The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-06-23
BULL FIGHTS IN MEXICO.
A Brutal "sport" Graphically Described.

three days. Just as he passes under
the railing dart, to which are at
tached the colors of his breeder, is
thrust into his shoulder, and the pain
maddens him. He comes believing to
the centre of the arena, and the bright
sunshine blinds him for an instant.
He stops and stares at the bowling
mob above and around him and won
ders what it all means. The capeadors
quickly run up and faunt their buck
skin-lined capes at him, and he charges
them, but they step deftly aside and
the bull slips and falls to his knees. In
an instant he leaps to his feet and the
contest is renewed. When hot otpressed
the capeador leaps over the fence.
Sometimes the bull follows after him,
and sometimes he kills the capeador.
After the capeadors have taunted
the bull they retire aud the picadors
advance on horseback. The horses,
with the right eye blindfolded, 40
forward to almost certain death. The
picador swings a long lance in his
right hand aud grasps the reins in his
left. The point of the lance is sharp
enough to irritate the bull but not
sharp enough to inhict injury. The
time to injure the bull has not arrived.
The picador advances to the centre of
the arena and awaits the charge. As
the believing black mass rushes for
ward with head lowered the picador
tries to repulse him by pressing the
lance against his neck and head. Three
times the picador must repulse the
bull if he follows the rules. But the
advantage of strength, momentum and
weight is with the bull, and often at
the first charge he knocks down the
horse and throws the rider to the
ground. Instantly the capeadors sur
round the bull and attract his attention
while the picador extricates himself
from under the fallen horse. The
blindfolded horse is whipped to his
feet and staggers about the arena,
sometimes desperately wounded.
Perhaps the bull will charge him again
and literally gore him to shreds. If
the wound is not too severe the horse
is hurried out of the inclosure, thrown
on his back, and the wound sewed up.
Then the animal is doped and ready to
re-enter the arena when the next bull
is let in. Sometimes the sharp horns
f the maddened bull mercifully pierce
the horses heart and end its sufferings
at once. When the horse is gored and
stumbling about the arena the bleach
ers are on their feet and yelling at the
top of their voices. They love to see
blood run.
The horses are now removed from
tide arena, the bugle sounds again and
the banderilleros are introduced.
There are three of them and each car
ries two banderillas, stout stick the
size of broom handle and trife less
than thlse feet long. There is barb
IN one md as sharp as a trout hook,
and the sticks are wound with bright
colored tissue paper. The banderil-
lero takes his place in the centre of
the. ring and assumes a defiant atti-
tude. He loes not retain it long. The
bull charges him with lowered head.
The banderniero does not move, and
you fancy, for an instant that he will
be gored to death As the horns al
most touch him, he drives the bander-
illas into the bulls shoulders; then,
with wonderful dexterity, steps aside
and out of danger. 1t is done so deft-
ly that YOU are puzzled, The Aull
bellows with \paiI and tears about a
frantic effort to remove the barbs.
Blood trickleJ down his sides. Two
other banderileros repeat the trick.
and with six harbs hanging from his
shoulders the nIll lis frenzied with
rage. If a banGerillerO fails TO plant
barb in the (bull'd shoulders he is
Missed, and if he misses both thrusts
he is fined. A certain number of
misses in succession, and the little
knot of hair he wears on the back of
his head will be cut off by order of the
referee and he will be compelled 70
desert the arena disgraced. You ad-
mire the dexterity of the banderillero.
but your sympathies are with the bull.
1t is feat that requires great nerve.
A misstep means death.
The bull is now wild with rage and
pain, and the most exciting act is vet
to come. The bugle blows again, and
the matador, king of the bull fighters,
enters the arena and bows to the null
titude, who rise to do him honor He
advances TO the centre of the arena and
faces his foe. He carries red cape
over his sword, a Damascus blade,
three feet long. The blood-red cape
attracts the bulls attention at once,
and he charges the matador, who must
dodge three rushes before he has per
mission to kill. As the bull wheels
for the fourth charge the nlatad0r
poises his blade in the air and calmly
awaits the rush. The bull bends his
head, shuts his eyes, and comes on
with great force until within three feet
of the matador. The sword flashes in
the sunlight and is buried between
the bulls shoulders, piercing the heart
A stream of blood spurts over the ami
malls back. His rush is checked nd
he cOmas IN a suddan ato,, Tba III