The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-27
THE CORONADO FIESTA
MEXICAN AND WILD WEST SPORTS
AT A CALIFORNIA RESORT.
Bull-Teasing, Steer-Lassoing, Bron-
cho-Breaking, Chicken Pulling
and Unrestricted Gambling.

Sdn Dlego Letter IN springfield RepuDlican.
She glanced at the blue ticket in my hand
and exclaimed: why you don't want to see
those poor men killed by the bullsr' THAT
is just what / am here for" 1 retorted,
and the bystanders laughed. / heard
woman near remark that the girl in the
blue dress had cruel heart, and smilingly
assured her that appearances were some
times deceitful, noticing at the same time
that her seat commanded a full view of
everything, but that she would probably
look the other way. The first speaker was
a middle-aged woman and an acquaintance
of twenty minutes. Like myself, a tourist
and alone, she had begged my company
while visiting the corrals where the cattle
and wild horses were confined, and had
asked a dozen pointed personal questions.
which l had not so much resented as the
cold, unsmiling look OF her eyes and her
abrupt manner. Now she wished one to
sit with her on the grandstand overlooking
the race track, but my blue ticket read:
Reserved seat in bull pen," and / did not
care to change. The next day, with the
same cold eyes, she was scrutinizing and
questioning the Pueblo Indians as they
waited for the car. They seemed FESTIVE.
and 1 did not blame them. She is one of
the people you meet.
/ turned my attention to the crowd, now
rapidly gathering. 1t was at the race
track, on the Coronado beach, across the
bay from San Diego, and the occasion was
the Spanish Fiesta. Throngs of sightseers
had come down from Los Angeles and
nearer towns to witness the sports, which
were widely advertised to be held as in
old-time Mexican days Gayly-dressed ca
balleros, vaqueros and toreadors. Mexicans.
Indians nd IN ha he har oec
of the hour. The programme included rae
ing on foot and on burros. lady hurdle rae
ing, fitting at rings, chicken pulling, las
soing and throwing wild cattle. broncho
breaking. and. to end all, a bull fight with
a matador from Mexico, who was famed
for his courage and his skill. All to be as
just over the line, where every Sunday,
after morning mass, the padre and his con-
gregation adjourn to some convenient spot
for their favorite sport Saturday was the
first day, and we'll attended, but this day
(Monday April 2S. the programme was
more varied, better sport promised, and
about $500 people were present, a large
proportion being well-dressed women. Re
served seats were all taken; carriages and
tallyhos crowded to the boundary fence,
and the tourist was out in force. 1t was a
decidedly American crowd.
NO CHECK TO GAMBLING.
BY the way, is there not United States
law against gambling? And there must
be California law against. the evil, for
there is great trouble in San Francisco at
the present time because the police have
been taking 81, 900 a week as bribery for
allowing Chinese gambling dens to keep
open. Yet at the Camp Of '49 a roulet
table was openly doing thriving business,
as an attraction for the midwinter fair,
and here, also, / heard the call, 1.-The black
or the red. gentlemen. II It's not the
black 1t must be the red" Place your
4 rr' orrnxx in Won
purse" There We're many watching the
wheel and the game as it fascinated, but
few risked their money here. Only two
men seemed to be playing complicated
system, oblivious to all else. 1t was as
interesting some church fairs.
The cattle pens had been built opposite
range of well-protected Seats and there 1
found mine. The day was beautiful. sunny
and clear. but the sea breeze was cold,
meath her sealskin cape. 1 raised my UNI
brela to shield us both from the cold
wind. and we watched the actors in the
many as expected, but they looked at
tractive in their bright costumes, ana
mounted upon richly caparisoned horses.
They were mostly Mexicans, and all wore
wide sombreros and managed their horses
with wonderful Skill Here is a description
of one costume: Red plush jacket slashed
velvet trousers, tucked in high riding boots,
with fringe down the outside, saddle and
equipments OF richly. embossed leather.
brilliant serape, draped across. with colors
of blue, green and gold, broad white
collar of fine linen, and then the dark,
Mexican face under the silver-braided
sombrero. The combination was pictur-
esque enough for the occasion, truly. Don
Marco Forster, grand marshal, and of
one of the most noted families of the old
days. was attired in quieter style.
The gayly-dressed vaqueros had been long
in waiting, but presently a party started
for the corrals further up the track, and
cattle driven toward us with much urging.
They did not like the appearance of the
crowd ahead. and suddenly made break
for liberty. The foremost steers leaped the
inside boundary fence, and in a moment
the horsemen were engaged, with much
shouting and racing, in the chase: All but
the spectators cheered as they saw those
two, with lowered horns, each chasing a
vaquero on the far side of the ten-acre
field But our attention was diverted. Six
of the steers did not escape, but lay in
struggling, kicking mass across the fence.
In the very act of jumping the loops of the
riatas caught their feet and the horses
held them steadily while their mates were
recaptured. 1t was really the quickest,
most dexteroTs piece OF n work SO
join the others, but one had a sprained leg,
and was left at large. having the openly
expressed sympathy OF the spectators ts as me ne
drove was successfully driven into the pen
and the gate closed. They were big fell
lows ana W1ld. Inc leaQer, a white one
that had showed great fighting spirit the
previous day, halted in front of u.s. brand
ished his immense horns, paved sand all
himself and beloved with rage. Tt
was my umbrella he disapproved of, and
put IL down. He paid particular attention
to see that I kept it down, too. renewing
his demonstrations of anger at any at
tempt to raise the offending object 1t may
be all right to brighten off tigers with open
umbrellas, but 1T is no use with Texan
steer.
LASSOING CATTLE.
Now was to come the trial Of skill In
Iassoing the cattle. throwing and tying
them ready for branding. The marshal and
two vaquerUs entered the pen, and sep
arating one animal from the restless herd.
the gate was opened and he made a wild
dash for liberty down the track and leaped
the fence with his enemy after him, horse
and rider acting with one accord. The
long loop Of the RATA settled down over his
horns and frightened, the galloping horse
raced past, the trailing rope swept him
off his feet and he lay HELPLESS. Quick as
flash the rider was on the ground, and
the trained horse. with brsced fore feet,
held the steer quiet while his master tied
his feet and swung his broad sombrero in
triumph and the crowd cheered. 1t had all
taken but thirty-three seconds. The Mex
lean loosed his RATA and rode slowly back,
leaving the steer lying as II dead TO medi-
tate on the strange and unexpected falls
of life. Soon his bonds were 'oosed and he
cattle were let loose and more Mexicans
and cowboys competed for the prize. and
IL was very exciting and interesting There
was a diversion here. and a frightened