Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-16

he found + re sSSrd vas buried h aId
bull Which arsaaS the OF r, 1ae
But the thrust was not fatal. Others
had to be made. y The natadors were very
hervous From the comment of the crowd.
m aintaining the standard OF their oWn
skill on previous Sundays. The presence
OF the master Inatador awed them. The
s slnn etat1 Ms begaa to murmur dissatisfac-
When the scales seemed turning against
the journeymen butchers In the ring he
gave them "oafmos."1 The revulsion in
popular feeling was quick. "Palmos" came
from the spectators also. Yet it took a
long while to finish the bull. Even after
the animal had staggered and fallen the
Individual whose business it Is had TO
enter the ring and end the spectacle with
an ordinary knife. Then the carcass was
dragged or by quadruple team of mules,
which were dashed into gallop.
The second bull made a brave fight in the
BEGINNING. When he found that tie odds
were all one way, he quit, after Laving
been hectored by banderiileros and plea
dores, efter having patiently borne the
tanderfllos and, with the half-buried sword
still in his flesh. the bull sunk to his kr ees.
But this was not Roman amphitheater
No sign could come from spectators to
spare his life for the gladiator's courage
which he had shown in the arena. The
animal had to be prodded, goaded. blinded,
slapped contemptuously by the hand of
the matador. have more swords thrust into
his back and suffer five stabs with the knife
before he went, In the language Of the
dramatic critic of one journal, ito the bet
ter life.' After this bungling butchery the
feelings were relieved by the entrance OF
bull which refused to take the occasion
seriously. He would do nothing but frolic,
like young calf. Matadors, bandcrllleros
ard ricadores held apart in disgust and
left the supernumeraries to tease him. The
spectators pelted him with rotten pineap-
pies. empty bottles and opprobrious cpl
thets. They called him a cow. No matter.
The animal was in for frolic and nothing
else. Finally, in response to the demands,
the president directed his removal. The
gate was opened and he trotted out as
amiably as a lamb. The amour propre, or
patriotic sentiment. was relieved by the
knowledge that the animal which behaved
in this reprehensible manner was Mexi-
can bull and not one whose pedigree was
of Aadilusia.
Enthusiasm of the People.
The events which followed were divided
equally between Mazzantini and batting the
bulls. Salutation was given the master
which lie acknowledged by rising and bow
ing. while the crowd Numbered its ap-
plause. The nervousness of the Danderii-
leros picadores and mstadors having worn
off, exhibitions of their prowess were made
in front of his box. Bonarsllo .,ept one
bull there five minutes hooking and taunt-
ing the animal with the capote. which was
wound around the sword that was soon to
pierce the animal. Labito, however. Bore
off the laurels. 1t was given to him to
make the record of the day. His was the
sword that, with sure Stroke was plunged
into one bull up to the hit, which brought
the animal to the ground with blood pour
ing from its nostrils and left no work for
the professional butcher to complete. MAJ
Zsntini had watched with approving eye.
He wrote few lines a card, stood up
in his box where all could see him and
tossed the card into the ring Mazzantini's
congratulations to Labito! A souvenir that
will be precious heritage. The fortunate
matador was compelled to walk twice
around the ring, bowling his acknowledge
ments to the delirious spectators, who
showered him cigars. which took the place
of wreaths and garlands. 1t was Laoito's
day of triumph, -.
The party of Americans who had wit
had seen enough. Wait" said young
Englishman. You may think you know
whether these people are civilized, but you
can't judge until you have seen the finale
So waited for the finale. The BULL
which had been saved for the last act, was
naughty and combative Three times he
jumped the railing and ran around the
narrow Enclosure which separated the ring
from the raised seats Something like the
trick mule of the circus might have been
suspected had 1t not been for the agility
with which banderilleros, picadores, helpers
and guards got out of the way. In due
ime the animal was wearied and bewildered
enough for the matadors to plug him with
"banderillas de fuego." These were merely
the ordinary prorged sticks with rockets
attached. When the pronss stuck in the
bulls neck the rockets went off. The fun
was fierce and furious. The bull fought his
tormentors, paved the air and charged in
blind rage Several sword thrusts did not
finish him, though once the iron was buried
up to the hilt. The matador Skillfully
twisted his capote around the hilt and drew
the sword out. Gradually the animal weak
ened. Then the spectators had their share
il the tourney. Two or three hundred of
them leaped the barriers and bounded into
the ring. Twice the bull staggered to his
feet ard tried tC make for them. They re-
treated. Finally he down for good,
twenty knives were plunged into his flesh
and withdrawn dripping with blood. The
tail was cut into bits. strips were cut from
the hide, the rockets which had been i'm
bed1ed in the neck We're fought for as
prizes. The mules galloped around the ring
dragging the carcass, followed by the
devotees of the sport, some of whom tried
to make it a triumphal cart for themselves.
At last the carcass was ha uled away, and
the spectators departed with their trophies.
The spectacle was over.
Only Theme in the City
Back in the city the bull fight was the
only theme that Sunday evening. More
soldiers had come in, able-bodied ones,
who were not being shifted from one prov
ince to another. Their presence excited no
comment. More stories were aficat abo 1T
the activity of the Insurgents in Pinar del
Rio and the reverses of the troops, but
no one stopped to ask whether they were
true. 1t seemed as if there were more
reconcentradoes begging in the streets
than usual. If so, no note was taken of It.
Havana had ears and tongue for the details
of the bull fight and for nothing else.
MaZZantini has gone, but he returns in
February. And the elections under au-
tonomy are to be held in February if the
Slumbering volcano continues to Slumter
and If the insurgents permit elections to be
held under other agencies than their own.
By that time some idea may be had
whether the bull fight or colonial govern
ment for Cuba excites the greater interest
in Havana. Ii MaZzantinfs pooulrity and
the bull ring fail to monopolize the public