San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-24

is expected that many OF them be
would be killed and therefore, they
say it would not pay to use better
horses.
The bull ring, or rather as it 81
called Plaza del forests situated in
the Buccareli. 1t is the chief and
largest ring in Mexico. Thither,
being anxious to see bull fight,
1 wendell my way. l found that it
was a large unroofed ampithea-
tire circular in shape having gal
leried ats,etc., that would accom-
modate several thousand people.
Long before the hour fixed for the
fight the seats were well filled by
innumerable senoras and senorit-
as, most of whom were gaily
dressed, some of radiant beauty.
There were also numbers of gentle
men that were exceedingly we'll
dressed. Sprinkled all over were
poems of both sexes, some only half
clad, for il a Mexican can only
scrape his so cents together to sit
in the sun he will gladly do it even
If he has to endure semi-starva-
ton for the coming week.
All were excited and the excite
ment was intensified when the
president took his seat and the
caballero rode up and saluted him
amid martial music by the band.
The salute was returned and the
,>rocfInpt fhraxy Tho ooha11aro fha
key of the bull pen. This was
caught and the heavens were rent
with applause; if the caballero
had dropped the key he would
have had a shower OF Kisses and
perhaps missiles.
The band then played stirring
air and then in marched the bull
fighters all in their regulation,
picturesque dress, with their red
cloaks and other necessary para
phernalia. These marched to the
presidents seat, amid tumultuous
cheers of the people, and saluted
that officer. The salute was
acknowledged and the order given
for the fight to commence. The
bull fighters took their assigned
stations and then there was ST.
lence. All eyes were turned to
the bull pens. The door was
quickly opened and the bull there
in, seeing chance for liberty,
rushed into the ring snorting loud
IL and having head and tail erect.
AS he passed out a banderilla
stuck the first barb in him that in
dicated the hacienda from which
the bull came. Arriving at the
centre of the ring he stopped sud-
denly, amazed and scared by his
surroundings The bull, which
was a noble, spirited animal,
seemed to realize his position and
feeling the pricking of the barb
angrily paved the ground. Then
q capeadoro waved his red cloak
and the bull charged 80 violently
the capeadoro had only just time
to vault over fence, that sur
rounds the ring leaving an open
space between the ring and the
audience. This precaution has
saved the life Of many bull fight
ere. The horns of the bull struck
the fence violently and just
missed the capeadoro. A picca-
dore rode to the rescue of the
and the bull charged
the horse goring it so badly that
it died instantly with its entrails
on the ground. Another picca-
dore's horse was then SO wounded
that it had to be taken out and
killed. The capesdores kept the
bull engaged and irritating him by
the skilful manner in which the
cloaks were manipulated. They
stood in front of the bull who, mad
dened and confused, charged the
cloak instead of the man. Some
times however, the man is charged,
tossed and killed. The banderillas
worked in the same way with the
cloak, the only difference is this
that they stick banderillas in the
bull as he strikes the red cloak.
and passes them at a mad rush.
The piccadores also do consider
able lancing in protecting their
horses and relieving the capea-
dores and banderillas. At this
time the bull was bleeding all over,
painting and somewhat exhausted,
but still had considerable fight in
him. Then the order for the kill
ing was given and the matador en-
tered the ring. All watched
eagerly as the matador faced the
bull and waved his red cloak
The bull charged, only striking
the cloak. This was repeated a
few times when, as the bull passed
him, msddened and exhausted, the
matador deity turned and drove
his sword through the heart OF
the bull, who dropped dead. He
then drew a dagger, drove 1t into
the brain of the PROSTATE bull, and
his work was done. During this
ending OF the first fight the wild
est scenes Of enthusiasm prevailed.
Women waved their handkerchiefS