New-York tribune., 1905-07-09
LISBON BULL FIGHTS.
Continued from third page.

gars to the attendants in the arena. to some
hero of numerous fights who, perhaps, has no
part in this one. but takes pains to keep him
self before the public eye And our hero gives
the same Old World and courtly bow to EACH
whether he has thrown him cigar, or as often
happens, purse.
At last at the flourish of trumpet, the play
begins, opened by the actors. mounted and
foot. passing the boxes in review, and saluting
the city government officials, who remain stand
ing through this salute. Then all withdraw but
the cavalier. and he, who is mounted and cor
responds somewhat to the picador of Spanish
fight makes his horse prance and back around
the arena, lifting his hat and wearing a con-
tnual smile Several capos, or cape throwers,
gayly dressed all the actors, and carrying
selves around the ring. Then small door the
side is opened, and the bull the horns of which
have heen well padded with leather, comes in.
He enters with skip and a jump and pauses
for moment In the centre of the ring, paving
the sand until his attention is attracted by a
cape thrOwer cavalier, at of whom he
rushes madly. The capos keep we'll out Of his
way, jumping the inner fence with remarkable
agility when necessary. .- e.-.... ....
The cavalier, mounted on a fine horse skful
and we'll trained, keeps the animal away from
N-'N DN' NAANA-
he approaches near enough to drive his javelin,
or banderilla, into the bulls shoulder. These
bandarillas darts of steel about three feet
long. ornamented with colored papers and flags,
and having a bare point at end about an
inch in length. They enter the bulls skin for
such a short distance that he usually manages
to shake most of them out before leaving the
arena. Any cavalier who allows his horse to
be injured by the bull would be considered dis
graced, and hissed off the stage.
After the cavalier has performed, he retires
amid wild applause, and the matador enters
on foot. He places several banderillas in the
bulls shoulders, and then a sword and the reg
ulaton small red cape are handed to him A
harmless and rather tame imitation of the
Spanish Kill now follows, the matador sticking
his sword into the animal apparently about
quarter Of an inch. and there is no blood letting
in this or apparent injury to the bun
When the matadOr has received enough ap-
Tlause to satisfy, the last act begins This is
opened by the entrance of a half dozen tame
oxen. each wearing a bell. with whom the bull
seeks companionship. While the animals are
running around, following the fence and en-
GeaVoring to make their way out number of
wrestlers, called focadors run in. These men
Jump upon the wild bulls horns and back, try
Ing to throw him, usually without success. This
is by far the most exciting moment of the fight;
and that it is not without danger TO the foca-
dofs is shown not only by their being thrown
ard tossed oftentimes, but by records kept
which prove that they do not live long, dying
usually from hemOrrhage of the lungs.
The bull is now allowed to leave the ring and
he retires with at least even honors none the
worse. apparently, for his twenty minutes ex-
ercise. Several fights like the one described take
Place. The most laughable incident to u.s. but
PROBABLY impressive enough to the Portuguese
ca"e between the fights, when the knightIy and
valiant cavalier and the brave and fearless
nat3dor walked around the ring gathering the
pfeFe2ts showered on them, and followed by two
Ten in frock coats, who at fixed intervals en-
5raccd the actors-One embrace for about every
fon yards of distance covered, it seemed to us
The whole affair is innocent enough. torment-
ing no doubt, but not cruel. No feeble horse is
gored. killed and finally dragged out OF the
ring; no picador amaZes a breathless audience.
The sand Of the arena is not stained with the
blood OF man, bull or horse. one leaves with no
feeling Of disgust or desire TO constitute ones self
a society for the prevention Of cruelty to ami