly brutal and at the same time
he most fascinating sights that | ever
Fitnessed," said prominent importer
be other day. The speaker was Mr..
y L. Goodsell, a member of the
Foreign Fruit Exchange, and whose
hsiness neeessitates frequent trips to
spain. He has witnessed many bull
lights and is an enthusiast or the
Anbiect.. His Office in this city is hung
WITH Illustrations of many celebrated
httles in the ring, and portraits of the
sading matadors. His description of
HE popular Spanish amusement is in
sresting.
IN all the large cities a place is
Pecially provided for bull fighting. 1t
scalled the plaza de toros. The largcat
mes are those of Madrid, Valencia,
Malaga and Seville. They are built
stone and brick and are indestructi-
ae by fire. In Madrid the amphi-
aeatre is oval shaped and capable of
sating $4,000 people. 1t is constructed
m the plan of the coliseum at Rome.
he spectators occupy stone seats ris-
Ing like steps from the ring outward.
% front of the lower tier of seats,
solid brick partition eight feet
lgh separates the audience from
me ring. A second partition or
barrier, eight feet in front of
ae ilrst one, leaves Il E,.rrow passage
way all the way around the ring. The
@rrler is OF wood, and is six feet high.
Hnen closely pressed by the bull the
men escape by vaulting this barrier,
saa remaining in the passageway until
ae attention of the bull is attracted in
saoener direction. The amphitheater
entirely open above. The seats on
0ae side are directly in the sun, and
efe occupied by the middle and lower
lasses. There is an old saying that a
'panlard will sell his shirt or GO with
'@ MS dinner to see a bull fight. This
h'eraily true. The brutal sport was
h@oauced into Spain by the Moors,
'in mas been kept up in much the same
- raaner that the Roman games were.
.ue populace demand something to
alaase and distract them, and the in
saalilty OF the Spanish monarchy has
aaoe It good policy to please the peo-
se The bull fights take place every
sauas' This is the feast day, and the
sais Jay that all classes can be in at
saaanee. The public go en- masse-
s'ei' women and children. They crowd
!. ae vast place full. The heat is some
ag intolerable. The seats are slabs
S'one, yet for over four hours the
IL. eSaa Will sit there and yell with de-
s sa' When any unusually bloody spec
acle occurs.
i. ~ the shady side of the arena the
aN OF the city are gathered. The
ss sa oox is usually occupied by some
loers OF the reigning family; other
ss ".e BOXES are filled with the rank
n. iasnion of the town. Bellies and
n a1tendant cavaliers are numerous.
~ ~ pfices OF admission are two pesetas.
,ss a' 70 forty cents, for the sun seats,
ad twenty pesetas, or four dollars. for
as box seats. . 'O'
sa., ouils that are used are bred ex-
sass sssly Tor the purpose. They come
,.- s'ock OF warlike tendency, and
MI. e''ert Is made to increase then
h Ing ability. They are large, weigh
ns.. RON 1000 to 2,2o0 pounds, and Oh
a. strength. Their horns are long
NM branching and sharp at the points.
hlla hs sun young the training of the
begun. Red cloths are Haunted