Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28

Copyright. 1896 by Bachelor, Jensen Z Bacheller)
PART
'Toro! Toror' shouted the crowd. Bravo.
Toror'
And thunder of applause rent the air.
It was the first bull fight Of the season.
All Madrid was there. The scene was daz-
cling in its wealth of light and color. Cano-
pied by the deep blue sky, the jewels Of the
grand ladies', the bright kerchiefs of the
poorer women and the profusion of flowers,
worn by high ard low alike, gii;tered and
sloWel in the brilliant sunshine. The tn
multi of voices, the rafting of fans, the con-
slant movement, as with cries and gestures
the spectators urged on the performers In
their daring feats, made a bewildering up
roar which battles description. Popular ex-
element grew as the Corrida proceeded.
The first three bulls were dispatched with
out any unusual incident, and q fourth was
about to be led int the arena. The roar of
voices sUbsided into a surginS murmur,
above which the creakins and groaninS OF
the great door of the ganado as 1t pushed
open for the bull to enter was distinctly au-
dibIe. Then a breathleSs silence fell On the
vast multitude and a scufl,ng and tramp
ing was heard which drew nearer and near
er till it became a steady thud of hoofS. and
The spectators greeted him with loud,
snhuman yell; he tossed his head proudly
and paved up the ground as he looked de-
FAINT around, flashing his glossy sides With
his tail. A splendid creature, standing there
alone. surrounded by his enemies. Then,
with naughty below. he lowered his head
and charged the nearest picador.
In few minutes it became apparent that
this bull was what is called in Toro slang
resabiio-i. e., a bull which charges with
his eyes open. Such bulls make the bull
fight a contest OF life and death for the
toreros.
Again and again he cleared the arena.
the toreros saving themselves By escaping
behind the eight foot barrier which sur
rounds the bull ring, the wretched horses
lying dead or dying ON the blood-stained
sand within.
The plebeian portion of the audience were
wrought to a state of frenzy: even the fine
ladies' and gentlemen in the boxes threw
aside their affec.aton of well-bred indif-
ference, and, rising, leaned forward, wav-
ing their handkercniefs ard fans 1t was
felt that some fatal accident must occur
unless the bull were soon killed. \ foreign
prince sitting beside the king grew ner-
vous and III whisper begged him to give
the signal for the animal to receive Its
coup de grace But King AlfonZo heStat-
ed His INDIGESTION was ended by the ap-
pearance of n torero who had not yet
shown himself, and who now strolled for
ward from one Of the side entrances and
walked across the arena A thrill went
through the whole assembly and every eye
was fixed on MIN. The climax of the bull
hight had arrived.
Guapito, the first espada of Spain, was
about to pit himself against the best bull
OF this or many previous seasons.
The bull was in possession Of the
arena and was finglng his huge bulk
against the barrier over which a flying
Eanderillero had just escaped. The wooden
pallSade cracked and rocked as he re-
newed the attack again and again If not
diverted NJ: oh f,,-n = a
get amongst the spectators. an accident
which mas occasionally happened with ex-
ceptionally ferocious bulls.
Bright q butterfly, his close-ftting COS
tune of crimson satin laced with gold set
ting off his well-knit figure, Guapito went
quietly behind the bull and seized hin, by
the tail The Infatuated beast turned brisk
- around and stood for a minute cycling
lis puny assailant in surprise. The espada
placed his HAND on his hip and waited.
Then tEmult arose to which all the
previous hubhub had been as nothing; the
excitement which had been growing AMI
Spreading from person to person in that
Vast assembly since the beginning of the
corrida rev burst forth and madness pos
ssssed item; feeble old men caught in the
vortex bent themselves double and stretch
ing their fists toward the bull shrieked
1trth curses; little children flung their
aims in the air and screamed: ladies' sent
TIER fans and bouquets men their hats
skimnjng into the arena, moved by an
insane impulse compelling them to some
In the meantime, perfectly lpraoyed ny
the uproar, Guapito was watching the bull
and gradually the noise died away and
every eye was strained and every muscle
stineHed, as the audience watched the trial
OF skill between man and beast, which is
the acme of bCll-fig htinS science
As the bull advanced Guapito rctreated
now leapins lightly to this size, now bound
ing 10 that, sometimes waiting till the ami
H.alS horns Were WITHIN a few inches of
his side. when with twist on lis heel he
would avoid them by hairs breadth, and
placing his hand on the creatures back
as il Numbered past, vault over it only
TO run swiftly on and place himself again
In Its path These and many other feats
ne displayed, the audience showing their
app ecldtion of the dangerous game by
alternate shouts of: Bravo, Guapitor'
Bravo, Toro.' which rang out as one or 9TH
er gained a momentary advantage. Suddenly
a man who was leaning over the barriers,
= following tie contest with concentrated at
tention- was observed to cry out and wave
bis arms in excited gesticulation. Guapito
had his back to him. and was walking
slowly backward waiting for the bull to
charge; he was, therefore, unaware of the
danger against which the man tried to
warn him. By some unprecedented care
1essness the broken end of a picador's lance
had been left lying among the carefully
rakcii sand of the arena.
"Cu;dddo,' shouted the man.
But as ne called the bull charged, Qua
pitO stepped backward. put his foot on the
obstacle, slipped. made a frantic endeavor
to recover his balance, and the next instant
Was raised aloft on the horns of the brute
and flung, shapeless heap, half across
the arena. AT that moment every soul in
the plaza was on foot; the bull rushed on
to renew the attack But even as Guapito
tripped. two toreros had run out from be-
hiHd the barrier, and now, acting together
The first flung his cloak over Guapto's
PROSTATE form, while the other, swooping
forward like some brisht-plumaged bird,
passed and repassed swiftly between the
-
RS