The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-04-21
A REVOLVING SPORT
The HORROR AND THE sAvAeERy
OF THE 6uLLFleHT.

A sunday Afternoon OF nIoodshed
ana Brutality In the Arena In Mex
leo city as Graphically Described
by nm American Spectator.
"The better the day the better the
deed is not a Mexican maxim, for
Sundays and feast days are given over
to bullfghts, cooking mains and gam
bling.
a beautiful Sunday afternoon found
me in my seat, facing an audience OF
oyer 5000 people, to witness the great
bullfigbt that had been extensively ad-
vertised for that occasion.
The Plaza de Toras is the bullrlng, a
great circular building with an interior
that is an immense amphitheater, seat
Ing thousands OF people. The seats are
circular and In tiers, rising from the
ground TO the top, where the private
boxes are. There is no roof except
over the private boxes, and as the sun
beats down there is of course shady
side and one side In the blazing sun.
Prices in the sun are as low as %
and 10 cents and graded upward TO So
per seat. Boxes are from So and $40
per seat. eight persons occupying a
box. Our entire party of over sixty
occupied boxes, and they were all in
their seats ready for the greatest now
city of their life, as not one in our par
ty had ever witnessed such scene
The ring itself is an arena over a
hundred feet in diameter, encircled by
strong board fence about FIVE feet
high, with a foot rail on the inside two
feet from the ground. This is to assist
the capeadore too closely pursued by
the bull to escape by leap over the
fence to a passageway that extends
around the ring between the fence and
the seats. gorgeously decorated box
near the center of the shady side down
low near the ring is for the president
of the republic or for some state or
municipal officer. who must be man
of executive ability and well posted in
managing and deciding all questions of
the bullfght. He is the umpire, and
the more bulls and horses killed and
the bloodier and fiercer the fighting
the more he Is cheered and the more
popular he becoms with the people.
He has full sway and power, and all
look TO him for bloody fight. IL II is
going tamely, the great throng hiss and
show their dlspleasure in no unmistak-
able manner. He must then demand
more vigorous action from the numer-
Gus performers-fiercer bulls aud more
horses gored and slain.
The box we occupied was at the top,
Immediately over this box of honor,
and us the entrance of the bull was
through dark passageway just to the
left of the presidents box, we could
see the back of the bulls as they enter
ed and looked right down on the gov
ernor of the state, who on this Sunday
afternoon was the only occupant of
this great seat of honor at Mexican
bullfight. The entrance of the perform
ers was through gate exactly oppo-
site the presidents box.
All is now ready. The immense band
is playing, but the music is drowned by
the noise and bowling of all the thou.
sands present, Impatience seems to
make them mad for the battle to begin.
A blast from a bugle pierces the air OF
this beautiful Sunday afternoon. At
this signal the gate opposite the presi-
dents box opens, and all the perform.
ers enter just within the Enclosure.
Then single gayly costumed horse
man, called the alquazil, mounted on a
splendid horse, rides directly to the
front of the governor and asks permits
sion TO kill the bulls. Permission grant.
ed, the governor losses to him the key
Of the door at which the bulls enter,
which he catches. and backs his fine
horse clear across the ring TO receive
his company in waiting. Now there
Is a grand flourish of trumpets, bril-
liant spectacle. finely formed athletes
In costumes OF silk and satin, gold and
velvet. They march quickly across the
arena, bow to the governor and then
to the audience. First in the gay pro
cession as they march around the ring
are the matadores, the stars, who han
die the swords to the death OF the
bulls; next the banderilleros. second
in honor who place the banderillas
in the bulls shoulders to enrage them:
next and third In rank, the capea-
dores, who manipulate the capes or
colored flags TO distract the bulls at
tention when any of the company are
being pressed too hard and in unusual
danger; next the picadors on horse
back, their lance in hand; next four
mules gayly hmnessed; behind these.
two men with wheelbarrows, shovels,
and then some attendants called wise
monkeys from their good suggestions
and advice 10 the performers.
All now retire from the ring except
the capeadores to enter in tier turn.
Again we hear the bugle blast, the
door is thrown open, and the bull is
entering, coming from a dark stall
where he has been kept three days in
darkness. As he enters under the rail-
barbed steel point covered with flow