Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-01

10 begin and our party was on hand
thirty minutes ahead of time. The
bull pits are built in the form of an
amphitheatre, seats arranged all the way
round the circle and each row higher
than the one in front. The amphi-
theatre is in the open air and has no
top, excepting the boxes which aye the
highest tier of seats. The arena is level
ground and around it is board fence
about five feet high. This fence is
circed by narrow aisle, and then the
first row of seats start up at height
even with the top OF the fence The
aisle is used for the protection OF the
fighters, who, when holly pursued by
the maddened bull. jump over the
fence and are safe from the charge.
The Governor Of the state is Master of
Ceremonies and every Sunday after
noon finds him in his private box
directing the sport. His attendant
carries trumpet, and when that trum
pet is sounded, something happens.
Bucareli amphitheatre has seating
capacity of $4,000, and 1 was one of
5000 "looking on" within the strange
enclosure on the dav mentioned. Cast
ing an eye arounf apon the hardened
faces Of the Mexican audience, the
rough, unpainted boards and weather.
worn interior, strange, sickish feeling
came over me similar to that which
strikes the sympathetic novice when he
enters a slaughter house to see the kill
ing. [ wondered how long I could re-
main in this game, and resolved to stay
it through at any expense.
Three o'clock sharp The trumpet
blast ends my uncomfortable suspense.
The band begins to play, court gates
are thrown back wide, and the grand
opening pageant is before us in the
arena Four men with long lances
head the procession on horseback. four
more follow them on foot proudly at
tired in rich silks, gold embroidered.
Then come several others in suits of
black silk and golden laces, with long
double-edged swords in their hands,
and knots Of hair on the back Of their
heads, signifying that they have at
tanned to the highest position of honor
IN the art. With all the pomp Of Her.
od's slaughtermen this is their hour for
gore and glory. Two Mexican COW
boys are next on prancing bronchos.
They will draw out the dead horses.
Last to enter are three snow white
ponies harnessed abreast with pretty
colored strappings, and driven by sew
eral common helpers. These will draw
out the dead bulls. The parade files
out and now to business.
A great many questions have been
asked me concerning the bull fight and
[ find the general impression wrong as
to who does the fighting. Two bulls
are not entered to struggle against each
other. Only one is let in the ring at a
time. Bull fight. What mockery of
words; what misleading terms. Cruel.
inhuman bntchery is all there is to il,
and not a semblance of fair contest Of
any kind is seen from start to finish.
The bull fighters butchers rather are
divided into four classes. The ''mata-
dorcs" who kill bull with sword; "ban-
derilleros" who thrust ba1bed darts
(banderiIlas) into his neck; the "pica-
dores' who ride horses and prod the
bull with their lances, and the "capas"
who tease him with gaily colored cloths.
Instead Of a fight it is a bloody show,
with as many acts as there are divisions
of actors. The trumpet blows for cur
tain:
FIRST ACT: The side gate opens and
in rushes ferocious bull, monarch of
the cattle kind. His horns are long
and sharp. Woe be unto that which
gets in his path On his back are gayly
colored streamers attached to a steel
dart, thrust into him as he entered his
death hole. First blood.
With a snort the bull stops short i'll
the center Of the arena, and stares
about him in enraged astonishment.
What the dazzling array of colors mean
or why he was sent here he does not