The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-28

| Tho papers the next day devoted several
columns to Macclrano and his company o!
fakirs They told how at one time he had
been the pet of Madrid. and how his eagle eye
and steady hand had sent the sword into the
| hearts of hundreds of fierce bulls. For. of a
| truth Macelrano had been the John L. Sullivan
of the Plaza do Toros dc Madrid.
| But that was passed Too much aguardiente
| and cognac had unsteadied his nerves and his
| courage had left him. He had boen hissed out
of Madrid, and, with band of third rate BULL
baiters, had dropped in On Guatemala. This
| was too much for every native of the city
| prded himself on knowing good bull-hghter
| when he saw one. Tho papers warned Macel-
| rano against giving another unsatisfactory ex-
| hibition, and explained to him what he might
| expect if he did
| Notwithstanding all this, the next days
| handbils announced that this once proud
| matador would on the following Sunday again.
| with his famous toreadores and world renowned
| picadores. fight the fiercest bulls ever seen in
| Guatemala-bulls brought especially from the
wild mountain district of Conan.
For the next few days, in the saloons and
hotels, they talked of nothing else but the
| coming bull fight, and everyone told everyone
elso to be sure to attend.
Is he going to redeem himself?" asked of
| crowd of native bloods.
"No! No. MOI" They all laughed at the
idea, and again l was advised not to miss it.
But why, at that time did not understand.
On the appointed Sunday l made my way to
the place, and, although was early, the place
was already crowded and many more people
were pushing their way in. / forced myself to
the Gringo" corner and there found about 30
Americans all expectant, but expecting what {?
No one seemed to know. The Government
band of 120 musicians was playing martial
airs. The boxes were crowded with senoras
and senoritas, all looking their prettest, and
fully 5000 people were crowded around the
ring.
At last the gates to the ring were opened,
and the procession of participants marched
in-the matador, six toreadores, two picadores
the miko lclown) and the mozos, "supes," Of
tho ring. They went through the very pretty
preliminary business of saluting the officials
present and receiving the key to the bull pen.
Then each man took his place.
The crowd was silent There was no cheer
of welcome. Macelrano his arms folded and
his caps thrown over his shoulder, stood near
the center of the ring. With his tall, spare
figure, and refined, clean-shaven face, he looked
more like priest than a matador save that
he wore magnificent embroidered costume
relic of his past glory.
The bugle sounds, the gate to the l-pen is
thrown open and out dashes big brown bull
The band plays a lively tune, and everyone
cheers the brute. In about one minute he has
driven every man out of the ring; one poor
horse is kicking his last in the dust, while
another, riderless, is hobbling about with his
entrails trailing. The bull. with his head
lowered, and paving up clouds of dirt bellows
his defiance at the pale fighters, perched in safe
places on the fence. But none Of them seem to
care to come near this particular Mr.. Cow, and
the angry people hiss menacingly and howl
themselves hOarse. Loud are the cries of
" Matalto" Kill him
At last the matador comes down from his safe
seat, and announces that the authorities will
allow him to kill but one oHt of the six bulls
that are to appear This announcement is the
signal for more yells from the crowd. Many
uncomplimentary remarks and insulting oaths
are hurled at Macerano from all directions
By this time it is plain to see that the people
had not come to see him kill the bull, but to see
the bull kill him. After few banderillas were
stuck in the shoulders of the bull in very
clumsy and timid manner he was allowed to
depart
The next bull and the next came in and
went out. and so on until five had passed
through the ring victorious.
Poor matador! l think some one had played
trick on him, for of all these bulls he had not
found one tame enough to kill.
The man who has never seen a Spanish
crowd excited cannot imagine the scene at this
stage Of the exhibition. Thought seemed be-
nnmbed by the noise. / expected riot at any
time, and the arrival of 100 special policemen
only seemed to make things worse. Rage, disap-
pontment hate. mingled in the shrieks and
frantic EXPLANATIONS.
Amidst the widest commotion the sixth
bull rushed into the ring-an ugly black ami
NAL with long horns and wild eyes. The hand
bills had not lied about this bull, for he was
fierce enough to please the most cultured Qua
temaltecO present.
The toreadores seemed to have made up
their minds that it was safer to fight the bull
than to incur the further anger of the threat
ening crowd, and they managed to make it very
lively for this last animal. Many were the
harbreadth escapes but. to the disgust of the
crowd, none of the ieaping tormentors were
killed. When they fell back from their share
OF the work they left the bulls shoulders dec |
Grated with six gaudy banderllas, and his lord.
ship was the picture Of anger and defiance as
he stood paving the earth to dust with torn
capa hanging On one horn.
ANow was the matadors last chance. As
Macelrano stepped into the ring with tho red
dealt flag in his left hand and his sword in his |
right, it could be seen at glance that he had
gone too far into the black bottle for his cour-
age. Tie multitude greeted him with Kisses |
and groans. He braced himself, shook his |
sword at the insulting populace and cursed |
them with all the eloquence Of the Spanish |
tongue.
Still cursing, he walked toward the bull, and |
when within about 90 yards from him stopped, |
carelessy drew small ring in the dust with |
his sword and stepped inside of it.
The bull was interested. He seemed to |
E@ "A NEA%4~-~