West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-04-08
BULL FIGHTING IN MEXICO
COMPLETE DESCRIPTION or THE
GREAT NATIONAL GAME.
One Bloody Sunday In The His
tOric Old Capital OF Montezuma
Continued from first page. }

! Written up from the Editors Note Book
But no, His Honor, like a good
umpire, refuses to be influenced by
the uproar of the rabble, and the
picaaOrs leave the ring. The mer
row attack the big brute with short
spears and try to lodge them in his
thick hide on his shoulders. One
mdtactor does not charge the bull
rs fairly in front as he should, and
is Kissed by the crowd. No fighter
fs allowed to attack the bull, only
squarely in front and when the
bull is charging them. 1t is against
the code Of the arena to take any
advantage Of the bull. lie must
always have u fair show, and the
sympathy of the audience is ALWAYS
with the bull. IL fighter would
attack him from either side or from
behind, he would be driven from
the ring and fined or expelled from
the profession. The planting Of
tho 60RdeyilIas and the thrust of
the sword is therefore a difficult
feat, when you consider that it
must be done from directly in front,
with the bull charging right on to
you, and it takes an athletic and
expert swordsman TO run a big bull
through from top to bottom, right
down through his shoulders at one
stab, and while on his feet and
under full Roadway besides, and
then elude the long, sharp horns
that seem right upon you. If an
eSpddd makes bad thrust or fails
in his coup dc grace, he is fined for
it and used to be imprisoned. l
noticed that the piCadOrS always
aimed TO receive the charge of the
bull, squarely in front or on one
particular side, and when they were
dismounted and tried to get away,
they seemed to be stiff In one leg.
found upon investigation that
this leg was encased In steel armor
under the leather breeches, to pro-
tect it from the horns of the bull.
| had observed several times that
some of the riders were struck on
the leg on that side by the bulls
horns, but the thrust seemed to
glance off, and the armor explained
it. This also made it harder for
them to escape without assistance,
when they were thrown of.
But while am making this ex-
PLANTATION, the bull has met .he
rush of several spearmen, and has
six of the barbed knife-like spear
points fastened in him. Now there
are eight, and the blood is stream
ing down his shoulders. He has
been tortured enough and the big
esPada comes on to put him out Of
his misery. He haunts his red
cloak in the Infatuated animals
face-there is a rash Of bull and
man, Q gleam of steel, and the last
hull is sacrificed to the blood
thirsty baIbarity of the Middle
Ages, at the close of this, the nine
teenth century, and across the Dor
der land, from the most perfect
civilization of the world. The pop
ulace cheer and throw cigars and
cigarette packs, money, and even
their hats, at the eSpada, in token
Of his skill. lie bows and smiles
like the "leading man" Of the play
and throws back the hats, while he
pockets the money and smokes.
Time of the eighth and last round
fifteen minutes. The crowd is
swarming out and l llnger till
among the last, to observe tho
makeup Of the assem- bly,. l see
fair ladies in spleadid attire with
gallant escorts; parents with their
children, down to the babe 10 arms;
many Americans and a few OF other
nationalities, but mostly Mcxicans
and Spaniards; members Of the
Mexican Congress and other high
officials; in fact, people Of all kinds
and classes, as everybody goes to
the bnll fight, and so would you,
gentle reader, il you lived there.
We came out to End perfect
maize Of street cars, loadiHg up for
the city over several lines that run
past this, tho most popular place
Of amusement. We took car for
the Alameda and stroll through
this beautiful plaza to wear away
the bloody sight Of our first bull
fight, before going to the hotel for
supper.
ffho r,f.t T.-l-T L-.t 90 -. 49,