Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-16
The Story Of a Bull Fight in
Havana.
SPANIARDS The SPECTATORS
Not Provided for Under the Cuban
Republic.
INCIDENTS OF THE DAY
Copyright, 1857, ly c. NJ. Pepper.)

Oh popularity IN the crisis of that countTy'S
colonial future Havana has had much to
think of this week. 1t has thought most
of the bull ring. Autonomy may have had
a place somewhere in its thoughts, but
If so it was deep down. Other events were
more to the liking. They carried with
them no reflections agonizing to the proud
spirit of the Spaniard in Cuba. Had there
been need Of directing the mind of the
populace while an unpopular policy was
beirg put into effect the sport would have
furnished the means of diversion. But
there was no such purpose on the part
of the authorities and no need of stimulat
ing a natural impulse. BY spontaneous
feeling the community has occupied itself
with one subject. 1t might have wondered
why many troops were pouring into
Havana from the country. ard how they
are to be taken care of now that they are
here, but it did not. The suppressed news
from Spain, suppressed as absolutely as II
all means of communication had been cut
off, might have turned curious ear to
the rumors of the Carlists, yet 1T did not.
The reports of Gomez and Caiixto Garcia
hanging the emissaries who sought 20
reach them with Gen. Bianco's peace pro-
posals might have caused an inquiry for
fuller particulars, but they did not ripple
the surface of the pool. The phenomenon
might be interesting in itself, but l write
of it for other reasons. In the present
conditions it has as direct a bearing as
political and military questions.
The MatadOr MOzzaEtini.
1t should be said that the bull fight was
rot the sole cause of the abstraction of
the public mind from current affairs. The
presence in the city of Luis Mozzantini
kept the pulse throbbing between delight
and admiration. South America, Central
America and Mexico have all been lost
to Spain, yet the prestige of her name re-
mains In these countries. Mozzartni is
Spanish, and through all these lands he
is the matador OF matadors. His laurels
are never contested. Mozzantini was pass
irg through Havana on his way TO Mexico.
AT the hotel where he stopped a faint in
dic&tion Of his anazing popularity was
given. When he dir ed the doors had to be
closed to keep out the crowd Spanish Of
ficers were horored to sit silent at his
table, while he ate with his knife and
talked and TESTED and received their
laughter with patronizirg majesty. The
morning of the bull figh, he gave a break
fast in the public dining room to his
confreres A brigadier general was pleased
to be on his right. an adjutant on his left
ard a navy officer CT high rank to sir on.
poslte MozZantiEi has been lawyer physl-
clan, actor ard Singer. From the droll
play of his mobile features. one could
imagine him a successful comedian, but he
found his true ard lucrative vocation as
matador.
Simply IA Spectator.
The prince of his calling was not in
Havana professionally. He was to wit
ness the bull fight as spectator. In
February. it was announced, he would re-
turn and exhibit his talents at prices dou-
Bile and treble the regular rates. "Mozzan-
tint Will not exhibit in Havana in Feb
r! ary, Cuban friend told me. by that
time we will have the republic, and you
know there Is to be no place for the bull
fight and the lottery in the republic"
DID not know it, but such an advance in
civilization ought to commend the repub-
lie to the favorable consideration of Con-
GreSS when the question of recognition
comes up. The same friend insisted that
the patronage of the bull ring was almost
entirely by Spaniards. anG that the Cubans
never supported it. Whether his claim is
true for all occasions may be doubted. but
on this Sunday it was clearly established.
Tbree-fourths CT the spectators in the plazl
of Carlos III were Spanish soldiers and
officers. Though the lowest price of adj
mission was dollar in gold ard money
is very scarce with the troops. they had
managed to pay their way through the
gates. The boxes were filed with hand
somely dressed women. matrons many CT
item, in company with husbands and
brothers. They formed, however Il very
small proportion of the spectators.
The Bull Fight.
Mozzantini was in his box, and as was
anticipated, was the central figure. Thou
sands of eyes were leveed at him. while
around him gathered army officers of note
and distinguished civilians. He bore him
self with the easy composure of great
ness that knows itself and Is secure in its
high place The captain generals box.
which adjoined, was vacant. General
Banco could not have afforded to COM
mi wifi he
the contest would have been too one
sided. The sport began promptly. The
professor Of horseback riding, Don Ansel-
NO Castrillo, on a magnificent Andalusian
charger, saluted the president of the day
and was given the key. The gate was
swung open and the first bull pranced into
the ring. He was spirited and charged
the banderilleros ffercey. dozen of them
lodged his chargers, while the matadors
Bonarillo, Labito and Padilla, looked on
and gave orders. After a time, when the
bull had been sufficiently confused and
wearied. the picadors entered The most
riotous imagination would find moth
ing suggestive of valcr in this part
of the performance. The picadors might
be imagined for moment as mailed
knights, for they are gotten up that way.
But when half a dozen supernumerar!es
push a skeleton beast Of horse broadside
against the bull to be gored and tossed
while the picador prods the bull with a
is not the element of personal danger to
whet the interest, because the picador's
legs are encased in steel armor and he Is
safe from even scratch.
The Final Struggle.
This phase Of the sport had the merit
of being short. The matadors now began
to show their skill. One of them faced
the bull at q distance of twenty feet. In
either hand he held n "banderilla" or
stick with pronged ends. He coaxed the
animal. 1t charged him. He made skill
full pass; the "palos" quivered in the neck
of the animal, where they remained; the
blood ran down its hide; the bull snorted
and beloved with PAIN the amphitheater
resounded with the roar of applause which
came from the spectators. Their enthu-
siasm had been arming. Now they were
in u frenzy of delight. Clearly, the sport
called out the qualities of their tempera-
ments. Other passes were made with the
bull, till eight ten banderillas were
harg ing down his sides. The matador was
not Invariably successful. Once one of the
banderilleros was brought to the earth
himself and the tip of the bulls horns
scratched one Of his legs SO that it had
to be bound up. He might have been hurt
II a dozen people had not been in the ring
to prevent the bull following up its ad-