Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05
4 BIG BULL-FIGHT.
l lIfshiln Describes One That Be
SiI N Spain.
LETTER PaOI v. Y. Visor, ESQ.
Elghtesa Thousand People Present.
Twelve s1esass snd sis Bulls
Killed.


udmHked. 1His WhS tne resuit VI
Spanish buli-Aght which ] have just had
the very questionable pleasure OF witness
Ing.
The fight, or "ia corrida de toros" Chc
running Of bulls). as the spaniards more
deIicately express II. took place at Port
81. Mary. Just across the bay from cadiz.
and attracted an audience OF about 1900
people. or nearly the fun seating capacity
Of the enormous buli-ring--ons OF the
Jlnest ip Spafn-which is the principal and
b. far the most conspicuous public build
inf IN that ancient city. This ring. or
p'piasa De toros." IL almost an exact copy
pt the Coliseum at Rome. and. like that
famous structure. Is built entirely Of
stone with the exception OF the bar
tero." tho circular wooden barrier that
encloses the arena and prevents the bulls
from ''mingling" with the spectators. and
the "chiqueros," or stalls. in which the
bulls are enclosed before they are let out
10 DO battle with their human antagonists.
Inc diameter OF the plaza proper. or arena,
10 about 30 or 80 yards Between the
sbarrero" and the first tier Of seats is a
narrow passage extending all around the
arena, and from this the stone seats rise
Amphitheatre-like, tier on tier. to a height
bf about 50 feet still above the topmost
her of seats are two tiers or stories OF
rcorredores." or galleries. In which the
private boxes and high-priced seats are
heated so great is the extreme diameter
N the huge, building that a person seated
bn one side cannot distinguish faces on
the opposite side without the aid OF an
bpera- glass The reader can form his
Vwn idea Of the cost OF such a structure.
{ was told by one gentleman, citizen
Of Port 81. Mary, that II cost 10000
fSpanish). Whether this is the correct
hgure or not. do not know: but do
know. 10 use an Americanism that IT
ARRIVAL OF THE BULLS.
Hon. Charles l.. Adams, United states
Consul at Cadiz, and the writer were the
guests OF Mr. Thomas Osborne the pro-
prietor of the "Duf Gordon" sherry wines.
30 widely known In the United States,
and at his suggestion We went to Port 81.
Mary the day before the fight In order 70
witness the arrival of the bulls from the
remote vegas or plains. where they
were reared. almost, 1t might be truly
said. without the sight or knowledge OF
man or MS ucfnlDlOn over tue beusto VI
the field. These bulls had been four days
on the road. or rather four nights, as
the travelling Is done altogether In the
night, the animals being allowed TO rest
and feed during the day. They were ac-
companied by double their number of
"cabrestas," or trained oxen. TO prevent
them going astray or committing assaults
upon persons or other animals OF the
road The last hating place was In the
Immediate suburbs Of the city, and We
drove out In the afternoon 10 inspect the
bulls and take note of their lighting
points. 1t was a curious and remarkable
sight to see the oxen doing guard duty.
They were In a wide circle. with the
bulls grouped In the centre. and all quiet
~ grazing. The oxen always take this
position when "a halt Is called without be-
ing urged or directed by the 'vaqueros"
in charge of the herd. If bull breaks
through the Gordon and starts to run
away two of the oxen Will leave their
places. head him OFF" and bring him
back between them. The bulls are ac-
customed TO the control or the oxen al
most from calfhood. and their extreme
nerceness is hardly ever manifested until
they are separated from them, on the
night preceding the "corrida," and shut
ND in the close. dark "chiqueros," where
they remain for nearly sixteen hours
without food or water. We saw how THIS
Feparation was effected sitting up until
after midnight in order TO do so. The
treacherous oxen. following the guidance
of the "vaqueros," bring their charges
into the square enclosure on which the
'chiqueros" open, and are then quietly
let out; one by one through secret
floor the bells on their neckS making
merry jingle the while. When the last
DIX disappears through the mysterious
foor the bulls, their suspicious now FUZZY
aroused, become restless and angry, ana
exhibit a determination to get out OF
that" even IL they have to tear down the
house. They quickly lrealizs however
Door brutes. that the stone walls were
built TO good purpose indeed, SO far as
their frantic and futile efforts to escape
are concerned. Suddenly narrow door
opens, apparently by some Invisible
agency, and the. first hull to see the open
Ing darts into II. thinking to rejoin his be-
loved oxen again. The thick door bangs
sharply to behind him. just grazing the
nose OF n fellow-captive that had started
10 follow him, and he finds himself in
stall so narrow that he can scarcely turn
himself around in it, and with only light
enough from a hole In the floor above to
render darkness visible. The "thump' of
the door that has shut him In has hardly
ceased to echo through the immense
structure when another similar door opens
an the herd Of. six are safely secured Tor
the morrow's bloody combat.
THE FIGHT.
The hour fixed for the fight was 4:3O
p. NJ, and 1t began promptly at the
stroke of the clock. The value Of time,
as a rule, Is not much appreciated in
Spain. but II seems TO be point OF honor
among the people who run the bull
running" that IL shall commence at the
advertised tine to the minute. Just before
the opening we. In common with num-
Der OF other invited guests were enter
tained at a magnificent lunch. which was
almost princely In its appointments. IN
pne of the great "bodegas' of Mr.. Os-
borne who stimulated our appetites with
The remark that mo man could witness
\ bull-nght successfully on an empty
ntomach." The box we occupied at the
8rht was on the first "corredor. near
that of the president" and afforded an
ADVANTAGEOUS view OF the exciting
spectacle AS the first strains OF the
hand fioated out on the air the two mata-
6ors. ''Guerrita'r and "Bombita" dhe
Arst one of the most noted In SPAIN,
marched into the arena, side by side,
At the head Of their respective QUAD
kiilas" or corps of assistants. each QUAD
fila numbering six or eight men. They
were all dressed In gorgeous costumes,
md presented very striking and Inn
Dosing appearance. They marched across
HE arena in double-file to n point directly
In front OF the Presidents box. and. after
yaiuting him. at once began stripping on
ihedr beautifully ornamented "capas'
fcloaks), and headgear. preparatory TO the
Hpnibat, throwing the garments TO friends.
nnopg the spectators. All of them wore
kheir back hair In a cue, which was coiled
In O small knot at the back OF the head,
With the plated end or ''pig-taif' left
free This natural cue Is an invariabie
bnark OF professional buii-hghter In
BLOOD BEGINS TO FLOW.
The first bull let out was a Set black
Dne with an exceedingly ugly" express
pion on his wrinkled countcnance. lie
bad pair OF sharp. black-tipped horns
turving backwards. somewhat after the
fashion Of Malay daggers. He was sharp
pet with hunger and thirst. and was IN
} very bad humor. and. without even
bowling to the audience. he proceeded TO
"clesr the ring" The men on foot easily
racared him by leaping nimbly over the