Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-07-14
BULL FIGHTS IN MEXICO
--.eae&N-
a Brutal asportn Graphically Described.

& a Brutal asportn G
Every Mexican city has one or two
bull rings, and IN at least two cities
there are double rings where two
fights can be seen at the same time for
one admission fee, on. the plan Of the
big American. circuses. Troupes Of
bull fighters travel FROM one city TO
another, just the same as circuses,
: playing engagements of several weeks
Ii each cits and receiving stipulated
slnd for each performance.
Bull fights are Held on Sundays and
feast days; 1t was to ths Plaza de
Toros ball ring that the writer made
his way. This ring is shaped like an
amphitheatrs, open TO the sky. The
arena is inelosed by plank fence. four
feet high, with a rail foot wide,
eighteen inches from the ground on
the inside, on which performers step
and vault over the fence when too
hotly pursued by an angry bull, land
ing in o narrow alley that separates
the fence from the first row of seats.
The arena is zoe feet in diameter, and
the foor is Of sand, packed hard.
Back ez the alley twenty tires of plank
seats rise up. Above these are the
boxes, furnished with chairs, crowded
closely together. Facing the arena on
the fret tier Of seats is the private box
: Jf The referee and his bugler, and near
byI IS the band stand. The amphithe-
stre win seat 1e, 600 people. The adj
S,1iissio1 ranges from twenty-five cents
: 20 81, seats, on the sunny side of the
ring costing just one-half as much as
those In the shade. A box costs from
IS to $40, and will hold from four to
ten people. 25s
The fights begin at 8 O'Clock and
endat 6, but the crowd begins to.
a7a11a an hour before the sport begins.
Mexican peons sssszar, s6sslz.Sss none q
them is sopoor that he cannot 63g up
money enough tleast every other Sun,
day TO bny ticket for The bull fight.
They sit so close together on the
sunny side thattheir broad brim, high
crown straw hats resemble circles of
toaazstools. The well-to-do and
fashionablss occupy the boxes, and
there sllIays 4 LIBERAL spgipl ling OF
g'sSAntv minutes before 3 o'clock
the band arrived and was welcomed.
with d prolonged cheer from the
bieachers. The leader arose and
bowed his Acknowledgements, and
then the band struck up quickstep:s
Then came the referee, and he was
ehesred. too. The referee is aGov=,
ernment or State official, and has
charge of the performance. It is his
duty to see that the bulls have fair
show. to impose fines if members OF
the troupe do not put up good tight,
and to act as master of ceremonies.
The sport is governed by as stringent
rules as prize fighting. One rule is
that the bull must always be attacked
from the front, never from the rear or
side. To violate this rule means
: fineand an unmerciful scoring from the
Sbleachers, who are as sharp critics as
: those who sit in an opera house gal
lery. -.
The referee no sooner takes his
seat than an indescribable yell goes
from the impatient bleachers. The
..asarsa oode to his buoler. who blows
ths signal blast. The band strikes
tlp. The gates opposite the referees
box swing open and tie troupe OF bull
fighters enters the arena, advancing
to- the referees stand and bowling low
The matador heads the procession
He is the star performer, who finall.
kills the bull, considered the most eS
citing and perilous fest performed
He IS followed by the cspeadors, ,wh
Aaunt gaudily colored rcapes at tn
bull TO anger him. Then como tn
bsnderilleros, who, when the bull
sufficiently stirred mp, thrust shar
barbs on each side of his yertebri
that make him wild with rage. Th
pfcadors follow on horseback, and tn
PROCESSION ends up with three whit
mules. harnessed abreast, with brigh'
colored ribbons flying fromthe harnet
and strings of tiny bells iingling. III
mules drawout the dead bull at the en-
of each act.
Your first thought is that bull tigi
is tame affair. The little processic
Is pleasing to the eye, and the feeilr
Of horror that possesses you when .ye
sat down has worn away. The men a
.picturesquely dressed in knee breeche
short velvet jackets, trimmed with 90
lace and silver braid, and silk hos
They might be French playactors, al
they step about and bow In: as court
manner as o prince might. ~
bleachers applaud the paraders lol
and loudly. The horses are gaily {
pafjsc-sa, and the trappings hide 7
fact that they are poor, old, worno
), hacks that have been. doped "a
fed up for the killing. The mpl
are driven uut, and the tsoupe arran
themselves about the arena.
The music Of the band ceases ant
hush comes, over the 5000 people "
hsye gsthered to see the sport. l
referee mods to his bugler. Before
blast has died away the lew ga
Opposite tn, band stand fly open
the buIl enters the arena from the d'
pen where he has been confined
shree days. Jnstas he passes UNI
the railing ID dart, to which are
fached the colors Of his breeder,
thrust into his shoulder, and the p
maddens hmm. He comes bellowlne
the csntre OF the arena, and the brl
sunshine blinds him for an insts
Hs atnns and stares at the. howl