The morning call., 1894-10-20
THE BULLFIGHT.
How Secretary HolbrOok
Witnessed 1t
AT HAIGHT-STREET GROUNDS
The Banderiileros Trotted Out
Their Toro
AND GoADED THE BEAST ON.
But the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty TO Animals Will
Not Interfere.

Charles B. Holbrook, the able and
active secretary of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals, never per-
mits a bullfight to take place within the
city and county limits of San Francisco
They tried it at the fiesta of Midwinter
Fair fame. and Mr.. Holbrook made the
power of his might felt in manner that
caused him to indulge the fond hone that
they would never try to spring a bull
fight upon this enlightened community
again.
The feelings OF tie secretary may there
fore be imagined when yesterday morning
he picked up flaming poster about yard
long whereon was depicted goaded and
infuriated torO. struggling in mortal COM
cat with picador. ''Haight street
grounds" was stamped in letters several
inches long over this sanguinaTy-lo0kiD
picture. aud the poster further announced
that Fearless E.padas" and Reckless
Banderilleros" would begin an ieight days
engagement there on October 21.
Royal Spanish bullfighters." ejacu-
lated Mr.. HolbrOOk. giving himself
gentle kick to see if he were not dreaming.
Right here in the city of San Francisco,
a royal bullfght. This thing must be a
joke" Then the secretary, still doubling
the evidence of his senses and with a
shudder of horror. read on the reverse
side:
The b&nderlleros first attack the bull with
g2yly cOlOred but cruelty sharp darts. The
arrastradOreS torment the animals with red
flags. The mounted PICADORES goad the now
thoroughly maddened bull with lances until he
Is finally dispatched by the esDada with the
short sword. the whole performance working
The audience uD TO a condition Of the most
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
mot in this community" calculated
Mr.. Holbrook when be had finished read
ing the saDguinary sentence. I'VE Will
have these people arrested if they attempt
to stir up excitement in that way"
The secretary of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty 10 Animals is man
of action and without more ado he sum-
moned one of his officers and rode out to
the Haight-street grounds.
The place was found to be in the possess
sion of a number of little Mexicans, who
spoke no language but Spanish. With
some difficulty an interpreter was found
and the secretary went ahead with his
interviewing. The Mexicans blandly
owned to the soft impeachment of being
royal Spanish bullfghters. They seemed
rather to glory in the title in fact. They
also owned to possessing a number of
horses and four tOr0S.
could you-could you let one of them
loose IN the arena?" asked the secretary,
hoping that 40 great loss Of life would re-
suit if the picadores were solemnly
charged beforehand not to goad and in
furiate the animal. When tue espadas.
the banderiller0s and the picadores had
been thoroughly convinced that Secretary
Holbrook, was duly certified officer of
the law with power 10 pat stop to the
royal bull fight il he so wilIed it, they con-
Seuted TO let one or their taTos career
around the arena without unduly provok-
ing the animal beforehand. The secretary
aud his interpreter took seats on the
stand at an elevation that would insure
them safety of life and limb if the plea
dor forgot his injunction and began, as
was his won't, TO thrust "cruelly sharp
darts into the hapless animal.
MIR. Holbrook waited and watched. He
saw the eSpadas and the banderilleros
bring on little property bull of stuffed
leather, but be paid no heed to it till
little Mexican crawled inside it and began
10 make it gam60l in an infantine manner
around the arena. Mr.. Hobr0ok smiled
ties. and turned his eyes again toward the
place where 1t had come in, expecting TO
see toro. II guess the bull is too fierce
to be uDloosed,' said the Interpreter, who
was visibly growing paler. ASK them
when it is GINNING in," said Mr.. Holbrook.
Hi. there" shouted the Interpreter
in the Mexican vernaeular. "Trot out
that toro. We cannot wait here all day."
"Madrei" calculated the picador, who
was standing nearest the visitors. 'Madrel I
Are these Americans blind? Here is the
toro that has been careering madly around
the arena for the last ten minutes, and
now they say, 'Trot out your toro.'"
When this reply was interpreted to Mr.
Holbrook he took a rapid but graceful
leave of the espadas. the banderillos and
the picadores. He realized Immediately
that he had absolutely no desire to stop
the royal Spanish bullfgbt, for the society
he represents does not arrest people for
cruelty to stuffed animals, even if there is a
little Mexican iD side.
81 only glanced casually through that
poster" he observed, In speaking of the
matter afterward, "or | might have seen
that the thing was fake"