San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-30


How the Bull Is Worried.
But we are going to a bull fight. So We
pass on up the street with the human tide
drifting in that direction. Here is the plaza,
with its walks, and Seats and grass, and
trees, and in the center the bust of Juarez
some time president of the republic, and
from whom the town took its name last year
Before that it was Paso Del Norte
We take our place in the press before the
ticket sellers stand, and when at length we
reach him are informed in the tongue of Ger
vantes that un peso por cada-a dollar each
will admit u.s. Tickets in hand, up the
steps we go. On the landing is group Of
Mexican soldiers, with their dirty uniforms
and convict appearance, who do police duty
for the occasion. Here is a circular inclosTe
hundred feet in diameter and some twelve
feet high. Around and above this the seats
rise in tiers, amphitheatre fashion. Fully
three thousand people occupy these seats,
while vast rabble unable to raise the neces-
sary peso, are peering through the cracks in
the boards of the wall beneath
The show has not yet begun. The usual
conversational hubbub in progress Volleys
of supposed wit are fired in Spanish by
smart Alexis" at each other across the arena.
The lemonade and peanut iend is going his
rounds. All at once blare Of comets at our
backs makes us jump with the sudden impress
sion that the bull is upon us. Now a door
i2te the arena opens and the performers enter.
They are fantastic in their scarlet jackets,
green sashes and knee breeches. There are
half a dozen banderilleros with their scarlet
mantels, wherewith they torment the bull,
and two picadors armed with pixies and
mounted upon sorry steeds, and last but rot
least, that distinguished person, the matador,
with his sword
SIMPLY PLAYING.
They make their obeisance, the trumpets
flourish and after a moment Large door on
the opposite side is opened. All eyes turn
in that direction and here, comes one of the
animals which are to furnish the sport. All,
how nimbly he scuds across the arena! How
he losses his head this way and that and
glareS around him! He is scared In vain
they launt the red cloth before him. Ee
dashes the other way. The picadors prod
him and he tries to scramble over the wall,
greatly to the CONSERVATION of those sitting
above. The banderilleros tease and torture
him, but to no purpose. He turns tail and
tries to escape. The fact is, he is only a
mitigated bull-a bull in the past tense, SC
to speak. There is storm Of ieers and hisse,
and he is driven out in disgrace.
The band plays. Now the door is again
opened. This time a genuine bull enters
He is a magnificent beast, black as night,
and built for strength and action. As he
pluuges in tiny dart of steel is hurled into
MS withers. This enrageS him and without
pausing he charges head down anCStail in tn,
air, upon his tormentor, who flies before, him
The scarlet cloth is interposed and he turns
upon the banderillero and chases him so hotly
that the man drops his mantle and take
refuge behind the strong screen erected
against the wall as a retreat. The bull Is
batfied. He turns and is trampling and try
ing to gore the offensive cloth when he j.
challenged by another banderfllero holding
ing in each hand little dart wreathed wish
bright colored'paper. Instantly the ANNA
charges furiously upon him. The man Goes
not move and the spectators hold theiI
breath. When the horns are within foot
Of his body the man makes lightning liz,
swerve and thrusts the little spears into ths
bulls neck as he passes. He roars with pain
and endeayers to shake off the darts, but they
are barbed and still dangle to his neck.
THE FIGHT IN EARNEST.
Another red cloth is Haunted before. him,
Eise Try wakes. A venturesome piea,!ot
urges his horse toward him. The horse,
breast and sides are protected by a guard OF
heavy leather The bull rushes upon them
The man guards with his hong pike, which i.
pointed with a sharp iron spike, expecting tC
hold the bull off. But he miscalculates tho
force of the charge. The spikeNrips the bull.
skin and plows through his flesh, but thc
horse and his rider are hurled to the earth
and the bull tramples and cores them il {
transport of fury. The man is underneath
tho leather guard tears like paper, and II.
bulls horn is buried III tho horses flank. !,
is moment of terror. The bull plungeS and
roars, the poor horse groans and men shout
There are white faces turned away from The
frightful spectacle. 1t is but a Elcyn2nt. 4
handerilero seizes the bulls ta.., another
blinds him with his mantel, and then his at
tentiop is distracted. He leaves his victims
and cEaseS these new objects of his wrath &c
the screen on the other side of the arena
The picador is quickly extricated, and tho
horse lifted and carried staggering arc
streaming with blood out of the Enclosure
The man is only bruised a littleS and limp
out Of danger as fast as possible. Mean
while the bull has been wrought to a frenzy
The cir around him is filled with 6auntiu.
red Ills bloody neck is festooned with 4;
dozen gayly wreatfed darts, which his Gctv
toTrnentors have thrust into him He yua..E
blindly hither and thither, but his chem
elude him on every hand.
Now comes the final scene. The matado"
apparently Hercules in strength, but {.
nImble as a cat, walks bareheaded into IL,
arena with his keen glittering sword L,
gracefully salutes the audience. They chez!
him VCriferDuSlv The other DarfO;Tr,p-S -.