The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-07-26

prplocreu with beads and tlnsel.
Silken hosiery and lace at sleeves and
neck are worm The horses are gayly
caparisoned, Following them are the
matadors, who are the most skillful
performers in the ring. They are
likewise dressed with great mag
nificence. Mazzantini, one OF the
most celebrated matadors, wears a
costume costing 500 and diamonds
that are worth many thousands. Three
picadors, half dozen torreadors, and
a number OF assistants, bring up the
rear OF the procession. The picadors
are mounted. and carry long spears
with heavy round-pointed heads. The
part which they play is the most dan
gerous of any. They are prepared for
1t. by a heavy steel armor from their
hips to their feet. The torreadors
wear red mantles, with which they
tantalize the bull, and distract him
when he has any of the other per-
formers at a disadvantage. Tho pro-
cession marches around the ring, and
pauses in front OF the governor. whom
they salute. He throws the keys OF
the pen, which have been in his pos
session TO insure the safety of the bulls,
to the princes. They take them with
much ceremony to the custodian OF the
bulls and Immediately get out of the
ring.
The bugle sounds. the gates of the
pen are swung back, and the bull enters.
AS he does so the keeper throws a
sharp-pointed barbed hook with per-
cussion cap at one end and a tuft OF
gay ribbons at the other. As the barb
enters the flesh the cap explodes. This
infuriates the bull SO that he is ready
for the fray. He makes dash for the
nearest matad,r, who jumps over the
barrier, and the crowd cheers the bull.
The red mantles madden him, and he
dashes at the wearers until he has
cleared the ring. Frequently he gains
so much momentum in his wild rushes
that he brings up with terrible force
against the wooden partition just as
his tormentor escapes. Sometimes
matador is caught so that he runs
across the ring with the bull in hot pur-
suit. This race for life or death ELECTS
bowls ofdelight from the excited crowd.
II the man does not vault the barrier
in time the bull losses him over, or
perhaps catches aleg or foot between
his horns and the woodwork.
When the animal has made il too hot
for his tormentors in the ring. he
marches to the center OF the space, and
paving the ground, snorting and bel
lowing he awaits attack. Several tor
readers now enter and commence their
tactics Of exhausting the bull. One at
tracts him with scarf; blanket
thrown in front Of his eyes by another
allows the first one to escape. When
he begins to tire, mounted picador
rides into the ring. At sight of him
the crowd applauds. forno the bloody
work is to begin. II the bull hesitates
to attack the rider, he is goaded, and
barbs are thrown into his sides until he
PUSHES in mad fury ut the picador.
This Individual sits firmly In his seat
with spear at rest, and receives the
charge straight from the front. The
horse docs not stir for the simple rea-
son that the poor beast is blindfolded.
AS the bull charges, the spear enters
his neck, breaking part OF the shock,
but not all. The horns pierce the
breast OF the horse, and sink out of
sight in his body. Sometimes they
wedge themselves firmly between his
bones, so that the bull is not able to
extricate them and renew the charge,
in which case the enormous strength
Of the bull is such that he lifts horse
and rider into the air and shakes them.
This generally liberates the horns and
results in further goring OF the horse.
The picador is often thrown with the
horse on top Of him, and even when
clear OF the horse, the weight of his
armor is SO great that he has to be as
sisted to escape to the barrier. II no
vital part Of the horse is pierced at the
first onslaught, he rises from the
ground only to be thrown again by the
bull. When finally the bulls
is exhausted, the horse
rises, and, with entrails protruding,
rushes in blind agony about the ring.
He frequently dashes against the bar
rier with such force as TO throw him
self to the ground, and il unable to
rise, one OF the assistants ends his suf-
fering by piercing his brain with a
dagger. II the horse is not seriously
injured at the. first charge, the OPEN
ngs made in his body by the horns OF |
he bull are stopped with hemp, and he
IS placed in position for second
,harge. This portion of the perform
.nce is SO horrible that If performed
n English-speaking countries it would
make men faint. Yet women and even
children witness it in Spain with every
of pleasure.
The position Of the picadors during
he charges of the bull are most pre-
,arious. They have many narrow es-
apes, and are sometimes lifted In the
lir and alight on the back Of the bull.
)ne close call occurred recently. A
,icador was thrown to the ground, but
escaped by lying perfectly still and
eigning death, while the bull shifted
'ver him, and finally walked away.
AFTER THE DEATH.
hffor tho daofh NJ Tho H,.e,t lo.xo |
governor calls in asecond picador, who
'eceives the charge of the bull. Some
lines a single bull kills a dozen horses
'efore he tires. Occasionally he retires
rom the attack with the long spear
tuck deep in his neck and waving in
he air as he walks.
Two OF the most expert OF torreadors
low take barb-shaped arrows, to which
onU rihhona ara atfacbad cfor1in.r |