Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-02
The Importation of Mexican Bulls to
Pan-American Exhibition
Recalls the Brutal Sport as Carried on In the
Land of Its Origin.


the spot on which they are all doomed
to die before the sun sets. Once i'm
prisoned in their cages, they are not
again liberated until the final order
is given by the presiding officer, from
his box In the umphtheater. Shortly
before three o'clock on n Sunday af-
ternoon, my father was presenting our
tickets at the Plaza de Toros. They
were stamped with a colored sketch of
the arena, and charging bill; In
one corner the word "sombra,"
indicating q seat In the shade; the
price mark, which read once pesetas,"
or about $2,20 in our money, and the
numbers of the seats and tier in which
they were located. BY special favor,
IN of1cious ciceronc declared, seats
had been secured for us near the
Isoya! box; but the price was ultl-
mutely doubled through his courte.
sy 81 though the Queen Regent was
far from Madrid at that time, sum
nering with the boy King ut her
palace in San Sebastian on the Bay
Of Biscay. The upper part OF the
amphithenter is protected by u roof,
from the hot rays of the sun, while
lower down seats diminish In price
and are wholly exposed to the wealth
er, until the lowest tier affords a
place for the rabble, and many even
perch upon the wall, dangling their
feet down into the pussagc-way, he
tween the first and second enclosures
Should the bull vault over the first
the spectators Will waste no time in
falling back from their points of
vantage. But before seeking out our
locations in the vast amphitheater,
where 10000 people might congregate,
we turned to the adjoining stables.
There the apimals were kept, which,
| In less than three hours were everyone
! to be slain. Poor old worn.out horses,
scarcely able to bear their riders into
the arena, after life of faithful SER
vice to their cruel masters, only to de-
serve death In which they can have
not even n fair tight! There they stood
mutely awaiting the sentence which
should send them to the inevitable
destiny of cab.horses past their use
fulness. Blindfolded they are ridden
into the arena, to lnfuriate the charg-
ing bull, for the Spaniard tells you
he will not tight until first enraged
by the sight of blood. The roaring of
the imprisoned bulls made me shud-
der, and warned MS that the time was
approaching for their release. There
was stir among the keepers and the
eager lhrong of people, and Fastening
back, we found our places just as the
trumpet sounded, and n mounted DO
liccman came galloplng in, refining up
/, his horse below the presidents box.
He doffs his hat, catches the key
which the presiding officer throws
down, spurs his horse back to un-
lock the gates, the band plays, there
Is an mir of expectation, and now the
bull dashes into the enclosure. He
looks about him, bewildcred and
dnzcd, for a few moments by the sud
den release from his close quarters,
To the Glarlng sunlight and vast con.
course of observers But his attention
* soon diverted TO the mounted horse.
men, called the picadores, The plea.
doris body and legs are encased In
an armor of leather and steel, and
he carries n long lance to ward on the
attacks of the bull from the right
: while turning his horse TO the left
Meanwhile the gayly dressed chulos
, or apprentices In their tauromachiau
, career, are nt hand to divert the ami
mails attention by their red capes
which they must he quick to spread
| at the moment the hull charges on tho
horse, for should the plcudor he over
thrown, his attendants must rush tc
his assistance and set him on his feet
since his unwleldy armor renders him
helpless, Now comes the first charge
The horse has been struck; but III,
bull receives rebuff from the plea
! doris lance. lie turns and dashc
wildly after one of the chulos, who
, hops over the first barricade. All
: the bull Is after him. he is oyertakInl
him; he vaults the fence and run,
, along the narrow passage-way. W,
! watch breathlessly, but now the liect
footed chulo has opened a gate which
! turns his pursurer back into the arena
! aud the nimble attendant is safe
Z The picadors lance intimldates hin
D somewhat. yet once again he charges
9 on horse and rider. Look away