The San Francisco call., 1895-07-31
A Day Devoted to the Pas
times of the Old Span
ish Residents.
BULL.BAITING THE FEATURE.
Reputed Fierce and Vicious Brutes
Apparently AWed by Their
Surroundings.

SANTA BARBARA, CAL, July 30.-Gay
pennants floating and flags waving pro-
claimed the opening of the unique exhibi-
tion at the fair grounds to-day. The entire
Spanish-American population, which the
day before had given the bicycle races luke
warm attention, turned out in full force,
and with it came fashionable society at
tendance, drawn thither by the desire to
witness the reproduction of spectacle OF
the historical town-a genuine bull-baiting,
such as was once weekly occurrence IN
the old Plaza de la Guerra.
The entertainment opened with prelim-
mary exercises of breaking wild broncos, a
display of fine horsemanship and skillful
use of the lasso by Spanish-American va
queros.
Then the great event of the day was her.
aided by the plunge of great Durham
bull into the arena. The animal was big
and strong and fierce looking enough to
promise rare sport for excitement lovers,
but after one look at the thousands of
faces staring at him over the fence he cow
cred to one side of the arena in fear and
terror.
Then Guadalupe Rosales, clad in gen.
uine matador costume of scarlet plush
waistcoat and knee-breeches, trimmed and
embroidered with silver braid, said to be a
professional bull-fghter from the City of
Mexico in reduced circumstances, with
Jose Espinosa, in pink and white, and vi.
cente Valenzuela, in red and white, ad-
vanced upon the bull, Haunting gay scarfs
in his face. The fierce beast, the terror of
the place where he was reared, the savage
and invincible man-eater from tho San
Marcos rancho, turned tail and ran, hotly
pursued by the matadors.
Horsemen next descended upon the ami
NAL with lassos and threw him to the
earth, where a stout cinch was fastened
around him, and Espinosa attempted to
fulfill his boasted promise to ride on the
bulls horns. The bull rose to his feet
with head hanging to the ground, placing
Espinosa in an attitude far from graceful,
and obstinately maintained this posture
for five minutes. His ear was violently
twisted and he began to prance, and the
first move threw the rider in the dust.
The now thoroughly enraged animal
dashed about the arena, believing and
plunging, first aiming at the horsemen,
then at the men on foot. For a time the
spectacle was quite up to the ancient
standard, with the brilliantly dressed ath-
letes shaking their scarfs in the animals
eyes, then skillfully lodging or running to
cover when the bull made a fierce direct
attack. But the animals fury soon SUBJ
sided and it was only by repeated throw
ing with the lasso and jerking him about
the arena at the end of ropes and battering
him on the nose with plank that the
brute was maintained in fighting temper.
Once one old vaquero on horseback, old
Chemango, jumped to the ground and en-
gagged in the sport, doing the best work of
the day but exposing himself so recklessly
that on one occasion he was thrown to the
ground and rolled over by the enraged ami
NAL, but regalned his feet unhurt.
The next feature of the programme was
the batting of small white heifer, weigh
ing perhaps 400 pounds. OF the work done
with this poor little animal the least said
the better. 1t was finally permitted to
escape from the pit with bleeding nose
and bathed in sweat. In the alleyway
leading to the stalls she was designedly
knocked down by yaquero.
The second bull brought into the pit was
a small black and white Jersey, plainly
appalled, by its new surroundings-the din
of music and the shouts of the spectators.
All attempts to make this little creature
show fight were useless until he was
thrown to the ground; and Espinosa sue
ceeded in riding him several times around
the pit amid laughter and applause The
animal resented this indignity by making
a few fierce dashes at its tormentors, and
WAS finally driven out.
The programme con eluded with an exhi-
bition of fancy horsemanship by boys and
young men and picking up gold pieces
from the ground while riding at full gal
lop. George Van Robbins distinguished
himself by graceful and skillful riding.