Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-02
a SPANISH BULL FIGHT
SEEN BY AKRON VISITOR.


frenzied horse, still bearing
his rider, leaps frantically forward,
in one last effort to escape his as
saiant! AS | turn my head from the
revolving sight see thousands of well
dressed men and women about me
gazing with interest and excitement,
down on the bloody conflict. The
well bred Spanish ladies have spread
their fans to shield from view the
/, ghastly sight; men are conversing and
gesticulating, and even in the fatal
moment, do not relinqulsh the iueyita
bic cigarette, while the odour, waited
to my nostris from every side, sug
gests to this day, IA picture of butch
cry and brutality that will never be
effaced from my memory. | note the
face of our friend and fellow-t traveller
by my side-the veteran statesman and
eX-leader of the Conservative party of
Canada-Sir Charles Tupper. Cool,
deliberate, and self-contained, he las
fought many political combat, and
with a physlcinu's training, has wit
/ messed much of human suffering; but
gazing upon the needless torture of
! dumb brutes, he is wrought to the
highest pitch, and sits with his kind
ly face atanIe with indignation. Now
the horse has given up the fight; lie
drops to the ground; while the chulos
rally around with the red cnpes; the
picador is lifted up, aud in tricc
slips out of nearby gate, only to
/ give place to another blindfolded
horse and rider to repeat "A scene like
! the first. Two or three must be sacri.
feed to arouse the bull sufficiently,
and each time the picador's escape
seems marvellous.
Stretched upon the saw-dust covered
arena. are three lifeless horses, so
mangled and torn that | scken AS |
look upon the sight, but now it is tho
bulls turn to be tortured. Perhaps
lie Is not yet infurlated enough to
meet the matador. He is tame!'
He is coward" the audience shouts
derisively, so the neet-footed banderil
lero advance toward the paving ami
NAL to decorate his neck and shoulders
with sharp. explosive darts. This mad
dens him, and, roaring with pain, he
Is ready FOR the combat. Alone the
champion matador walks in, sword In
hand, dressed in dark velvet incket.
knee-breeches, long stockings and slip.
pcrs. He advances toward the pres
idents box, declares he will do his
duty and turns to slay his victim. He
knows the animals he Is to kill, for he
has made his selection In the morn
ing, regulated by his rank among the
matadors. But, perchance HE he the
victim and meets death in the arena.
what then? All, that emergency too,
has been provided for. A hospital and
small chapel are connected with the
amphitheater, and, in case of death,
a priest Is In readiness to administer
the extreme JUNCTION. Now the mata-
doris long training must serve him In
good stead. He will thrust the sword
between the left shoulder and the
blade, just Ms the animal charges di-
rectly upon him. 1t must he planted
quickly and accurately, and his victim
VIII fan at his feet. He is not dis
concerted by either the jeers or the
paudits of the multitude as he parties
with his foe, but scientifically dverts
him to the right or left, with the small
flag he holds IN one hand, until he is
ready for the final act. A wild dash
the foes meet and the sword is i'm.
beddcd IN the great animals heart
lie falls to the ground foamlng and
bleeding, while the hats from the
cheering throng rain down on the con,
qucror, ana the mntador stands tri
umphnnt over his dying victim. Only
twenty minutes have elapsed since
the performance began, and the team
OF mules In glitterlng trapplngs and
tinkling bells, is galloping In to clear
the arena for the second act and
- strcw the ground with fresh saw-dust
We look about us for some avenue OF
escape from the scene OF carnage, but
the spectators have pressed close',
about and we are hemmed In, 10 wit
ness the champion play his part sec
ond time, and other lesser matadors
appear, until the result of the days
slaughter numbers six bulls and tifteeI
horses. When the game is over and
the crowd disperses, II Is only by q
long, long drive In the beautiful boule
ward OF the Prado, beneath the tower
Ing shade trees of the Champs ely
sees" of Madrid, that our excitement
. is abated, and the sun is setting on q