The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-11
BULL FIGHTS IN FRANCE.
THOUSANDS FLOCK TO SEE THE
CRUEL SPORT or SPAIN.


| LILLE. FRANCE, OCJ. lO.-Llllc lOhhS hh"uO -
regular Roman holiday, save that, instead OF
Christians. six bulls were the victims OF mans
love Of slaughter. Here in the very north OF
France, less than $50 miles from Paris,
about the same distance from London,
and less than half that distance from
Brussels, in Il district that is in the very centre
OF Western civilization, the national law OF
France is forced to bow to the desire OF
tho people and permit bull fights to be
openly held. It was less surprising when
the Government, after a vain effort to
suppress such fights, submitted in the
southern region, where the influence of Spanish
ideas and tastes is potent. But here in the
v%irtuous north. in the midst Of a quiet, in.
dustrial population. one would not have
thought to witness a Spanish bull fight
in all its native brutality. But as a
local paper said yesterday, it seems
that after the cutlery raised n fortnight aRo,
when tho first fight was held. every one recog-
nized that whoever dislikcs bull fights might
stop away. leaving others to the free enjoyment
of a sport that is evidently much to the taste OF
the people OF northern France"
This is comfortable philosophy for those whom
1t can satisfy. However, there is no need to
moralize upon that which is the national
sport of a race whose history, since
the time Of the InQuisition to the Cuban
struggles, and the sickcning tales of the horrors
Of Spanish ninctcenth-century prison torture is
sufficiently known to the whole world. But it is
worth while to draw attention TO the fact that in
the very north OF France the Government
fears to enforce the law. and to-day visitors
from london one and S1r'0 Brussels poured poured into
Lille to witness a sight, in describing
writing with the mere object of making q SEN
sational story Of disgusting, horrors. There:
fore. let the account be as plain as possible OF
the part Of tho readers of The sun will ill in
The little village Of Croix-W as9uehai. q few
miles outside OF Lille. was the scene of
scti9n; 1t was an unwontod sight for q
people streaming through tho narrow cob
blestoned streets. Tho church BELLS wSro
crowd, which appeared all the greater from the
smallness and quictudc of the village, hurried
toward the arena: 1t was Composed chiefly o,
and even childre amid the pedestrian crowd.
There were also bound for the scene many
vehicles OF every description. from the
landaus OF tho wealthy to the cart
of the countrymnn. These slowly forced their
was surrounded by stands containing twenty
tiers Of SEATS. with a broad homemade on the
there was a wide passage. on the arena side of
which was u solid plank palisadc more than tiyo
feet high. having doors here and there opening
At $50 o'clock every seat was filled with
i 4 SanG piia TaD tn, hs" "SisTse inG{s 'H9 and IV othsr
stirring music for some time. Then. amid cheers.
IL 5T ,oTss SR the r TSre in Sp sS0 ssi1 1TS% , uef Preside ns
and c%antered around the arena. They were
Joined by a band of eight Sorgcously dressed
Spanish matadors, ~picadors. and two other
horsemen. All was bright and gay. save tho
four sorry steeds. not one Of which was destined
After renewed .salu,ations and cheering the
business Of the day started. The first bull; a
staring around with a puzzled air. He was
soon goa so"dsG into fury with tappi9e eIoaks; lie
six darts. With gayly decorated shafts aud steel
spikes six inches long. were thrust into his
shoulders. and then. when at the height OF his
rage. a mounted toreador was led toward him.
The poor. blindfoldedh horse was held. CULVER
ing in every limb; for the Infatuated beast to
went through 4 is flank; The wre hSa ID horse TodTsseo
was withdraw The blood spurted forth from
the cruel wound. and the first vic.
tim was LED away to death; The pull himself
Of cruel teasing no stood still and looked around.
THIN he quietly lay down. and the toreador
into his neck just back Of his head,
1t is needless TO describe the death OF each
not one uttcriug a sound. These three all seemed
more puzzled than angry, and The excitement
bull entered the arena. lie rushed in angrily
and chased, a mattdor, who yaulted over tho
eGS naiSSS9 at I't a moun tted to ons %un whose ihMso
blindfoldod horse was, as always. held
death By wounds msa in Chest Sh 1 n&a' aan 1I N SSSs'E the bn III
had darts thrust into his shoulders. and u sword
thrust deep into ms back. W hen lie COrncTed
the second horse: which had been lightly gored
in the chest. no plunged his second horn
deep into his bowels; Then he was exhausted.
He gave u final mad stagger. and with adcep.
hoRrsc moan dropped in the centre Of the arena
and received n dagger in the spine. and for the
fourth time horses were brought in to drag away
Then the fifth bull entered and twenty-five |
minutes elapsed before he dropped exhausted to
receive his COUP de grace. Il
In the meantime. what of the demeanor Of
the crowd 1t was strange to observe that,
when a horse was IOrpd, above the cheers
Of the men sounded the shriil shrieks
Utter '"s Silence. Then With skiltai thrust
the toreador planted a long sword deep into the
nTd c bleeding nSa back GeEy and 1 the w men would stoo shout on
trembling and pale and laughing historically.
some turned their backs on the sight they were
among the crowded seats 10 leave the sickcning
sight. Most, however, remained. some callous
some eight years old. He ate chocolates and
pointed, Laughing, at the bull. which strcsmed
Was led out with a gaping wound in its stomach:
A description more detailed Of the killing of
tcrtainmcnt. lie rushed wildly into tho arena,
while the crowd at ono end. which watched all
the th9u GTHel .FaWS YIN MG sG'o oyt OF our we ss HhFFii5
some OF tho blue bloused butchers Who had
SI!iiSSu w Gt '% the P biood Of The S bulls ' tSey q had b ssti
dealing with in n spot beneath the tiers of seats.
This bull was u dark red. handsome brute.
him. He cleared tho wall without touch
ing and tossed the m SP, who. bow,
were thrust back and blocked the surrounding
, passages. and when the bull arrived at one door
lie recntcrcd tho ring. Then a poor screw with a
gorgeous toreador on its back was held to re. /
ceivc his charge. This horse had been Gorcd by
a previous bull and three inches Of his in
]testines protruded from n gaping wound. |
| This Time the bull dealt death to him. Tho
| toroador lcapcd of after thrice thrusting his
lance into the hull. Two darts were then planted
in the bulls shoulders For Il second
finn hn leaned the barrier and RI.
! entered The arena. streaming witt blood
10 receive two more darts. Then in a
vain chasc9f its lormentoril got half OF itS body
whip. 1t rolled bach and received two moro
! darts, which made it leap madly round. and AN.
other miserable horse was sacrificed to its rage.
The gayly dressed crowd Of torturers were
wary with this .galno brute. and the crowd
yelled, xiii KIM Try "A gun - bring a
cannon - Again the bull lcapcd tho barrier,
and again il returned to receive more darts in
Il III 10y Lrr L.nrn nmlN In rnnle NM Ia