The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-07-23
A BULLFlGHT IN MEXICO.
BRUTAL AMUSEMENT IN THE
LAND OF THE AzTECS.
Bulls That Fight and Bulls That Run
Away the Animal His
Finishing Stroke.

A writer in the New York Commercial
Adgertiser thus describes a Sunday bull
fight in the City Of Mexico:
The bugle sounds the call, and amid
the cheers and shouts of the multitude the
eull-fghting team marches in the arena.
In advance are the matadores, Matieto,
Pepe-H Hillo and Valladolid, 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 high pitch of enthusiasm.
Immediately a number Of high-crowncd
Mexican hats go sailing through the air
and aight in the ring, welcome to the
favoritcs. Following the matadores
come the capcadores, the men who handle
the muletas or mantels, and then the
picadores, 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 ap-
pear. They have not long to wait. He
bounds out of the passage way and as
he nears the ring an attendant plants a
dart firmly in his shoulder. The dart
has ribbons attached to it showing the
breeders colors. Maddoned by the pain
the animal makes a dash at the first OBJ
ject in sight. A dozen men with gayly
colored mantles are scattered about the
ring. They strive to attract his atten-
tion, and when he charges at them they
ump nimbly aside. The bull is lean
and wiry. Disappointed in reaching his
tornentor, his eyes alight on the mounted
picadores, and he makes charge on one
of them. The picadore does not try 20
evade him and the poor brute that he
rides has no knowledge of the danger
that threatens him, for he is blindfolded.
The horse, the noblest of the brute crea-
tion, is brought into the bull ring to be
slaughtered. The bull unhorses the pic
adore without indicting 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 flowing from the
horse, who is led limping away. Next
the banderilleros take hand. They are
agile and expert. Standing with a gaily
decorated dart in each hand, they at
tract the attention Of the bull, and as he
makes his charge they skilfully implant
their darts in his shoulder aud adroitly
leap to one side. If the bull pursues
them very closely they evade him, either
by leaping over the walls of the inclos-
ure OF by seeking the shelter on one of
the places of refuge, shallow boxes on
the side of the ring into which the bull
cannot enter. The fronts of these
sheltcring spots are thickly covered with
the marks of the horns of the animals
who have vainly tried to pierce the bar
riers.
This performance is repeated several
times, but now the audience grows i'm
patient for the end, and loud cries are
made for the espada to give the finishing
stroke. Again the bugle sounds. The
star bull-fghter advances with proud and
confident step. Heis dressed in green and
gold A tall and powerfully built man,
he salutes the judge, and with his glitter.
ing blade in one hand and small
blooded mulets in the other, he boldly
steps in front of the now tired animal
and awaits a charge. After few passe;
he delivers a strong and well-placed
stroke, burying the blade nearly to the
hilt in the body of the animal. The
audience loudly applauds. More hats are
thrown into the ring and the fighter
passes around tossing them back to the
crowd. The bull staggers, falls, and the
finishing stroke is giving by the cachetero
Three mules harnessed abreast and gayly
caparisoned are driven in, strap il
fastened to the carcass, it is dragged out
and the first act in the drama is over.
A second bull enters the arena. HI
has no fight in him, and instead of rush
ing at his tormentors, he walks to the
walls of the enclosure and gazes at the
spectators as if mutely beseeching then
to let him return to his native pastures
The, crowd yell at him in derision, anC
loud calls are made for the lazadores tC
lasso him and drag him out. Two horse
men enter and give an interesting ex
hibition of their skill. In a second the
rope whistles through the air, it settles
around the horns of the bull, and the in
teiligent horses, the rope drawn taut
braces themselves while the second laza
dore endeavors to catch the anima
around one of the hind legs and s.
throw him. He succeeds in looping him
but the bull escapes from the moose ant
is finally driven from the arena. !
third bull is brought out. He, too, l
tame and tries to escape. He is turnet
out ingloriously.
The fourth comes in with flashing ey
and a manner which plainly shows tha
he intends to clear the ring. He stand
for moment paving the earth, an
then, with fierce rush, charges directl
on Picadore Naranjero. The horse i
overthrown and the man pitched high i
the air. He falls directly on the horn
of the angry beast. Other fighter
divert his attention while th
man RECEIVERS his feet and mount
his horse, which is slowly drive
out, his entrails protruding-a horribl
spectacle. Now we are treated to anott
er exhibition of skill of a differer
character. Ferrer, one of the boldest {
the fighters, stands in the pathway {
the bull, and as the charge is mad
vaults lightly over him with the aid of
pole. 1t is a close call for the DARN
man. The bull strikes the pole, breal
it in twain, while the man drops light
to the ground out of harms way. Al