Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-08-12

"'Nu", "uu the DTlSnt SunSnlne
ollndS him for an instant. He stops
and stares at the bowling mob above
and around him and wonders what it
all means. The capeadOrS quickly
run up and Haunt their buck-skin-
lined capes at him, and he charges
thom, but they step dcf'tly aside and
the bull slips and falls to his knees.
In an instant he leaps to his feet and
the contest is renewed. When hot
pressed the capeador leaps over the
ternce. Sometimes the bull follows
after him, and sometimes he kills
the capeador.
After the capeadors have tauntod
the bull they retire and the picadors
advance on horseback. The horses,
with the right oyo blindfolded, go
forward to almost certain death
The picador swings long lance in
his right hand and grasps the reins
in his left. The point Of the lance
Is sharp enough to irritate the bull,
but not sharp enough to infliCt an in
jury. The time to injure the bull
has not yet arrived. Tho picador
advances to the centre of the arena
and awaits the charge. AS the bel
with head lowered, the picadOr tries
to repulsc him by pressing the lance
against his neck aud head. Three
times the picadOr must repulse the
bull, if he follows the rules. But
the advantage of strength, momen-
tum and weight is with the bull, and
often at the first charge he knocks
down the horse and throws the rider
to the ground. Instantly the capea-
dorS surround the bull and attract
his attention while the picador ex.
tricates himself from under the
fallen horse. The blindfolded horse
is whipped to his feet and staggers
about the arena, sometimes deSper-
ately wounded Perhaps the bull
VIII charge him again and literally
gore him to shredS. If the wound is
not too severe the horse is hurried
out of the inclosure, thrown on his
back, and the wound sewcd up. Then
the animal is doped and ready to re-
enter the arena when the next bull is
let in. Sometimes the sharp horns
Of the maddened bull mercifuliy
pierce the horses heart and end its
sutferings at once. When the horse
is gored and stumbling about the
arena the bleachers are on their feet
and yelling at the top of their voices
They love to see blood run.
The horses are now removed from
tho arena, the bugle sounds again and
the banderilleroS are introduced.
There are three Of them and each
carries two banderillas, Il stout stick
the size Ola broom handle and trifie
less than three feet long. There is a
barb in one end as sharp as trout
hook and the sticks are wound with
bright. colored tissue paper. The
banderillero takes his place in the
centre of the ring and assume de-
tiant attitude. He does not retain il
long. The bull charges him with
lowered head. The banderillero does
not move, and you fancy for an ill.,
slant, that he will be gored to death.
AS the horns almost touch him, he
drives the banderillas into the bulbs
shoulders then with wonderful dcX-
terity, steps aside and out of danger.
It. is done SO deftly that you are puz.
zled. The bull bellows with pain
and tears about in frantic effort to
remove the barbs. Blood trickles
down its sides. Two other banderil-
leros repeat the trick, and with six
DarbS hanging from his shoulders
The bull is trenZied with rage. Ifa
badderillero fails TO plant barb i'm
the BULBS shoulders he is hisSed, and
if he misses both thrusts he is fined.
A certain number of misses in sue
cession, and the little knot of hair he
90 h, hn, l.. L.
cut off by order of the referee and he
will be compelled to desert the arena
disgraced. You admire the deXterity
of the banderillero, but your sympa-
thies are with the bull. 1t is a feat
thatrequires great nerve. A misstep
means death.
The bull is now wild with rage and
pain, and the most exciting act is yet
to come. The bugle blows again,
and the matador, king of the bull
fighters, enters the arena and bows
to the multitude, who rise to do him
honor. He advances to the centre
of the arena and faces his foe. He
carries red cape over his sword, a
Damascus blade, three feet long.
The blood-red cape attracts the bulbs
attention at once, and he charges the
matador who must dodge three
rushes before he has permission t.
kill. AS the bull wheels for the
fourth charge the matador poises his
blade in the air and calmly awaits
the rush. The bull bends his head,
shuts his eyes, and comes on with
great force until within three feet Of
the matadOr. The sword flashes in
the sunlight and is buried between
the bulls shoulders, piercing the
heart. A stream of blood spurts
over the animals back. His rush is
checked and he comes to sudden
stop. The multitude cheer fran
tically and scores of hats, canes and
adobe dollars are showered into the
arena by the excited admirers Of the
matador. He bows his thanks. The
bull totters, falls to his knees and
buries his nose in the sand. An at
tendant runs up and buries the point
OF dagger deep in the bulbs brain.
AS the attendant hapds the hats and
canes to the excited people on the
plank seats the bugle sounds again.
The three white mules are driven i'm.
a rope Is fastened about the horns
of the dead bull and ne is drawn out.
The spectators wait impatiently for
the next.
Six times is this repeated during
the afternoon. When six bulls are
dead the game is over for the day.
There are towards among bulls as
well as men. The second bull that
l an