The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-22
STRUGGLE BETWEEN WILD
BEASTS.
GRAND FIGHT BETWEEN
FULL FLOODED SPANISH BULL
AND ROYAL BENGAL TIGER,
DIRECT FROM THE
JUNGLES OF INDIA.

/ For days before the exhibition CONVEX
sation in the cafes along the Escolta in
variably turned to the subject Of the com
i ing exhibition, and it was evident that the
managers fully intended both to reap a
| large harvest Of heavy dollars and &c
wind up the career of the bull-ring asso-
| citation in a blaze of glory.
A hot afternoon in early February found
everybody directing their steps toward the
wooden structure which consisted of a lot
of wooden seats piled up around a circular
arena. The reserved sections werecover-
ed with a light roof to keep off the not
| afternoon sun, but the "bleachers," for
those that held only "Billetes de SOL were
exposed to the binding glare. The audi
ence-a crowd of 5000 persons with dark
faces showing above suits of white Sheet
ing-found the center of the ring arna-
mented with a huge iron cage some two
rods square, while off at the side were
smaller cages containing the ''fieras'' or
wild beasts.
The show opened amid breathless ex-
element with an exhibition of panthers,
and man dressed in pink tights ate
dinner in their big cage, after setting off
a bunch of frecrackers under one of the
"feras," which did not seem inclined to
woke up enough lick his chops or to pre-
tend to want to eat somebody. The dar-
ing performer lived to digest his glass Of
water and one cracker, and deer was
next introduced into the enclosure. The
panthers, even at tn command of the
keeper, seemed unwilling to attack his
gentle foe, and on continued kissing from
the big audience, thhe animals were with
drawn.
Then great shouts Of Gel toro, ell toro."
arose as off at the small gate aat one side
the bull appeared calmly walking forward
under the guidance of two natives, and
renewed applause arose as the small heavy
cage containing the royal Bengal tiger was
rolled up to the sliding door of the central
structure.
The bull was showed into the iron Jail,
dozen or more punches of firecrackers
were ste off in the small box holding the
tiger in order to wake him up. the slide
door connecting the two was withdrawn.
and with defening roar the great Indian
cat rushed forth and tried to swallow a
man who was standing outside the bars
holding a heatd pitchfork The bull stood
quietly in one corner wagging mis- tail
and, after blinking his eyes once or twice.
proceeded to examine his antagonist in
most friendly spirit. In fact there seemed
10 be no hard feeling at all between the
two beasts, and the tiger apparently only
wanted to get at the gentleman outside
the cage-nOt at the bull
The audience houled and jeered at the
tiger. bet on the bull, and criticised the
man with the pitchfork as he gave the
tiger sevral hard poks in tn ribs. This
angered the beast so that he made a dive
for the bull and promptly found himself
tossed into the air. As he came down he
hung on TO the bulls nose and dug his
claws into the tough hide. Curiously
enough the bull did not seem to mind that
in the least and the Two stood perfectly
still. locked in close quarters for some five
minutes. And to make a long story short.
there occurred some four or five Of these
mild attacks-always incited by the man
with the pitchfork-during which the bull
stepped on the tiger. making him howl
with pain. and the latter badly BIT the
bull on the legs and nose. After the fourth
round both beasts seemed to be in-want Of
a SieSta; il was growing dark and the
dissatisfied audience cried for another
bull
The first animal was finally dragged /
away after the tiger had gladly retreated
10 MS cage, and fresh bun with mora
spirit was introduced Now. however. .
the tiger was less game than ever. and
no amount Of frecrackers would induce
him 20 stir from the small cage. He
seemed far too sensible. and literally an
9eared 10 be possessed OF an asbestos skin
Il was now getting really dark. The
audience Joined in a chorus of how,s.
People began 10 light matches 20 see .hsir
programmes. and the circus ring looked as F..
{ IL were filed with fre-tf.es. Then the
themselves were lighted 10
get more ugh,: cries Of: Give Us hack
pur money" and others of a less printable
kind arose. and paademonium reiened
Men jumped into the ring. and the tiger
'efused to move for anybody. 4 c2up.s
y pa0chers were again introduced into
he cage with she bull IN The hope Of
stirring things up
But the bull merely licked one panther
IN the nose and wagxed his TAI, a. tf,s
',her. while the show was declared of
N account Of the darkness. Then everv-
'ody fled out in disgust. and the man with i
he iiger. panthers and pitchforks sailed
or foreign shores By toe hrst steamer.