The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-09-25
sULL FIGHT lN YucATAN.


In The line Of architecture the huh
ring of Oxcutzooh. where it is said
the best bull fights in Yuoatan ara
now held, is as curious and original
a structure as the late Brigham
Yourg's umbrellalike tabernacle.
It is merely a huge scaffold, perhaps
/, 500 feet in circumference, erected
and held together without a nail, be-
ing made of poles bound together
with withes. The interier is inclosed
by long poles crossing and interlao-
ing each other, and in like manner
it is divided into boxes by interlso-
ing poles. The whole forms q gi-
gantie frame of rustic latticework,
assisted by the thatoh of palm
leaves. 1t will hold perhaps 5000
people, with its customary packing,
but though there were only few
hundred on the occasion of which
write the great frail scaffold trem-
bled and swayed alarmingly when
excitementran high. Over the doors
of the boxes is inscribed "Placio
No. /, "Placio No. g" ETC., and
there is considerable choice in the
seats, as one side is exposed to the
full blaze of the sun.
Each box has its separate proprie-
tor, who stands in the doorway in
viting you to ascend, holding in his
hand a short ladder of tour or five
steps. For medic you may have a
seat in the sun, or for four times
that amount (dos reales. 25 cents) a
front bench on the shady side, and
in either case you may remain all
day If you like or as long as you can
stand the barbarous sport. On this
holy occasion the population of OK.
cutzcob was out en- masse, including
a large proportion of women and
children. At the feet of those occu-
pying the front seat was wedged a
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
tho amphitheater. Opposite the
judges stand was band of music
5 the leader of which wore a grotesque
!, mask oarioaturing a negro's face
though his own was black and ugly
enough in all conscience.
1t was the usual cowardly, cruel
l. spectacle-in one particular ever
i meaner than any have ever seeI
before. After torturing the bul
into a frenzy of rage they lassoeC
s and held him firmly by the horns
5 while the pinadors fixed upon hi
back the figure of a soldier in a cock
ed hat seated in a saddle. Both sol
der and saddle were made of wood
n paper and gunpowder, forming
formidable piece of firework. Whel
it was firmly secured, all fell back a
q safe distance. The picadors mount
n ed and with poised spears took thei
? places in the ring, the band struol
up tho Mexican hymno nacional
- and at the instant the moose wa
slipped liberating the bull the rock
cts were let off within a few feet o
, the animals nose.
y His first dash was furious. Mad
d dened by the whizzing and explo
g sion, the shouts of the crowd an,
p the fire and smoke of the engine o
torture on his back, he dashed blind
4 ly at every pioador, receiving thrus
Y after thrust from their spears
t Finally the powder burned out, an
O the Pcor beast, streaming with bloo
e, and roasted back, beloved for mer
cy and crawled feebly around tn
y ring, looking in vain for some wa
y of escape and raising imploring eye
s to the spectators, but finding n
! mercy even in the mild faces of tn
= women and children. 1t was hor
= rible sight, and am almost glad t
tell you that before the three bull
o which had been provided for the aft
e ernoon's S sport were dispatched sex
eral of the brutal picadors were ur
horsed and received injuries whic
will di! Pble them for many a day
}. And / as amazed to hear a part
near me complaining that bull fight
are nowadays such tame affairs.
;, is we'll known that President Diaz
i not in favor of the national divert
o isement and keeps it under so man
u restrictions that its dangers are be
. ing greatly mitigated-and its o.
4 citements as well.-Merida Letter.
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