The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-10-13
BULL EIeHT IN YucATAN.
The Ball Tortured Inss . Rryazy a.a
Barnsd VITA Gunpowdsr.


Barned VITA Gunpowdsr.
In the line of architecture the bull
ring of Oxcutzoob. where it Is said
the best bull fights in Yucatan are
now held, Is ~ curious and original
q structure as the late Brigham
Young's umbrellalike tabernacle.
IL Is merely a huge scaffold, perhaps
1,sO0 feet in circumference, erected
and held together without a nail. be-
ing made of poles bound together
with withes. The interior Is inclosed
by long poles crossing and interlao-
ing each other. and in like manner
IL Is divided into boxes by interlAo-
ing poles. The whole forms n gi-
gantis frame Of rustic latticework.
assisted by the thatoh of palm
leaves It win hold perhaps 1000
people. with its customary packing.
but though there were only \ few
hundred on tho occasion of which I
write the great fraI scaffold trem-
bled and swayed alarmingly when
excitementran high. Over the doors
Of the boxes" Is inscribed "Placio
No. !. "Placio No. 2" etc, and
there Is considerable choice in the
seats. as one side Is exposed 20 the
full blaze of the sun.
Each box has its separate P-oprie-
tor, who stands in tho doorway in
viting you TO ascend. holding in his
hand a short ladder Of four or FIVE
steps For n medic you may have n
seat In the sun, or for four times
that amount (dos reales. 25 cents) q
front bench on the shady side. and
in either case you may remain all
day IL you like or ms long as you can
stand the barbarous sport On this
holy occasion tho population Of OK
, outzoob was out en- masse. including
large proportion of women and
children At the feet Of those occu-
pying the front seat was wedged n
compact row Of boys and girls. with
their heads poked through the rail-
ing and their black legs dangling
/ down, fringing the whole circle of
the amphitheater. Opposite tho
/ judges stand was n band Of music,
the leader Of which wore a grotcsque
mask oarioaturing a negro's face
though his own was black and ugly
enough in oil conscience.
It was the usual cowardly, cruel
speotaole-in one particular even
meaner than any I have ever seen
before. After torturing the bull
into n frenzy Of rage they lassoed
and held him firmly by the horns
while the pioadors fixed upon his
back the figure of n soldier in q cock
cd hat seated in n saddle Both SOL
der and saddle were made Of wood,
paper and gunpowder. forming =
formidable piece of firework. When
IL was firmly secured. all fell back ai
q safe distance. The picadors mount
ed and with poised spears took their
places in tho ring. the band struck
up the Mexican hymno naoional.
and at tho instant the moose was
slipped liberating the bull the rock
cts were let of within q few feet OF
tho animals nose.
His first dash was furious. Mad.
dened by the whizzing and eKplo.
sion, tho shouts Of the crowd and
the fire and smoke of tho engine OF
torture on his back. he dashed blind.
ly at every pioador. receiving thrust
after thrust from their spears
Finally the powder burned out. and
the poor beast. streaming with blood
and roasted back, beloved for mer.
oy and crawled feebly around ths
ring. looking in vain for some way
Of escape and raising imploring eye'
10 tho spectators. but finding nc
mercy even In the mild faces Of The
women and children. It was a hor
rible sight, and am almost glad 4
tell you that before tho three bull
? which had been provided for the aft
srnoon's sport were dispatched sew
eral of the brutal picadors were IN
r horsed and received injuries whicl
will disable them for many = day
. And was amazed 10 hear . part!
near me complaining that bull fight
are nowadays such tame affairs ]
Is we'll known that President DiAz
: not in favor of the national divert
: isement and keeps it under 20 man.
restrictions that its dangers are be
= ing greatly mitigated-and its ex
elements as well-Merida Letter.