Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-17
FUN WITH A BULL.
A Spanish American Pastime az
Witnessed in Santo Domingo.

"Han Ilegado los torosg"
Isl, Senor.'
"Entonces han fuacion"
Isl, Senor."
Then let us 60"
Arriving at the bull-ring We round
the fun had already begun; the sombra,
or fifty cent seats. were filed with SOL
diers, sailors, artisans in short, the
people; the palCos, or boxes, were all
occupied by the gentry, foreigners, and
merchants. In the chief box was
President HereauX, or, as he likes TO
be called, Lii" He is rather dark
for a lily, but as we have black swans
and black diamonds, why not black
lily?
The first glimpse at the ring was
just like the first look ut freshly ope-
ned 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
closed Japanese porasols wrapped with
ribbons a la barber pote The bull
went forward 10 welcome them with
lowered horns and tail in air. One
handsome 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 maddened brute's
neck just abaft of his horns and sprang
to one side. where he lighted a cigar
and watched with nonchalance 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
barber-polos in his neck.
Th1 picadors then retired amid deaf
ening plaudit; and the matador. dap
per little chap armed with a thin,
sharp 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 fine felt crowded The Span
lard unwound q red silk scarf from his
waist and shook il at the bull, who, of
course. charged him. Failing TO pune
ture the man. he did the next best
thing-he captured the scarf. In the
Spaniard's effort to regain the scarf,
his foot slipped and he fell on his
knees, with the bull two feet behind
him. Every body except the natives
ifr,, = Oh 4.
away, but the only ripping done was
on the Spaniard breeches One horn
had caught him in the seat of these
and ripped through to waistband.
The man landed full length on his face
in the sand, where he lay for minute
with the angry bull standing over him,
waiting for another chance at his fallen
foe, but the banderilleros and the plea
doris 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 prob
ably did annoy him somewh {, but if
he felt any timidiiy 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 center with his sword in one hand
and his scarf in the other. Proof that
he was not scared was his maneuver-
ing to keep the bull between himself
and the boxes where the ladies and
bloods sat he didn't wish to expose
his tat.ered rear.
When he saw his chance he allowed
his scarf to gently drop over the bulls
head, and stepping one pace to the
rear plugged his sword into the tawny
hide, and, without a second look at the
bull TO see the effect of his thrust,
walked forward to the ring side, bowling
his Acknowledgements Of the vociferous
applause Canes, Panama hats, fans,
plrasols and coins fell at his feet, and,
one enthusiastic darby tried TO throw
my hat into the ring, and he would had
he been little stronger in his arms.
All the Sc articles We're passed up TO
their owners except the coin, which
must have footed up hundred dollars
or more. There was at least one gold
piece picked mp in front Of the Execu-
tve's box. No attention was paid to
the bull, but h was there all the time
with the sword through his heart On
receiving his death blow he had reeled
forward few steps, dropped on his
knees aud fallen dead without losing
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 La
Paloma" and | had seen all the bull
fighting necessary for the remainder of
this life. Santo Domingo Cor. New
York Herald.