The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-14
BULL CORES LION.
Exciting Battle to Make a Mexi-
can Holiday.

FL Paso, Tex. April 14.-Sunday after
noon, in the Juarez bull ring, across the
Rio Grande, and on the Mexican side
Of the. border from FL Paso. a monster
Numidian lion and a ferocious Samala-
yucca bull from the interior of Mexico
fought each other almost to the death.
The lion probably will die.
No such exhibition has been given in
Christendom since the bloody days Of
Rome. when hon-bun fighting and other
similar contests were in flower and no
other like. it will probably be given at
Juarez if the quaint and picturesque old
border town stands a thousand years
The sanguinity. rarity and uniqueness
or the encounter attracted spectators
from dozens Of states and from all
over the Mexican republic
The greater part of the audience IN
the great amphithea ter surrounding the
ring was from New Mexico. West
Texas. Chihuahua and vicinity. Gray
haired Mexicans walked four days
from the Interior of Chihuahua to wit
ness the exhibition.
All roads lead to the city across the
border Trolley cars. loaded until not
another passenger could cling on Ian
daus, carriages and pedestrians crossed
the international bridge
Men and women who had not suffl-
eient money to obtain admittanee to the
Plaza de TOros We're attracted to
Juarez as the morbidly curious are
wont to congregate around the scene
Of hanging, even though the exhibi-
ton is not public
The fight was held in an octagon cage
S6 feet in circumference. The cage was
securely fastened in the center of the
Dull ring The bull was first decOyed
into the cage, and directly adjacent to
this was placed a smaller cage con-
tanning the lion. AT a blast of a trunl-
pet the lion was admitted from the
smaller to the larger cage the doors OF
the lions and the bulls prison being
automatically closed and the smaller
cage rolled back to the side OF the ring
IN order that the spectators view might
not be affected.
When the bull first entered and saw
me lion crouching to await his coming
ne was seized with a great fear He
shiYered from head to foot, but this was
only momentary. In an instant he re-
ahzed his danger and began terrible
fight for his life. The lion roared and
dashed his tail and when the bull
charged avoided his horns with dex-
terity.
He crouched close to the floor, creDt
around his prey in a circle and watched
his opportunity. Then came the mag
nl1ceut spring into the air, and, falling
like an eagle from q cliff the lion land
upon the bulls back and tanks his
claws burying themselves in the b0vine's
sides and mis- long fangs closing on his
throat
The bull shook him off and gered the
lien twice in the head. Then the fight
continued for an hour. the lions leg
being crushed and his body gored in
twenty-five places. The bull threw his
adversary three times TO the arena and
held him pinioned to the ground, then
when the lion was released. threw him
backward and upward repeatedly The
arena was despatched with gore. The
bull was not fatally injured When the
non was completely Eanquished IN spirit
and in physical strength and injured
fatally the fight was ordered discontin-
ued by the Mexican authorities