Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-03-19
THE NORTHWEST
Trip to the Sunny South,
Interesting Notes En- Route.
BY HON. s. NJ. HELLER.
uARENA, CUBA, Feb. l6. 1891.
CONCLUDED.

ing buiness is entirely different from ours,
but they are sharp, shrewd, but very honora-
BILE business men. The city can boast of two
very fine hotels, the Gran Hotel de Inglaterra
and Passanaia, several fine opera houses and
many fine old churches; everything goes In
Habana, and Sunday seems to be the gala
day; at 8 O'Clock the soldiers parade, lO
O'Clock, church. and at l O'Clock everybody
goes to the Plaza de Toras, Cor bull ring.)
Bull fighting in Cuba and Spain is their great
est sport. Bulls are bred in Spain for their
fighting qualities. the same as race-horses
are in Kentucky for their speed. The Plaza
de Toras is in shape very much like the
Cyclorama buildings in this country. Inside
ia a monstrous Amphitheater seating fifty to
seventy-five thousand people; encircling the
Arena is high fence or barrier with foot
rail about Is inches high flom the ground,
on the outside, on which the performers step
and leap over the fence when too closely
pursued by the bull, landing in an open space
between the audience and ring. The open
ing of the performance is brilliant and ex-
citing, the audience was very large, all SEEM
ing eager for the fray. Gay colors are every
where, bands are playing the liveliest airs,
and all is excitement The feeling under the
circumstances is one of amazement and
anxious expectation. There is grand -four
ish of trumpets, gaily comparisoned horse
man dashes in, gallops to the presidents
box, key is thrown to him, it is the key to
a.. l. lie Hant hnFSn.
man catches the key, gallops back and dis
appears; if the key is not caught the man is
Missed out of the ring. Another flourish OF
trumpets and loud huzzas from $4,000 throats
announce the coming of the company. 1t is
indeed, a brilliant spectacle, the Matadores
and Banderilleros on foot, and Picadores on
horseback, all clad in the gayest and grand
est costumes in all colors and gold embroider-
les, they march to the presidents box. The
president is municipal, or state othcer, and
has full directions of the proceedings. he
is seluted by the company and the fight is
ready to commence. Now the widest ex-
citement prevails, and the scene is perfect
icture of pandemonium all eyes are tuIn ed
to the low, strong doors under the bandstand;
they are thrown open and from a darkened
pen the bull bounds into the ring; as he
passes under the rail steel barb with rib
bons attached showing the breeders color is
fastened into his shoulders. He gallops to
the middle of the ring, stops and looks about
with fear and astonishment. He is grand
looking beast. Surprise and fear give way
TO rage, he paws the earth and snortS in his
furry, and discovering the red cloth of the
espada starts toward him on the run. The
man goes over the fence, but not too soon,
for he has hardly disappeared before the
bulls borns are thrust through the boards.
The animal turns and spies horse, and woe
be unto the horse, his day has come; the
Picador with his lance is totally unable to
keep the bull from goring the horse, and he
is killed on the spot. Another man is chased
out of the ring and another horse wounded
severely; signal from the president and the
bugle call directs the horse to be removed.
Now comes the really interesting feature of
the performance, the thrusting of the ban
derellas. The bull is alone with his tormen-
tors, it is contest between skill and brute
strength. A banderilla is wire two and
one half feet long; on the end is very sharp
barbed point, the wire covered with coiored
paper ribbons. The Banderillo is the man
that places them in the bulls shoulders, he
must stand in front of the animal, without
Tag or cloak, must stand still and await the
attack. The bull maddened at his audacity
starts at him at full speed, the man steps out
Of the way gracefully, and skillfully thrusts
the banderillo in the bulls shoulder as he
passes by; as soon as he can check his speed
he turns, now furious with rage, only to re-
Ceive two more of the barbed wires in his
shoulders, all hanging there. Believing
now he is wild. Another signal from the
president instructs that the bull has had
enough and must be killed-this is where
the Matador, the Primerespado, distinguish
es himself; his skillful killing of the bull by
single thrust of the sword is what deter
mines the brilliancy of the star. The Mata-
dor must face the bull, sword in hand, and
while he is at rest and would call for Kisses
and missiles from the audience. The blood
red CLOTH or mudita, is Haunted in front of
the bull, the maddened animal closes his
eyes and makes one more dash for life and
falls in death; the sword of the Mata-
dor is thrust between his shoulders to the
hilt and has pierced the animals heart. Wild
burst of applause fill the air, hats, canes and
cigars are thrown into the ring by the de-
lighted spectators, men shout and sing, ladies
wave their handkerchiefs and mantillas, the
Matador bows his acknowledgements, throws
the hats and canes back to their owners, who
seem grateful that he should honor them
thus. The band plays, the gates open and
three grandly decorated mules harnessed
abreast are driven in, rope is thrown over
the bulls horns and he is dragged out. The
wait is but minute, the bugle calls, the low
door opens and another bull gallops in, and
thus on till six bulls have been killed. At
each performance the skill and agility of the
performers are wonderful, and consists in
holding the red cloak in such way that
the bull rushes for the cloth instead of him
who holds it, The bull shuts his eyes and
does not see the man as he quickly steps to
one side and escapes, but sometimes only
saves his life by flight over the fence.
When the last bull was killed the audience
dispersed in good order and humor. No
liquors of any kind or rowdyism are al