The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-20
null FIGnrISG ~ MnxiCo.
A Yankee Newspaper Mans View OF the
NationaI Sport.


l had climbed and the tempting pools /
had hastily abandoned, / went 10 bull
fight I'm san Luis PotOsi on Sunday with
far lcss concern AZ the fate OF the pulls
than at the fact that this was a Sunday
service. IL did not seem exactly appro-
pirate, even IL We admitted that, with
the churches opened every day and the
bull rings only on Sunday, the odds We're
seven 10 one In favor of religion.
Tao bull ring is several times as large
as circus ring aud Is down az least I'VE
feet below the level of the lowest seats.
10 is circular space. set in solid mas
Onry wall, and the seats range upward
like q Roman amphithoatre. The bulls
are put into the ring one at timp
through tunnel that comes out under
the seats, and in a. the actual ring is
a stout board fcHce. built all the way
round, so shat the fight is conducted III
the inner circle and an around that is
narrow outside passage way. The mrs.
qualification FOR a bull fighter Is to DC
able 10 jump this fence. At the least
chance OF being ripped open he cuts to-
# ant is over like a jumping jack. And.
as II that wasn't enough there are M
convenient intervals barriers set I'm the
ring near the fence. and the lighters,
when close pushed step behind these and
Jet bulls horns rattle on the other
side SO much for the geographical lay
out
asked the friend who accompanied me.
a resieynt for years in Mexico. why the
fence was broken by gates. He said I
was so as 10 let the bull back into the
ring IL DE should jump over. 1 laughed
at the absurdity OF n bull taking such a
flyer. and then tho trumpet sounded and
the procession entered and marched TO
the Judge There were the two men who
altei nately give the fatal thrust the fell
lows who stick goads into the beast. those
who ilout clOaks AZ him. and the men on
horseback who carry great boat hooks
with hshhoOk points TO drive him off
when ne charges their horses. The bull
IS given last one chance. He can only
bee dealt with while charging. So long
as he stands stir the etiquette OF the
ring protects him. and when it comes
! 10 stabbing him only one man can do
that
",root-tooto went the bugle. and in rush
cd tho first bun amid the cheers Of at
least 1000 PEOPLE. lie was JET black. about
three years ola, end az full of life and
vigor as any young creature on the
plains. lie took q careful look at tho
| c.omv lined up before him. trotted gem
tlv about .or minute then put his head
down and started on dead run-ior the
fence. lie took IL like a goat and landed
I'm fine shape I'm the intervening space
What had seemed impossible was done
within minute Of opening the game. lie
was driven back. and made new survey
and seemed little ashamed that he had
failed Then suddenly be rallied n second
| time. and. with n fcrcer dash than before.
/ DC not only cleared the fence. but the
intervening space and got his front feet
on % tho place where. I'LL that Instant
a crowd wero seated. They weren't there
when ne landed. lie fcll back into the
passage way and re-cnterod the ring
! IL he had tried again I think he'd have
! gone clear mp and joined the spectators.
! bur he evidently thought DO was the other
| fellows turn. so ne just stood and looked
at them They floIfished their gay cloths
| nc him, but he only snorted Come on
and the rules Of tic game forbade. soon
! new "toot' was sounded. and that
meant "Take tho bull out
Ito mad saved his life But he wasn't
/ out OF the ring. lie had no idea of leav-
| ing. The fighters couldn't touch him
| since the signal had been given. and two
/ finely mounted cowboys came I'm. one
! lassoed his horns and tried 70 pull him
| OUT but the bull weighed the most and
| leaned tho other way. Then the othe-
! lass0od bis heel. and the two started OK
| I'm opposite directions. This threw tho
animal down. and he was hauled out Oh
/ his side TO go baci. 20 the plains IN dis
/ grace. lie ought 90 have been decorated
| and dedicated 10 the founding Of n race
| of poacemakng. high-kicking. and fast
| running cattle Instead. he will be used
| for inc boys who Lope 10 be bull fighters
| 20 practise on on the ranch. No bull IS PAID
| FOR TN aftcr the tattle. and If one fails
10 charge. his owrcr can't charge either.
| There are seven bulls az each fight and.
| II two out Of those ara not killed you get
| tickets FREQ 20 the next fight.
This time the other six were killed. one
| after the other. They fought tercey.
! charged around the ring scared the
| fighters over the fence times without
| number ana died herd. but the odds were
| TOO many n ism very unpleasant 10
see the bull Killed lie doesn't finch. H.
! is came till rs over. But tho shameful
! incxcusable barbar'ty Of the whole thing
As I'm the fate Of tire horses ridden by the
| nfeqdors. These futile scrubs. weaker
| than the old stage horse I'm his very last
| stage. are ripped end torn by the bull5
| most horribly. Four were killed ar inc
! fight and others creadfully mutilated
/ Tho whole ring would be cleared. and
mon hors. g. and everything else done up
II these Texan bulls had the brains 10
match their bodies. They lack continuity
| Of thought. Just as tsir opportunity
comes they turn aside. when "a dozen
stems more. right along the line and they
would have on their horns tho fellows
! they were after
NV friend told o. some Americans who
brought dowr a jersey bull here TO their
| ranch. Like his KIND. he soon became
hopelessly ugly. They were going 10 XII
| him. but were asked 70 give him 10 tho
| the bull fight Yields though they do have
sent MIN into tho ring. Up went his taA
and Gown went his head. He tore atteI
whatever he saw Nothing could ston
| HIM and the whole fighting force found
themselves outside the fence and unwil'
! ling 10 90 back. That sight would hav1
been fun. but unfortunately, It didn't
! happen In our day.
These Texan bulls behave differently
| and. n they show fight at all. they ara
| doomed But the killing IS slow pro-
cess. II the thing couldn't be done quick
or at Chicago the Armours and SwifG
and Morrises would be working out foi
a dollar a day instead OF literally bossine
the meat market. as they do now. But
the San Luis people eat the beer that
the bull hht yields. though they do have
| other sources OF supply
II Is probably wei 20 see ono bull fight
because then you know what they are
| But that's the only argument. There
can't be any fun IN seeing blind horses
rlpped open while you wait. In seeing
| the mad bulls tortured into weakness OF
IN seeing obvious cow ards jump the fence
whenever tiey take fright II they'd