The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-03-17
Gives Graphic Description Of
National Sport.
Everybody, Rich and Poor, Goes
to the Show.
Dead Animal Fed to Inmates
of Prison
From THURSDAYS Daily.

ioHi Sudiy LAM
Emmett r. Tanner has written from
San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the following
description of Mexican bull fight to
his father, o. w. Tanner OF Eagle Lake:
81 have no doubt that every one who
has heard of bull fight, though he has
not actually seen one, has used the
Imagination to form the larger part his
idea as to its character and appearance.
Before [ had seen one myself, | had
heard many bull fight stories and heard
those describe it, who had seen many,
but before the first act that | saw was
completed, | was as unnerved as though
| had heard nothing. In this brief de-
scription | shall not eXaggerate or con-
ceal the barbarity of the performance
and will leave the reader to compare it
with his own imaginations.
''In Mexico everybody from the mil
lionaire down to the peon will be found
every Sunday in this huge ampitheatre.
The ring covered about an acre and is
entirely surrounded by many rows of
stone seats, which are built on about
the slant as are the seats to a grand
stand in the United States.
'AbOut one third of the seats, those
10 Il, n, of a., ~
$3.50 each. while those on the sunny
side are sold at forty cents
Recently I attended the last great
bull fight of the season at the Plaza de
Toros, San Luis POtosi The cheap
section was packed to its utmost, while
the shady side of the amphitheatre was
well filled though not crowded. I Sc
lected what Thought was a good seat
and during the five minutes / had to
wait | made q futile attempt at getting
nerve enough together to meet what
was coming.
"At the sound of The bugle all the
fighters marched in. They were dressed in
beautiful uniforms trimmed with silver
and gold lace. Their clothing all fits
tight to prevent the bulls horns from
catching them.
"The buele sounded again and bull
number one was turned loose, already
made furious by having sharp iron
dart struck down between his shoulders
with long strips of colored paper at
tached to it. The first thing that
catches his eye is a large red blanket
being waved at him from the opposite
side of the ring For this he makes fur
ious charge only to find that the man
was not behind the blanket and that he
has done no harm. Very often he will
drive his horns into the planks which
form an inner ring about ten feet high.
During these maneuvers which are at
tended with a more or less defeanng
applause one or more old worthless
horses are brought up blindfolded in
front of the bulls horns, sometimes to
be killed instantly by a horn plunged
to his heart, sometimes to be only half
and scattered about in pieces. The rider
is scarcely ever hurt, as his right leg
is covered with iron plate and the bull
is not allowed to attack on the left.
Everything is regulated by the Judge,
who allows only n given number of
minutes to each part of the fight, and
when the bugle sounds the third time,
the horses are taken out of the ring,
dead or alive as the case may be.
''The best fighter is the one who can
act the most recklessly, and still escape
the horns. l noticed one in particular,
who would get down on his knees and
allow the bull to come so close that |
those terrible horns would pass under
his arm only few inches from his
body.
'The second period is given to stick
ing six or eight short spears between
the bulls shoulders. The spears are
about two feet long and are decorated with |
fringed tissue paper of all colors. They |
ire called banderillas, and the one who |
sticks them is called the banderillero |
This operation is more dangerous than
else, because the man has no
'ed blanket with which to defend him
self and has to depend upon the others
to call the bull Off Often the bull will |
become so Infatuated at this that they |
only have time to stick half the usual
number of the banderillas. | saw one
Jump the fence four times, and as ] |
said before, the fence is about ten feet /
nigh. | was not surprised when he fell |
back exhausted in attempting the fifth
lime TO get away from his enemy. To
,lace these short spears the fighter has
% run towards the bull and meet him
almost face to face, and as he sticks
hem, he puts his whole weight on them
md lifts himself over or around the