West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-04-01

funeral dray to haal the dead bulls
out with. All were dressed in fancy
attire, particularly tho matadors.
whose costumes were magnificent
IN sllken tights and velvet cloaks.
covered with gold and silver braid
and ornaments. They approach the
Judges box and the leader adj.
dresses HIM, asking permission for
the fray. The Judge throws the
keys OF the ball pen into the ring,
the m ttddors throw their embroid
cred c.pcs or cloaks TO some fair
one In the audience to hold till the
fight is over, using cheaper clio K
to tight the bull with. Being Jud ge
Of the bul fight Is thu most honor
airy Office IN the Republic, and be
is the Cur OF he Ring. and What
he says goes, same as base ball
umpire In this country. The bull
lighters arc very athletic and well!
built fellows, who are trained for
the sport from childhood. Their life
and limbs depend on their agility,
aud they display Wonderful activity
IN evadlng The mad rushes OF the
infnridted animal. The bulls are
large and powerful ANIMALS, bred
and trained, 10y torturing and tor.
men'Ing them, 20 as to make them
AS vicious and dangerous as posi-
Bic and tight everything IN sight.
go into tkOso details in order
that tho reader who has never seen
a bull fight, and may never get to
Witness one, will understand il
pretty thoroughly. An average of
four PiCadorS and six mata,lors fight
each bull. None OF these are sup
posed to kill him, AS this is left to
"a star mGtaaOr, who takes the bull
in band after the other fellows have
had all the fun out of him they can
get. The piCadOrS (horssmen) are
armed with nothing but spear
about ten feet long and only two
or three inches of sharp metal ON
the point OF it, go they can't kill the
bill, but only gead him on TO fury.
The men on foot use banderilIas or
short spears about two and half
feet long with barbed point on
them two or three inches long, so
that when they thrust them into
the bull, they will hold and hang
there and greatly annoy him.
AT given signal the door to the
bull pen or stable was opened ana
big black bull charged into the
ring. An attendant from safo
position along the little hall wav
that leads from the bull stable to
the ring, slaps "a little spear into
his back just above bis shoulders,
with some bright colored ribbons
fastened to It, as the bull comes
out. This gives him gala appear
ance and the pun infuriates him.
so that he Is ready for trouble the
first jump. just above the en-
trance big plac.rd is bung out,
giving the name Of tho bull and
where he is from. The most VIC
ious and dangerous bulls come from
the mountain districts. This one
is black and the sign us, PiedraS
RegrGs. Over at the muSiCa, or
band stand, a lively air is being
played and the ball is excited. and
after few charges around The ring.
jumps over the wall into the alley.
lie is brought back through door
for this purpose, but seems to have
more sense than his tolmentors,
and refuses to fight. Thcreupon
three big, harmless looking oxen
are let into the ring and he is tolcd
out with them.
Another black bull comes in with
a rush and scltIers everybody right
and left. All seem to he afraid of
him. but they rally and the fight is
Oh in bloody earnest. Bull charges
a picador on wbito horse and
caught him broadside, putting his
horns IN the poor horses belly up
to the hide and let its entralls out,
80 that they drag on the ground.
Another thrust and the horses four
legs are broken and he goes down
under the fury Of the bulls des-
peTato onslaught, while the rider
saves himself by hairs breadth.
The now thoroughly onragod bull
charged another rider, and black
horse goes down with his insIdes all
protruding in a sickening manner.
The matadOrS charge .he bull and
draw him away. The poor horse
sets TO his feet and staggers out OF
the ring with his entrails dragging
the ground. Ladies are getting
sick and some Of the men hiding
their faces. Senator Linuing, OF
Ohio, who, with his daughter, sits
on my right, holds his hat in front
Of his face and says he has enough
OF it.. Wants to go, but bis daugh.
ter coaxes HIM to stay TIL that
Ginning" is over, which he does
with great reluctance, in the mean.
time turning his back on the show,
which goes mcrrily on. The bull
is bleeding and vicious. The mota-
d0ys now charge him with u bqHder.
Wu "a each hand and cndcayor to
plant them in his shoulders, back
Of his horns. They succeed IN fas