The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-08-22

round his carcase until the latter Is taken away.
The removal of the fighting bull from the plains
to the bull ring is not without interest. II the
bull ring is not far off the method is as follows:
Some few days before the fight, decoy oxen. with
bells round their necks, are turned out with the
herd. which soon get accustomed to their pres
ence. little before dawn on the appointed day.
by the light of the moon. the herd of decoys and
bulls are hurried along by side roads and lanes
into the town and on to the bull ring. For long
distance journeys the bulls travel by rail- and as
the ultimate sorting out of bulls and decoys is
much the same, whether it be at the bull ring
near by, or at the railway station for distant
fight, a description of the method by which the
animals are boxed for transit will serve dou-
BILE purpose.
Imagine country railway station Of the print,
tive order; on the right dusty road leading
through aloe hedges to distant town, with mar
ket gardens in the middle distance on the left
single railway line, stretching away In not
too straight line to infnity. Behind you is e
large yard or corral surrounded by high walls
and divided down the middle, which is entered
by two massive wooden gates. A few porters
idlers, half dozen cowboys with their ponies
hitched to posts, couple of guarda cvile. anc
probably a few tourists stand about outside. In
the distance are grazing the bulls and their 'ra
torous brethren. guarded by single horseinan
Presently there arrives on the scene a stout
party presumably the overseer.
The cowboys mount their ponies. doing little
showing or as they canter away to the dis
tant herd. Rounding up the bulls and oxen. they
head them for the corral In front gallcps
ganadero, with lance in rest, driving before him
decoy OK. At his heels thunder the herd
Faster and faster they come. into the post and
rail lane which narrows down to the entrance OF
the corral, Behind, with wild yells and waving
lances. gallop the rest of the cowboys Into the
corral dashes the decoy OK; the horseman at his
tail wheels at gailop into the open stable doors
nc loft to-
as small boy hastily slams to the door behind
him. Meanwhile, the entire herd has poured
into the corral and the gates are fastened be-
hind them. The ganaderos dlsmount and come
up on to the walls, lances in hand. The small
boy pops out Of the stable cracking whip, and
the herd gets move on" towards the next sec
ton Of the corral. of which the doors stand open
bull looks toward the small boy who dives for
cover like rabbit: but in second he is out
once more and again cracking his whip The
cowboys aid his efforts by leaning over the rails
and prodding those cattle within reach with their
lances from above. Presently the herd is all in
enclosure No. q At the right-hand end of this
Is lane leading backward in the direction from
which the cattle came. Having been through
the mill before. decoy OK promptly trots on
down this lane to freedom He is followed at
more leisurely pace by bull-but not TO free
dom! The end door is slammed in the second
animals face. Quickly turning around, he PUSHES
back, but the door at the other end is shut also
Round he comes again, to find the middle door
likewise closed. He is now in trap and knows
It. With an angry below he charges the door,
sending the white spnters flying. cowboy
leans over and prods him with his lance with
a savage grunt he turns round once more to see
facing him small opening in the wall Per
haps 1t leads to freedom? His hesitation van
ishes as he receives several prods from above
ana ne dives into the darkness. to find himself In
box on wheels in which he cannot turn around
Before he has time to back out down comes
sliding door and he is a prisoner. ready to be
sent BY train to the bull ring and his fate