The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-02
SPANS FIRST ESPADA.
AND NOW HB WAS KILLED IN THE
BULL RIsS BHCKNTLY.
p~scr,pt,o. by an Eye witness Of tho Scene
whom Espsrtero Lost His Life
The Brutal Sport.

vas Killed by an Infatuated bull. Never
before have / witnessed such a revolving
spectacle Like all foreigners going to
Spain. / thought l was bound to see one
Of those bull fights. just as one should
see Niagara Falls or the Pyramids In
Egypt. 1 have never yet met a person
not born a Spaniard who. after witnessing
one OF these fights. did not pronounce 1t
"a most brutal spectacle. was not wise
enough to take the advice OF those who
had witnessed the scene, ana inns Is WY
one fine Sunday / found myseii driVihs
TO the Plaza de Iorros' situateu ht'ic
The fight always begins at four In the
afternoon but as early az O'Clock thou-
sands OF vehicles carriages, omniOuses.
coaches. dnieences OF all shapes colors,
and description begin 10 line up on the
Iuertt &c. Sol. Nowhere else could buch
a collection Of rolling cOnveyances be
seen some at least a century old, and
many were In use between Madrid and
other cities before the railroads were
built. These thousands OF vehicles 10 be
seen on the streets OF Madrid on Sunday
are attached either 10 horses or mules.
from two 20 nine OF them 10 each car
rie4ye according TO ats size.
The Plaza de Torres is an immense I'M
covered circus. exactly like the arenas
Of the Romans. The one IT. Madrid seats
about 1900 people and seldom is there
4 seat vacant Back OF II are the stables.
and there my Spanish friend took me
first Ia the small courtyard were two
sets Of three mules each. the three beasts
harLesSed together abreast and covered
with ribbons and flags. After each
fght-for there are always six fights
these mules are brought In the ring and
used 10 drag away the dead bulls ard
horses. Behind these mules were \ num-
Der OF toreadors, gorgeously dressed and
mounted on the poorest looking horses /
ever saw, and behind THESE first toreadors
were forty or nifty more OF these poor
beasts, who in turn, were 20 be offered as
victims 10 the horns OF the infUriatcd
bull
We entered a room where the other
tOreadors were holding a little reception.
shaking hands with friends VINO congratu-
lated and encouraged them, ana exhibit
ing their magnificent costumes. covered
with gold or silver embroideries. to all
Nov" said my friend. "et US go to
the chapel"
The chapelT
why. yes. the next room is a small
chapel, where every toreador gees tie
fore the fight 10 pray ana ask God ana
his patron saint that his nfe may be
spared, and that he be given the courage
and strength 10 take that II the bull"
We entered the small chapel, at one
end OF which was an altar covered with
flowers and lighted candles. in the middle
a cruciiix. and above Il painting of the
Virgin Mary.
You see the man there kneeling and
pr9ying?' said my friend. Veil. ne is
Manual Garcia, generally called 'Espar-
zero, the greatest lNlDE fOTedQOr. lie Is
the first espada OF Spain, and IS celebrat-
cd for his great courage. When ne sticks
his sword in the bulls neck he never
jumps aside as other tOreadors do: no.
he wants to stop him. to XIII him on
the spot. AS II is nearly Impossible he
has often been wounded, and very seri-
Ousiy by dying bulls. He Is only > years
old. and has already saved over 100 600
pesetas. lie will retire from the ring a
rich man IN another year"
The man had finished praying. He left
the chapel shaking hands with his
friends The sound OF trumpet was
heard announcing that IT was time to
begin and everyone left the stab es in
hurry 10 go 10 their boxes and seats.
The immense arena was soon flei by
people belonging 10 every class OF society.
from the poor fellow who has paid 80
cents for his seat and whose children
may not have even bread for their sup
per that evening 10 the high officers,
rich men and beautifully dressed women
who have paid 100 pesetaS for a box.
Hardly woman was 10 be seen in the |
l0w-prirel seats. while they were the |
majority in the best seats Nearly an or |
them wore a ''mantilla" Of lace instead |
OF bonnet. the lace In most cases be- |
ing white.
Suddenly a band. composed Of the pupils |
OF one OF Madrid's schools. began 10 play |
a march. one OF the gates leading into |
the ring was thrown open. and amid |
their entrance. the first, second. and |
third espadas walking first on one line
Behind came those on horseback, called |
picadOres. and lastly n large number of |
assistants. whose duty II is 10 keep the
ring In order, to give the coup De grace |
% the dying horses and 70 throw sand |
over the pools Of blood. The procession
crossed the plaza, and. stopping just
opposite the box occupied by the pres
ident OF the feast QOr they call il O
feasD. they all salute him, and then
those who were 10 take part In the iirSt |
fight remained. while the others retired
behind the fence which stands between |
the ring and the first row OF spectators. |
Only two mounted picad9ros remain with
do justice TO the beauty OF the sight pre-
scented by the entrance OF the toreadors. J
How 10 describe the immense arena, nHed |
with brightly dressed ana enthusiastic
people, these gorgeous costumes OF Nel'et |
silver and gold. the strange music, The |
warm air. and tn glorious sun OF Spain
shining on the whole
The gate was opened once more, and
a man dressed in the uniform Of the
Tine OF Don QuiXOte, mounted on mag
lificent horse. came galloping IN ana
who threw him = KEY. the key which |
viii open the iron door Of the cage ID
which the first bull is imprisoned. There
are two OF these men. and they remain |
II the disposal CT the president 10 take
md deliver his orders. or course, they |
ever come into the ring when the bull !
: there Ganoping across the ring, one OF
hem goes 70 the iron gate. gives the
Key 10 another man and retires as fast
- he can. The man unlocks the door.
pens II wide and disappears behind an
,ther one. The music has stopped: every
me is holding his breath; silence or
leath Is over the place.
Suddenly from the depth Of this dark
ave. just opened. PUSHES an immense
,ull He comes with such tremendous
.peed and force that one expects to see
lin jump clear across the ring. But,
10; coming from a dark place surprised
" the light OF the sun and at the strange
surroundings. the bull stops, furlously
melting the air. He is blinded by the
hat so far enjoyed everything more
han ] could say. The entrance Of the
null seemed 70 me magnihcently grand. |
'hese bulls are enormous, giants Of their |
ace Nowhere else can such immense
elbows be seen and they look so strong, |
o powerful so ferociOus that one be-
ms 70 feel anxious OF the fences.
II takes the bull a few seconds 10 get |
yer his surprise and 70 get accustomed |
o the light. and as soon as he does see
relL then the fun may BERN for !
paniard but II undoubtedly stopped for |
stranger. The first thing he saw was
ne ~ the mounted picadors, and the
econd thing the man. or rather. the
Orse He rushed al them clear across
he ring and planted his immense horns
ITO the horse with such tremendous |
Jrce that he raised the beast and man
rom the ground tossing them In the air.
ne minute the picador came upon the | v
and the bull rushed at him, but before q
2 could reach him another Of the I
jreadors Jumped between them. waving | c
red flag. for which the bull immediate y
charged. forgetting all about the plea {
DTS The poor horse had literally been | 3
pened in two by the wound. lie ran | &
bout for few seconds. then he fell | -
n hts knees and died Meanwhile the
al had rushed at another horse and
at ~ harc -