The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-04-17
THE BULL:F|GH|[RS SECRET
BY Mary Lovelt Cameron.

air.
1t was the first bull fight of the sea
son. All Madrid was there. The scene
was dazzling in it's wealth of light anC
color. Canopied by the deep blue sky
the jewels of the grand ladies. the
bright kerchiefs of the poorer womel
and the profusion of flowers worn by
high and low alike, glittered and glowet
in the brilliant sunshine The tumult OF
voices, the rattling of fans, the con
slant movement, as with cries anl
gestures the spectators urged on thu
performers in their daring feats, made
IL bewillering uproar which battles de
scription. Popular excitement grew as
the Corrida proceeded.
The first three bulls were dispatched
without any unusual incident, and 4
fourth was about to be led into Tho
arena. The roar of voices subsidized into
a surging murmur, above which thu
creaking and grooming of the grea1
door of the ganado as it pushed opeI
for the bull to enter was distinctly
audible. Then a GREATNESS silence fel
on the vast multitude, and scutflins
and tramping was heard, which drew
nearer and nearer till it became IL steady
tItu uVOASN UittCA
galloped into the arena.
The spectators greeted him with q
loud. inhuman yell: he tossed his head
proudly and paved up the ground as
he looked defantly around, flashing his
glossy sides with his tail. A splendid
creature, standing there alone, sur
rounded by his enemies. Then with q
naughty below he lowered his head anC
charged the nearest picador.
In a few minutes it became apparent
that this bull was what is called in Tor,
slang resabido-i. e., a bull which charges
with his eyes open. Such bulls make
the bull fight contest of life and death
for the tOreros.
Again and again he cleared the arena
the toreros saving themselves by es.
Gaping behind the eight-foot barrier
which surrounds the bull ring, the
wretched horses lying dead or dying on
the bloodstained sand within.
The plebian portion of the audience
were wrought to state of frenzy: even
the fine ladies and gentlemen in the
boxes threw aside their affectation OF
well-bred Indifference, and, rising, leaned
forward, waving their handkerchiefs and
fans. 1t was felt that some fatal acct
dent must occur unless the bull were
soon killed. A foreign prince sitting be-
whisper begged him to give the sigma
for the animal to receive it's coup-de
grace. But King Alfonso hesitated. His
indecision was ended by the appearance
of a torero who had not yet shown him
self, and who now strolled forward from
one of the side entrances and walked
across the arena. A thrill went through
the whole assembly and every eye wa:
fixed ON him. The climax of the bull
fight had arrived.
Guapito, the first Espada of Spain
was about to pit himself against the
best bull OF this, or many previous sea
sons.
The bull was in possession of thu
arena. and was flinging his huge bull
against the barrier over which fyine
Banderillero had just escaped. Thu
wooden palisade cracked and rocked a!
he renewed the attack again and again
If not diverted the animal might over
throw it and get amongst the specta
tors. an accident which has OCCASIONAL,
happened with exceptionally ferociou:
bulls.
Bright as butterfly. his close-fittins
costume Of crimson satin laced will
gold. setting off his well-knit figure
Guapito went quietly behind the bull
ScIAcu W luc Ldll HI
furjated beast turned briskly round ant
stood for minute ewing his puny as
sailant i'll surprise. The espada placed
his hand on his hip and waited.
Then a tum,lt arose to which all the
previous hubbub had been as nothing
the excitement which had been CROWN.
and spreading from person to person il
that vast assembly since the beginning
of the corrida, now burst forth ant
madness possessed them: feeble old men
caught in the vortex, bent themselve!
double and stretching their fists TOWARD
the bull shrieked forth curses; littl.
children flung their arms in the air ane
screamed; ladies sent their fans an(
bouquets, men their hats, skimming int
the arena, moved by an insane impuls.
compelling them to some action, how
ever absurd.
In the meantime, perfectly unmove,
by the uproar, Guapito was watchin,
the bull, and gradually the noise die,
away and every eye was strained an,
every muscle stiffened, as the audienc
watched the trial of skill between MAJ
and beast, which is the acme of bull
fighting science.
AS the bull advanced Guapito re
treated, now leaping lightly to this side
now bounding to that, sometimes wait
ing till the animals horns were within
a few inches of his side, when with :
twist on his heel he would avoid then
by a hairs breadth, and placing his han,
on the creatures back, as it thunderet
past. vault over it only to run swift.
on and place himself again in it's path
These and many other feats he displayed
the audience showing their appreciation
Of the dangerous game by alternate
shouts of, ''Bravo! Guapito!' "Bravo
Ioro!' which rang out as one or tn
other gained a momentary advantage
Suddenly man who was leaning owe
the barriers. following the contest will
concentrated attention, was observed t,
cry out and wave his arms in excite,
gesticulation. Guapito had his back t,
him. and was walking slowly backward
waiting for the bull to charge, he was
therefore, unaware of the danger agains
which the man tried to warn him. 3,
some unprecedented carelessness tn
broken end of a picador's lance had beef
left lying amongst the carefully rake,
sand of the arena.
''Cuidador' shouted the man.
~ But rs he called, Inc bull charged
Guapito stepped backwards. put his foo
on the obstacle, slipped, made franti
endea!or to recover his balance, and tn
next instant was raised aloft on tn
horns OF the brute and flung, a shapeles
heap, half across the arena. At tina
moment every soul in the plaza was OF
foot, the bull rushed on to renew the at
tack. But even as Guapito tripped, tw,
toreros had run out from behind the bar
rier, and now, acting together, the frs
flung his cloak over Guapito's prostrat,
form, while the other, swooping forwart
like some bright-plumaged bird, passet
and repassed swiftly between the bul
and his helpless victim The animal be
came confused. and letting his attention
be diverted from his first object, he pur
sued the. flying meteor across the arena
while he did so. two chulos rushed ou
and catching up the senseless body Of tn,
espada, bore him swiftly into a place o.
safety. .s4sy - ~. j. @.l.. =
q .+"5 - = L&:E =
A great gasp of relief went round the
plaza and then hum, of many voices
arose, discussing, questioning, exclailn.
ing. The aficionados rose iii q body and
went behind the scenes to inquire fol
the torero;; IN accident which would be