The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-16
THE BULL.FIGHTER.
The Matador the Hero Of the Naya.
ma POpulace.
NOTED SINGERS AND ACTORS GET
CHILL WELCOME,

But the Knight of the Bull Ring Is Fol
lowed by Applauding Crowds-What
the Cuban Bull Fight Is Like-An Eye
| Witnesses Description.
Ii a noted actor or priIna donna visit
Havana the probabilities are that cold
reception is in store; but let noted ma.
tador arrive and the whole city turns out
to pay him homage At the present time
the great matadorl Mazzantini is holding
Havana spell Bound. When he arrived at
the Hotel Inglattera crowd larger than
the renowned ex -pugilist John i. ever
attracted surrounded the building and
filled the square. They peered through
! the window bars to see if he ate like ordi-
nary human beings. The Corlrant readers
| can be assured that he did eat and drink
just like other mortals, only more. Post
ers confronted you whichever way you
turned, informing the public that on
Sunday, Feb. IS, the renowned Mazzan-
TIM would kill six wild and vicious
bulls. Tickets were on sale at The hotels,
cafes and many other places. There is a
certain force in the atmosphere here that
incites one to want to see q bull fight.
| A Spanlard likes to see blood run, pro-
vided it is not his. Americans are usual
ly cured with one dose The price of ad-
mission varies. Seats in the sun can be
had for 81. so; one in the shade costs IS;
reserved seat is "a.
The Plaza de Toros. where the fight
takes place, is at Regia across the bay
from the city, and is reached by o ferry.
The building is circular affair, open at
the top, and seats are arranged in tiers
similar to circus. The arena is perhaps
hundred feet or more in diameter. A
high board fence separates the Enclosure
from passageway in front of the specta-
tors Seats A band of music entertains
you while you wait.
-Four squads of soldiers. about one
hundred in all, are posted in different
sections to preseve order. Sonora and
sanorita are there with their lorgnettes
and fans, some having lunches and bot
tie of wine for bracer. The seating ca
pacity Of the place is, perhaps live or six
thousand. At three O'Clock the seats are
full, and the usual uneasiness when
crowd is waiting for a performance to be-
gin, is apparent. Instead of whistling to
king sound very much like rattle.
snake. This aounds uncomfortable at
first, but one gets accustomed to 1t very
soon.
At half Fast three one of the human
participants comes out and addresses n
functionary, Ibelieye the president Of the
association, who manages the affair.
He replies in su distance: 'tThe hour has
arrived, and the public, who are just but
exacting, expect full satisfaction for their
money"
The man in Anticipated uniform retires
and at once the procession enters the
arena. First comes the great Mazzantini,
manhood, fully six feet tall and we'll pro.
portioned. He is followed by two
picadores ON horseback carrying lances and
four banderillas, l believe they are called
on foot. These ara all uniformed in gilt
and spangles very much as they have
been, suppose, for centuries back A
half dozen attendants whose duty is to
drag out the dead and dying animals f OIL
low in the rear After each has taken his
position, the double doors adjoining the
entrance from which the procession
started are opened.
In a second there appears out of the
darkness q magnificent specimen of a
bull. His head is erect, his horns are
long and pointed. He looks a mountain
of strength and courage. which he is.
One glance at the strange scene before
him and he is off for the nearest man to
his left. The footman sees him coming
and he spreads his bright colored cloth to
the right. The brn charges at it and is
surprised to tnd nothing substantial in
it. The man lodges and the bull wheels
around to charge again. He is confronted
the animal shoulder. This enrages him.
He is attracted sby other bright cloths
waved at him. He charges first at one
then another. He is undecided which
way to turn. Another horseman ap-
proaches with lance directed at his head,
but this time the picadore fails to stop the
bull, and horse and rider go down. The
man falls on the side opposite the bull,
he is protected but the poor horse re-
ceiyes the bulls teri lille horns, full
length, i'll his abdomen.
The crowd now cheer. They see the
blood, followed by the entrallS OF the
poor horse Blood is flowing in streams
from the bull But that is not enough.
The men on foot improve every oppor-
tunity to stick banderilIa Or stick with
sharp hooks into the bulls back. There
are now half a dozen of them hanging
from his 1uivering flesh. Apparently his
strength is not oozirg out with his blood,
for he is moro animated than ever. An
other horse is gored, this time a white
one, making the crimson current start
lingly prominent The first horse disabled
is again on his feet and the picadore on
his back lance in hand. As the horse
galloped by me, with entrnil protruding
and swaving in the wind, my heart sick
ened at the sight and l involuntarily
closed my eyes This morse was after
wards taken out, his intestines replaced,
the skin sewed up and he was again
placed in the arena. In about twenty
minutes from the time the bull entered
the arena the great Ma2zantini indicated
that it was time to kill him. Looking the
bull in the eye and walking directly up
to him, he stabbed him with long sword
just back of the horns and he was dead
without culver. The boys with mules
dra ored tho body out and fhp next hill