The record-union., 1897-08-15
A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.
FROM CHURCH TIE CROWDS
FLOCK TO THE ARENA.
The Cruel and Dangerous Specta-
Gle That Spaniards Call
Sport.

day not long ago in Madrid. As pen
picture of the so-called national sport
of Spain the story IS an interesting one,
but it will not tend TO raise the Spanish
peopie in the estimation of Americans.
A nation which can take delight N
such scenes has nothing in common
with the United States. Following is
story as told in the New York World
Six hours ago all the women and
many of the men OF Madrid were being
solemnly summoned by tolling bells 10
church and prayer and devotion. Now,
all the men and many of the women
are rolling to the merry jingle of mule
bells towards the bull ring and frenzy
and blood.
This Sunday afternoon sees 5000
afoot. <astride and seated. all bound for
the common Mecca. But few walk.
Tire waiter husbanded his tips, the ar
tisan his wage and the clerk has lunch
ed lightly.
All the very young men and many
elders wear gray-colored, flat-topped,
broad and straight t-brimmed felt hats,
which marks the devotee to Los To-
ros"
Once through the swarming crowd of
water girls and fan sellers, the great
amphitheater stretches out and around
us Men look like little boys. Fifteen
thousand people VIII occupy seats. Six
thousand more will have to stand to-
day. for a liberal percentage Of the
profits of this "corrida" is TO care for
the Spanish peasant boys who have
gone obedientIy TO fight in Cuba for an
end which really means nothing to
them.
But the city folk OF Madrid have
strong interest in the maintenance Of
Spanish officeholders in Cuba, and have
turned out in force to-day. The red
and yellow flags and awnings. the white
lace "mantillas" Of the women, and the
glowing colors of their dresses form a
brilliant mass Of color.
Fans are waving. Every man and
woman has one.
The royal box is the only dark spot.
The Queen Regent has courage enuogh
to show her disapproval of a brutaliz-
ing thing by staying away from even
the benefit for the very wounded in
whose behalf she is so interested.
Now through a massive gate under
the royal box ride into the ring two
handsome men in rich cavalier costumes
Of black and gold. A tremendous clap
ping of hands ensues. The fight is
about to begin. The heralds show a
quite moderate skill in caracolling their
fine blacks to beneath the President 5
place.
He Acknowledges a profound salute
and tosses down to them a golden key,
emblematic of the unloosing of the bull.
Across the wide circle they gallop on
firm, white sand. just sufficiently damp
ened to give them a foothold.
And now the big military band
breaks into a nervous Spanish march,
the big gates near the heralds swing
open. and the march of the toreadors
begins. First the three matadors in
red and gold. their plated hair hanging
from beneath rich gold embroidered
hats.
The costumes are gorgeous. The knee
pants and short, open jackets often
Dancing pumps complete the dress.
Following in brilliant lines come forty
assistants Of various kinds.
They halt opposite the President. All
salute and go to their stations.
One Of the best matadors in Spain is
to kiln the first bull. Mazzatini is a
but walked out one day. saying:
There are only two professions in
Spain which pay-begging and bull
fighting. prefer bull fighting
He receives 81, 500 each fight. From
this he pays his "candrillos,' or sever
comrades Of the cloak, the banderilla
and the finishing knife, leaving hin
not less than $1,000 profit. At two
8. 80, oh,
year a good Spanish matadOr becomes
rich in a couple of years. if the bulls lei
him live.
Now a perfect silence shows the first
bull is about to be let out of the dark
cell where he has been since earlv in
the day. A gate is quickly drawn. Out
into the center of the glaring ring
swiftly trots the fercest and finest
fighting animal afoot-an Andalusian
bull.
This one comes from the "Minra
estate, famous for its vicious product
The ribbons floating from his neck de-
note his pedigree. His name is printed
on the programme as 'Mendianito." AS
a vearling he charged horse five sue
cessive times, despite the .pica" of the
riders sharp lance, and became a re-
cruit of the first class. For six years
he has lived out of the sight of man
no accidents have broken the stllettc
points of his polished horns. and to-day
ne is fit for the slaughter of a "corrida
formal" or frst-class combat.
Suddenly he looks right and left with
q savage alertness as different from the
slow motions of our pastoral bovineS
as is a Mauser bullet from a thrown
b1ickbat-
He seeks a horse and starts for him
Gaining speed each second with low
cred head he strikes the trembling ami
nal with a shock sensible over tht
whole plaza The audience shudders il
delight. Down goes horse and mar
with a crash. In darts a toreador. dash
ms his red cloak into the goring ami
mails bloodshot eyes
The bull follows the scarlet. H,
charges it. The man springs aside Will
a graceful upward sweep of the cloak
The bull passes under it with lowered
head and closed eyes. The man salute:
the audience. which applauds the dex
trous movement or quit"
Meanwhile the red-shirted and eapeC
assistants are dragging the prone pic
ador from under the weltering horse
Sometimes the bull does not follow tn
cloak after the charge. Then the slic
ing horns rip and rip, and there is on
more picador gone. These horsemeI
show the superbest courage. They lii
perfectly still. trusting all to their com
rades,
Another steed is sacrificed This tim
10 hOrSa iS Ifftad bodily and burles