The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-23

One person so far allowed his feelings 20
get the better of him that as a group OF
gayly dressed toreadors were driving 10
the arena he drew a revolver and, taking
aim at their chief. fired at him. The bull
let missed, but the man fired again, and
this time the projectile passed through
the clothing Of one of the matadors, With
out, however, wounding him. The man
was prevented from further using the
weapon by the bystanders, who al once
seized him and handed him over 10 the
gendarmes. The shots were heard in the
crowded arena, and the news of the incl
dent soon spread. When the group made
their entry to the strains of the we'll
known march from Carmen" the publ c
cheered in the most enthusiastc manne:,
several Spaniards. including a female who
is well known on the music hall stage
being particularly demonstratlve. At III
juncture only few discordant cries were
heard; but one gentleman who was in the
boxes close 10 the presidents stand, and
who protested, was severely handled by
his neighbors. Several persons criel that
he was an accomplice of the man who had
fired the revolver, aud he was thrown
down the stairs of the arena. several per
sons striking at the unfortunate visitor as
he passed.
BY this time the audience had become
somewhat excited, and it was generally
noted with satisfaction by those who had
attended the gathering last year and were
forced by circumstances to be present thls
afternoon, that considerable improvements
had been made in the ring. and that 1t
was, at ell events, considerably safer. Inc
promenade into which the bull dashed had
been done away with, and the ring ana
the stands had been strengthened, Inc
general aspect Of he ring, however, had
not been changed. and, when compared
with a Spanish or Portuguese arena, II
H. cot 81
was extremely hot, and it is dithCult TO
imagine what plea sure this closely packed
crowd of for the most part Well-dressed
people could find in the disgusting spec
tacle which followed.
The parade was marked by the escape
of the mules, which, frightened by the
blast of the band, bolted and careered
wildly around the ring. This function over,
amid the plaudits of the assembly the
first bull was driven in Ii was a fine
black animal, bred in the Seville district,
and, after few paus S, faced the plcadors,
whose horses, it should be said, were
sheathed in iron. The first picador made
clean wound; but the second, striking
the animal in almost the same place, made
cruel cash, from which the blood stream
ed in profusion, until the animals left
side became "A deep red. At the protests
which small minority of the audience
had the courage to raise the greater pro-
portion commenced TO cheer vociferously,
while the torture of the wounded animal
was proceeded with.
The banderilleros then attacked The
beast each seeming to take a special ce-
light in planting his sharp pointed stream
ers in the already gaping wound. Mad
with pain and bleeding and grooming, the
bull dashed here and there until some of
the spectators took up the cry "A NOR.
The killing of the beast had bael
especially forbidden by the Project, and it
had even been asserted that any attempt
20 do so would be followed by an inter-
vention of the gendarmerie. Ignoring that
decision, the matadors then produced
their swords Felix Robert, a Frencnman
by birth, undertook to complete the butch
ering of the first bull. Having thrown his
hat to the gallery he appeared 10 demand
the Presidents permission 10 dispatch the
animal The President, however, did not
respond. and Robert finally took the re-
sponsibility in his own hands With the
red handkerchief in one hand and the
glistening Steel in the other, he faced the
wounded and. it should be said, weaken
ed animal Suddenly with a mad rush,
the bull was upon Robert, who fell to the
ground.
For a few seconds the greatest excite
ment prevailed. Women shr eked. ard
some. already sickened at the sight, faint
ed But the matador's comrades quickly
drew the animals attention away, ana 10
the relief and establishment of every one,
who had expected to see a manged tody,
Robert rose and coolly put on one of his
silk slippers which he had lost in the fray.
The people cheered, while the small mi
pority made themselves conspicuous with
their shouts Of Bravo, Toro!' Whether
the fall unnerved the matador or not
cannot say, but he was unable 70 dlspatch
the beast with his sword. The weat on
ole ~ wound
made. and there il remained, half the
glistening blade with its ornamental
handle swaying about.
The spectacle had now become most re-
voting, and cries of "Assez" could re
heard on all sides. While another ma a.
dor was preparing his sword to attack the
hull. Robert was making frantic efforts TO
obtain the recovery of his. The loss or
blood however told, and finally the oull
sank on its knees near the edge OF ne
ring Even the fatal wound with short
dagger was only given after four at
tempts, the gallant beast meanwhile max
ing frantic efforts TO struggle 10 Its feet
ord oct at its torturers. This scene last
cd fullv twenty minutes. II made many
neonle i'll. and they at once left the are
ma. while the applause which greeted the
death of the bull was counter-balanced by
a good deal Of Kissing and wnlstllng'
coupled with other cries OF disapproval.
more speedily accomplished, the matador
Monies this time welding the sword. The
third animal to be butchered gave the au-
dience bad fright, and there was nearly
repetition Of the panic which ensued last
vear Wounded and mad with pain, the
beast endeavored to escape from It's tor
mentors and Jumped the fence OF the ring.
The audience at once rose, but the animal
was unable to clear the second renee
which encircled the arena, and TO which
he had TO return to be tortured and finally
NM 10 death The spectators cheered the
dispatch OF each unfortunate ANNA, in the
most yociferous manner. Robert, the
matador who was shot at, and who IL
annears. was slightly injured In his en-
counter with the first bull, was given
quite an ovation when he reappeared In
the ring TO face the Attn bull, which he
only nut TO death after what may be term
ca atrocious butchering.
In all six bulls were killed, the perform
ance I'm each case being similar to that
which have described for the first bull
The death in some cases was more speedy
than In others but the scene throughout
was one of horror While the men cheered
and seemed to revel In the proceedings.
many women tainted az the bulls were
nut to death. 1t Is certain that this dis
p,ay will decide numbers OF people 70
bring pressure TO bear on deputies 10 sup
port the bill now before Parliament for
bidding bull-hghting on French territory.