The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-01
.BULL-FIGHT IN MEXICO.
Sunday Amusement in the
Land of the Aztecs.
BULLS THAT FIGHT AYD BULLS THAT RUN
How Our Countrymen Like the
Sport Which is Always Written
Up as Brutal,
ecopvrigAtls0O, 5ythe United Press


Copyright 1890, blythe United Press)
It IS Sunday in the historic City of
Mexico-a clear typical Mexican day.
The sun Is trife warm. but provides a
most agreeable temperature. such as one
invariably finds here in the month of
March. The early sun shines on the
stately snow-capped volcanoes of Popo-
catapetl and Ixtaccihuatl that stand as
sentineis keeping watch over the noun
tain-walled plateau of Anahuac. AS the
day progresses the pleasure-loying popu-
latton Of this quaint and curious city
seeks recreation in the many cool and
leafy public squares of the Zocalo ana
Alameda. This is to be day of enjoy
nlent. A large number of American ex-
cursiOnists are in town and are to witness
an exhibition of the national sport
at the Paseo Plaza dc Toros The
stories told of the brutality Of
this peculiar entertainment tend only
to whet the curiosity of the more
"nervy'' portion of the visitors, many of
whom are ladies. Our Mexican frien dis
point with pride TO the announceme emit
that in honor of the people from tn e
home of the blizzard, y as they call us, SIX
magnificent bulls. of the Venadero breed
ment assures them that the utmost will
be done to please the audience, and if that
be accomplished, Ithe wishes of managers
will be fulfilled. From an experts point
of view it is to besa magnificent spectacle.
A weil-known espada has offered to APP
pear without charge, and this in itself Is
assumed TO be sufficient attraction to en-
sure a large attendance. Added to this
were the famous bdpdcrilieros, Cortez
and AranZeas. and the star picadores
Parente and Fernandez, together with
other brave and tried fighters, equally
famed Judged from a Mexican stand
point everything tends toward success
full exhibition. The bull ring is situated
on the Paseo, the fashionable boulevard
OF the city, near the statue of Charles w.
and though there are other places of the
KIND, this IS 20 be the principal source of
attraction.
AS four O'Clock approaches crowds in
carriages and ON foot Wend their way to
ward the arnpitheatre Down past the
1tuota det Etsseo-l the gateway Of which
ado, 1.-THE Fair Gods' made his famous
leap for life more than three hundred
years ago, on the street OF N0che 1'rgSte,
where Cortez, it is said, sat down and
wept after his defeat, and from every
point the crowd comes, a curious, pictur-
esque throng. The gaudily dressed young
Mexican, Respondent in black velvet and
silver lace and buttons, elbows the hum
bly, clad native from the suburbs of
Guadalupe and Tacubaya, and prominent
In the crowds can be seen the easy going
American resident of the city, to whom
bull lighting Is a tale that is told, and
who simply goes for the purpose of seek
ing some familiar face among the visitors.
A horseman trots down Ehe street, closely
and eagerly followed by a throng of adj
miring youngsters It is Naranjero, a
favorite ptc1dore, on his way to the ring.
he Is attired In his fighting costume, his
lance at rest, and attracts the eyes of the
visitors by his graceful and easy seat in
the saddle Arrived at the ring the
stranger gaZes on picturesque spectacle
HQnRU rim a l1a1x n ra4 e,.ri-
In diameter, the seats rising in tiers to
height of thirty or forty feet. One half
OF the upper part is partitioned off for
boxes this portion being the shady side.
On the side exposed to the rays of the
blazing tropical sun are the bleaching
boards where the poorer classes, who
part with their dos Tedles for few hours
amusement, are congregated. On each
side OF the enclosure, and next to the
boxes is q company of soldiers, fully
armed. This unwonted display at
place OF amusement arOuses the curiosity
OF the Americans and they are told that
soldiers are stationed there to prevent
repetition of the scenesof the Sunday pre-
vious, when riot was caused by the
audience. who were indignant because all
the bulls were not killed, as the advertise
ment announced they would be. A Mex-
lean audience expects the managerof an
entertainment to live up to his pro-
gramme. Unless he does the spectators
grow indignant, then boisterous, and
finally end the performance by smashing
the benches. The bands of music dis
course Mexican airs while the crowd as
sembles, and as the appointed time draws
near the scene becomes Interesting and
animated. Ladies and children are
plentiful in the audience. The Mexican
senorita, graceful in the national man
tilla, the family parties, the young gal
lauts, some in national. others in Euro
Dean costume, eagerly await the sound of
the bugle. which shall announce the be-
ginning of the performance. The Ameri-
can ladies gaze at each other with expect
ant eyes. Some are unc0ncerned, while
others show an I'll concealed nervousness.
AT length the time arrives. Alderman
Alberto Arellano enters the judge box
amid the plaudits Of the spectators, while
the bands alternately play enliyening
airs. The bugle sounds the call, and
amid the cheers and shouts of the multi
tude the bull fighting team marches into
the arena. In advance are the nIdt0dOrS,
Matieto, Pepe-Hillo, and Valiadolid, in
brilliant costumes. They are covered
/ with gaudy cloaks, which are at once
thrown aside and tossed to the American
ladies, who occupy the boxes Immediately
in front OF the judge. Their appearance
arouses the audience to d high pitch OF
enthusiasm Immediately number of
high crowned Mexican mats go sailing
through the air and alight III the ring, a
welcome to the fayorites. Following
ndtadors come the c0pcddores, the men
who handle the mulet0s OF mantels, and
then the ptcddores or horsemen with
pixies.
AS the outburst of applause dies away
all eyes are fixed upon the entrance to the
ring in which the first bull is to appear.
They have not long to wait. He bounds
ont OF the passage way and as he nears
the ring an attendant plants dart firmly
In his shoulder. The dart has ribbons
attached 10 it showing the breeders
colors. Maddened by the pain the animal
makes a dash at the first object in sight.
a dozen men with gaily colored mantles
are scattered about the ring. They strive
to attract his attention, and, when he
charges at them they jump nimbly aside.
The bull Is lean and wiry. Disappointed
in reaching his tormentor, his eyes alights
on the mounted pfcdd0res, and he makes
charge on one of them. The picGd0re
does not try to evade him and the poor
brute that he rides has no knowledge of
the danger that treatens him, for he his
blindfolded. The horse, the noblest OF the
brute creation, is brought into the bull
ring to be slaughtered. The bull un-
horses the picad0re without infiicting any
injury on him but the horse does not
escape An exclamation of Indignation is
heard from the Americans as the bull
withdraws, and stream of blood is seen