Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-04-08
AN INTERESTING RECITAL.
Col Ben Wilson of Clarksburg
tells of his Mexican trip.

ssGreass r''-The National character.
isties-BuIl fights-What he thinks
of them Difference between the Gus
toms i'm Mexico and the SfateS-Vivid
description 0f the scenes ut the side
of the fiidsiu.
Eek. Congress Col. Ben Wilson
of Clarksburg recently returned from
an extended visit in Mexico whittier
he went to visit his sons. The Col
onel talks very entertainingly of all
features of the Mexican government
but one Of the most interesting things
he describes is a Mexican bull fight.
When interviewed he gave the follow
ing descriptions:
81 attended a bull fight with my
son, Matt, in San Louis Potosi. In
order to make nay statement about it
ineligible, let me explain that there
is an arena, circular in form and 100
or more feet in diameter surrounded
by strong fence about six feet high,
with two outlets for men on horse
back, on foot and for bulls to pass in
and out. In this arena the fighting
is done. Above this fence is an am
pitheater with receding elevated seats
for the accommodation of the uhous-
ands Of people who are charged high
prices for admission. On the inside
of this fence are perhaps half dozen
relief stations made of wood for the
men to take refuge behind when press
ed by the bulls. A band always fur
nishes the music and squads of sol
diers and policemen are stationed at
different points to suppress riots and
keep the peace. When all was ready
an order was issued by the Chief Mag
istrate of the occasion for the fighting
forces to enter in the following order,
two pfckadores mounted on horses
and dressed like Spanish Knights, in
olden times, with Il spear in hand of
each to protect the horse and rider
from charges from the bulls which,
however, are not generally successful;
following these came footmen, each
carrying large scarlet or red cloth,
resembling flags: then came the "Mat-
ador," the bull fighter, also with a
scarlet cloth in one hand and long
spear or sword in his other hand, all
these men are dressed in most hand
some, costly and gaudy styles.
CATER short impatient waiting
medium sized ferocious black bull was
ushered into the arena with a barbed
wire dart thrust in, his shoulder, as
he came in 10 irritate him, but he
stood motionless and showed no incli
nation to fight. The footmen flashed
their scarlet flags before him and the
horsemen did what they could to fur
ther irritate him, but all to no pur-
pose, for he would not fight and hence
the "Chief Magistrate. ordered him
to be lassoed and taken out which
was done amid the most unearthly
Mexican hooting and yells that the
bull was disgraced. In few minutes
another bull of apparently the same
size and color and description Of the
first was driven into the arena with a
barbed dart in his shoulder also, he
did not stand on ceremony like the
first, but commenced the fight with
great vigor by attacking men and
horses: he gored one horse throwing
him and his rider several feet in the
air, the horse falling dead ia one di-
rection and the rider escaping in an
other direction; some of the footmen
approaching him, making loud noises
and exciting anger, by the scarlet
color, to detract attention from the
n 0p ~ fxyiY hi oh
cape. The bull was so furious in this
charge, that some of the men had to
escape over the fence and others took
refuge behind the relief stations.
He killed the second horse, chased all
the men, tore up number of the
flags, when verify "the bull fight was
on.
Upon the return to the arena of the
men few more barbed darts were in
serted in his neck and shoulders when
his rage seemed to know no bounds;
then the order came to ''kill the bull. y
Then the Matador with sword in one
hand and scarlet cloth in the other
attached to a stick several feet long
attracted the bulls attention. The
vigorous plunges and assaults by the
one and the miraculous lodging and
stepping aside by the other, must be
seen to be appreciated: several times
| thought the bull had the man on
his horns but he did not. The killing
IS not allowed except when the COM
batants are confronting each other.
In the BULBS last charge he plunged at
the scarlet colors at the end of the
stick when the Matador dodged to one