Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-05-05
FIRST bull FIGHT
IN MANY YEARS
WIDEATTRACTION
Crowd Of Seven Thousand Persons
Attends First Event of Kind
in Matamoros in Years.
CURIOSITY IS SATIATED

Abaut three o'clock Sunday afternoon
the Plaza de Toros at Matamoros suddenly
began TO grow heads and bodies and in
place of bare board seats there sprung up a
living, moving mass of humanity. This was
three o'clock American, daylight saving,
time, or two hours before the opening as
billed. In few hours every seat in the
amphitheatre was packed, hundreds were
standing in the rear of the seats. A full
seven thousand persons were there, a rec
ord crowd. and over so per cent Ameri-
cans. The band spoke up and sent cool,
refreshing music in between the cracks and
crevasses of the jam.
A little after five o'clock, still American
time, a trumpet call ran up and down the
scales and automatically the heads be-
came mouths ar voices. Cheers upon
cheers rang loudly up 10 the sky until the
clouds seemed to scurry away in fright.
The trumpet note was the official warming
or announcement, that the fight was on the
verge Of taking place.
ponderous gate on the sunny side of
the arena swung slowly open and the pro-
cession of fighters and helpers entered.
The parade was led by small lad in cos
tune mounted upon snappy, sorrel pony.
Following him came the natadors, or the
men who kin the bulls, next the bander-
ilieros, those who place the banderillas in
the shoulders OF the bull, the toreadors who
enrage the bull with brilliant red capes,
the picadors mounted upon their horses and
armed with the pleas or long lances with
which they fight the bull from horseback.
and lastly came the mozos or servants, the
L.. +L~&
the dead bulls from the arena.
AS the procession entered the applause
became deafening and long The members
Of the company bowed to the stands and
withdrew
Four or five of the toreadors in gorgeous
dress and with brilliantly colored man
tillas or capes stationed themselves about
the ring. Two mounted pcadors drew
their horses close to the sides of the arena.
Another bugle note was sounded. The
gates closing the entrance TO the toril, or
bull pen, was opened and the bull decoyed
into the arena. AS he passed through the
gate. short iron instrument decorated
with vari-colored paper. its end shaped like
fish hook. was jabbed into his shoulder.
Infuriated by the pain this caused the bull
made dash for the toreadors who scam
pered to the wall and leaped across it to
safety. The bull then made successive
charges at the toreadors. The men lodged
the charging bull with unthinkable quick
ness and rs the sharp horns were brought
up with a deadly thrust they met only
the empty air. During this time the horses
and pcadors were held in absolute quiet,
or whe ndanger appeared spurs would be
set into the horses sides and the riders
were brought to safety. As the bull quiet
ed down the toreadors again entered the
ring and the capa act took place. The fancy
colored cloaks were held in front Of the
men. Occasionally they were waved to
attract the attention of the bull and to en-
courage him to attack. Madly the bull
rushed at the toreadors. He lowered his
head and closed his eyes in the rush. But
when that sharp jab that spells death came
up In the air il found only the slick capas
The toreadors held their places in front
of the bull until the infuriated animal was
almost upon them and with a rapidity thai
was well night unperceivable they woult
step to the side holding their cloaks t
brush against the sharp horns. The bull
was a splendid animal and as quick as light
ming Many times did he make charges
that sent the toreadors scurrying acros
the fence for safety After some timl
of this play the men lured the bull to tn,
picadors
The horses upon which the picadors wer
mounted were not the best to be had, be
cause at practically all events the horse j
gorcd to death. A bandana Is tie
around the head of the horse. covering hi
( Continued on Page Five