New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-09
THEY LOST THE BULL-FlGlT
ATLANTA PEOPLE REGRET THE LACK OF
ONE OF THE FAIR ATTRACTIONS
1T WAS TO BE A SHAM AFFAIR. WITH ALL THE
PIcTrREsot-ENEss AND NONE OF THE DAN

TT WAS To RE A SHAM AFFAIR. WITH ALI. THE
PIcTuREsorENEss AND NONE OF THE DAN
GER OF THE REAL THING.
Atlanta Ga. oct (SpeciaD.-The Mexican bull
Och, which was 10 be one Of the best craving
cards OF the Atlanta Fair and which was ai'er al
a Mexican Irish bulr' fight. is sore spot III En-
postlon matters and the man with the sr'e'a"'e
OF the day is ]. b. Portous. the "cohcess'ohai'.
q, the Mexican village. Mr. Porteus was born III
Minnesota but by VIDE travel ana many a"'e'
lures he has acquired seven languages ana inucn
experience the latter especially m regard TO Dull
fights and their relation to Southern eNpos''o"S
and Northern cranks." he expresses H.
In the early days OF Turing attractions and max
ing preliminary adjustments for fair. the Board
OF Directors were overjoyed TO give MI Poret" the
privilege Cfor a gratifying consideration OF import
ing n real live bull-hght with all the picturesque
accompanmenis thereto but with the elements Oh
danger and bIoodshed eliminated For Il - pos
sible so SAID Mr. Porteus. to have your bui.-lsnts
with difference.
FIGHTERS BULLS AND HORSES ALL EN-
Gagged.
The bull-hghters. fourteen OF them. were engaged
the amphi,heatre was begun, and the buls ana
horses the way. when man from up
Moth" (whom Frank Stanton has called Mr.
HULA Bal.ouO raised such a commoton that the
fair directors voted 20 forbid the bull-fght This
was after much protesting by them that the bull
0ght was TO 6e perfectly guileless-only mere OBJ
iec,-csson o. a bull-hgh simple going through
Of the motions.
4 walk through the Mexican village with Mr.
Porteus a few days since showed that this would
have been exactly the case and an interesting and
unite harmless performance. The argument ac-
count of the cruelty the animals. says Mr.
Porteus, is ridiculous, as there Is no chance OF
hurt 10 men. horses or bulls. The tempes; IN a tea
not has done a thousand times crGeller work TO the
pockets OF the exhibition in general and OF MI
Por;eus in particular than could have been wrought
by the entertainment projected IN the attractive
foreign Enclosure. Cruelty the only argument
raised in the discussion. II there are any esoterc
reasonngs on the futility OF curiosity about Dull
fights and kindred d.gress.ons relative to the point
at ISSUE they make another story that mas not
been touched upon.
SAFEGUARDS THAT WERE TO RE ADOPTED
The director Of the village glad to give cor
rect description, showing every feature concerned
of the fight that was to have been shown daily
OF course. a bull that would fight was a necessty
to each performance. but his horns were to be Sc
curely padded. These pads are made OF the heavi-
est kind OF solelea her. just the shape and length
OF the horns. and fitting entirely over them down
TO the head. They have large. round knobs OF
leather on the ends. making 1t quite Impossible for
the angriest bull to gore anything. The horses have
amor for breasts and buttocks. made OF the same
impervious material shaped Ike the oldtime tour
ney caparisons. These ornamental and en-
tirely protect the clever little beasts. that are
trained thoroughly for their parts and love the
excitement much racehorses or the men who
ride them In the sham bu.l-fght the matadors
and picadores dress usual in fantastic and bright
colored costumes, with especial shields for pro-
lection. because none are necessary. The usual
batting OF the bull and the customary passes and
leaps and evolutons take place. and when the buil
occurs in Spain and Mexico. by stabblng the bull
in the back Of the neck. folding sword is used
which simply shuts up, not even puncturing the
skin Of the animal.
SMALL SATISFACTION.
Mr. Porteus has gone to large expense In making
his preparations for this fight that spells fasco,
and the only satisfaction he has apparently been
able 10 get from 1t is mild joke that he has per-
petrated. A strip OF white canvas encrces the out
side of the tiers OF seats which were TO have been
occupied by enthusa stic audiences On this Is
printed in large black letters. visible for long dis
lance in the grounds. This is the amphitheatre
The handsome bull-fghters out OF Job in their
bright coored suits and Wide hats, have at least peen
picturesque accessories to the various buildings ana
promenades OF the fair grounds, giving an inspiring
q IRE e1 1ns do inc mot nsh
OF these men brought their own horses and these;
notions Of Mexican ponies" They are beautifully
plump and graceful little creatures, with small,
delicate heads and symmetrical bodies that do not
in the least resemble the nobby scrawny border
ponies with which Americans are familiar one,
the most ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WHO Was tH6dbcu
TO come here not much concerned at leaving
his wife behind him. but he refused to bulge
step unless allowed to bring his own especial pony
which has been constantly with him for seven
years. The head matador IL a graduate or a school
OF bul-fghting I'm Spain. and several others are
equally famous in Mexico
HOPING FOR THE FIGHT STILL.
II is not possible for any one who knows all the
facts and circumstances OF this matter to hope
otherwise than tina. the sham bu-fght Is in a
state OF suspended animation, and every one con-
cerned Is looking for reenting on the part OF
the exposition directors.
But the Mexican village is bound to have some
fun, and. II not a bull-hght. then there will be a
wedding This is to take place In few days-as
pair can be mated. IL Is thought that
the delay is in the courtship. IL seems that new
woman" ideas have not entered the village, ana the
maiden. who Is ready and wiling. Is waiting for
the prospective bridegroom to make UP his mind to
pop the question.
These prospects call up some "reminiscences in the
minds OF Atantans Of celebrated wedding that
took place at the Cotton Fair held here fourteen
years ago. At that time two couples were mar
wa!stcoat and trousers made OF cotton cloth. the
girls in dresses made Of the same. the cotton for
which picked. cleaned. spun and woven on the
fair grounds These clothes were made by the
expense of the exposition company. and each bride
presented with 800. There were other money
perqusites for exhibiting themselves In their unique
wedding garments at the fair and In show windows
OF the town These sensible and practical young
/ people obtained enough cash to buy good
farms in Southern Georgia. and there they are
thriving this time They date all their prosperity
from their romantic. II trying, exhibition OF them
selves.
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