Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-20
Bull Fighting in Mexico.

A correspondent writes to the Chi
ergo Tribune from Mexico: Outside in
their dark pens the bulls are shut up
awaiting their turn to be precipitated
into that bright arena, there to give
thirty minutes of their lives to mortal
combat in an encounter where the
chances of escape or revenge have been
scientifically reduced to q minimum.
No tOrero desires to fight bull the sec
perience is dangerous customer. and
will follow up his attacks, and almost
surely kill or gore his antagonist.
There is great silence all over the
vast amphitheatre, people holding their
breath, the bull is coming through u
winding. narrow passage to the door
which will open and admit him to the
scene Of carnage. His dull roaring is
heard as he is goaded on toward the
door. Then the door opens, and you
might hear the fall of Il cambrIc hand
kerchief, so profound is the silence.
Ladies' cheeks are pale. and even mems
faces have become fixed and rigid. The
tensions is tremendous. The bull enters
the arena with savage bound, and for
moment is stunned by the shouts,
cries and yells, and he is dazZled by the
bright sunshine. He stops q moment
and is study of animal bewilderment,
mingled with rage. On his shoulders
was placed, as he entered the "mona,"
which, at the outset, decorates each
bull. This bull is named Respectable,
and he wears a decoration of broad
ribbons of the colOrs of Mexico and
Spain-yellow. red, white and green
and all covered with golden spangles.
and, sitting in the midst of the tangled
ribbons, as in nest, a stuffed bird of
brilliant plumage. The Spanish rib
bons bear in gold letters the motto,
viva Mexlco," and the Mexican rib
bons, viva Espana." Respectable is n
tremendous bull, brought, as were all
tine rest of his taurine companions,
from Spain, at cost each of
81 600 in gold. His horns are big and
sharp, and he paws the ground in tre-
mendous rage. Soon he discerns pic
ador, and makes mad rush at man and
horse, but the picador, posing his lance
and bracing himself in his high backed
saddle, receives the bulls charge most
valiantly, and inserting the point of his
lance between the bulls shoulders,
keeps off. 1t was tremendous charge
we'll met, and ellcits thunders of ap-
plause. The capeadores then attract
the bulls attention with their flaming
capes of red and yellow, and of he
dashes after them, some just saving
themselves by vaulting the barrier into
the narrow space mentioned, which
winds around the ring. The bull charges
another picador, and is kept off again.
There are other charges and other re-
buffs till this act is over. Then out go
the picadores on their horses, and
in come the banderillOs with
the banderillas in their hands, each
man carrying two. These arc short
sticks covered with ribbons and cOlored
paper, and barbed with steel in such a
manner that. when stuck into the bull s
shoulder, they stay placed, unless
shaken out by u great effort on the part
of the beast. The great feat, and the
sole object of this part OF the fight, is
that the bandillero shall place his darts
in space not bigger than a dinner
plate between the bulls shoulders; and,
in order that the bull may have fair
play, the performer must carry his arms
at the right moment between the bulls
horns, while facing the animal, and
| stick the barbs deep into the shoulders.
| The bull must not be approached from
behind or from either side; it must be q
| fair face-tO-face encounter. That this
| requires nerve, quickness, and precision
| OF eye is to be imagined. How would
| you like to be standing in front Of bull
whose horns are perhaps Redeemed with
the blood of horses, his head lowered to
catch you il he can, while you have
under 10000 eyes; to pass your arms be-
tween his horns and plunge firmly intC
| his shoulders the darts you carry in
either handp And, as you do this, yor
must skillfully turn to one side and just
avoid the horn OF the bull as he ad
vances. This is wonderful exhibition
and never fails to bring applause.
Safe, permanent and complete are the
cures OF bilious and intermittent dis
eases, made by Prickly Ash Bitters
Dyspepsia, general debility, habitua
consti patton, liver and kidney com
plants are speedily eradicated from the
system. 1t disinfects, cleanses ani
eliminates all malaria. Health ani
| vigOr are obtained more rapidly ant
permanently by the use OF this grea
natural antidote than by any other rem
edy heretofore known. AS blood pur
iier and tonic it brings health, re
newed energy and vitality to worr
and diseased body.
The point where the coolest tempera
ture on earth has ever been observed