The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-04-24
SPANISH.AMERICAN FUN"
A BULL FIGHT BEFORE THE PREsI.
DENT OF SANTo DOMINGO.
Torturing an Enraged Animal for
the Pleasure of the Populace-
A Matador's Mishap.

Torturing an Enraged Animal for
the Pleasure of the Populace-
A Matador's Mishap.
Arriving at the bull ring, says q writer
in the New York Herald in an account Of
bull fight in Santo Domingo, we found
the fun had already begun, the sombra,
or fifty cent seats, were filed with
soldiers, sailors, artisans-in short, the
people; the palcos, or boxes, were all
occupied by the gentry, foreigners and
merchants. in the chief box was Presi-
dent Hereaux, or, as he likes to be
called, "Lili." u
The first glimpse at the ring wa ust
like the first look at a freshly opened
raisin box. There they were, the four
traditional Spaniards, in pigtails, round
caps, knee breeches, braided jackets and
crimson shawls, teasing an unfortunate
bull. After some pretty narrow escapes
from the vicious lunges of the horned
brute, these four gave way to two
picadors, each armed with pair of steel
shod rolls, not unlike closed Japanese
parasols wrapped with ribbons la barber
pole. The bull went forward to welcome
them with lowered horns and tail in air.
One handsome young Andalusian stood
erect and perfectly motionless, with
both darts held high above his head,
until the bulls horns were apparently
within six inches of his chest. Then,
with the rapidity of lightning, he
plunged his two parasols into the mad.
dened brute's neck, just abaft of his
horns, and sprang to one side, where he
lighted cigar and watched with non
chalance the bull chasing his Cup to this
time) innocent companion around the
ring. Before the circuit was made his
bullship was still further adorned with
two more Haunting barber poles in his
neck.
The picadors then retired amid deaf.
ening plaudits and the matador, dapper
little chap armed with thin. short
sword and bristling with gold lace,
strolled into the ring. By this time the
bull was mad clear through, there was
no one else in the ring, and one would
have thought there was plenty of room
for the two, but the bull acted as if he
felt crowded. The Spaniard unwound a
red silk scarf from his waist and shook
it at the bull, who, of course charged
him. Failing to puncture the man he
did the next best thing-he captured
the scarf In the Spaniard's effort
to regain the scarf, his feet slipped
and he fell on his knees, with the
bull two feet behind him. Everybody
except the natives and foreign women
turned their heads away, but the only
ripping done was on the Spaniard's
breeeches. One horn had caught him in
these and ripped through to waistband.
The man landed full length on his face
in the sand, where he lay for a minute
with the angry bull standing over him,
waiting for another chance at his fallen
foe, but the banderilleros and the plea
dors were soon in the ring, and by the
use of their red flags and voices drew the
bulls attention, and the "killer" arose
by far the coolest man in sight.
The rent in his unmentionables and
his soiled velvet Jacket might and proba-
bly, did annoy him somewhat, but if he felt
any timidity about being left alone with
the bull again he didn't show it; on the
contrary, he waved the men out of the
ring and advanced to the centre with
his sword in one hand and scarf in the
other.
When he saw his chance he allowed
scarf to gently drop over the BULBS heac.
and stepping one pace to the rear plunged
his sword into the tawny hide, and with
out second look at the bull to see the
the effect of his thrust, walked forward
to the ring side bowing his ackuowledg.
ments of the vociferous applause. Canes,
Panama hats, fans, parasols and coins
fell at his feet, and one enthusiastic ma
tive tried to throw my hat into the ring,
and he would had he been little strong,
er in his arms. All these articles were
passed up to their owners except the
coin, which must have footed up q
hundred dollars or more. There was a.
least one gold piece picked up in front
of the Executive box. No attention hao
been paid the bull, but he was there al
the time with the sword through hi:
heart. On receiving his death blow he
had reeled forward few steps, dropped
on his knees and fallen over dead with
out losing a drop of blood except from
the banderillos in his neck. A pair Of
mules were brought in, the carcass
dragged off, the band struck up 'LS
Paloma," and l had seen all the bul
fighting necessary for the remainder ot
this life.
--zzEgls----
WnoIth From SimDln Inventions.