East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-01-10
.DULL-FIGHT RETURNS
AFTER FOUR YEARS !
TO MEXICAN CAPITAL
Public Clamors for Revival of
Sport and Authorities Re-
lent; $4,000 Fans Encircle
Ring for Dazzling Event.
BY RALPH II. TURNER.

L. B1 HALfH II. IOtN hit'
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
CITY OF MEXICO, Jan 10-Bug1es
bared. eighteen thousand Mexican
throats tested the full capacity Of
eighteen thousand pairs of Mexican
lungs, gate swung up on one side of
the pit and shouting bull, its head
describing n vicious circle, rushed in
to the full glare of an afternoon sun.
The bull fight had returned to Mexico.
Back in 1915, the Carranza govern
ment barred the bull fight from the
federal district. in wich the Mexican
capital is located. And for four years
the public has been clamoring for its
revival. The authorities finally re-
Tented. a propitious time for its re-
turn. they decided. was during the
visit here of the marines and naval Of
ficers from Argentina, Uruguay and
Cuba, who came to Mexico with their
warships as an escort to the body of
the Mexican poet. Amado Nervo, who
died while on a diplomatic mission to
South America. So the bull batting,
in way was in their honor.
Bull Spared. Horses Die.
But more than that it was to ap-
In an effort to be humane the au-
thorities ruled that the battle should
contain all the trimmings of regular
finish fight-except that the bun
should not be Killed. And anybody
knows that to spare the bull removes
IAN the thrill from any toreo. Any
way. the bull escaped the slaughter
house but in their crusade for human
| ity the authorities overlooked the
horses. Three of them, pitiful VIC
Tins of bulls savage horns, were
killed during the afternoon. But
| that's part of the game. and always
has been. so the paradox causes no
| comment here. What Mexico City
wants is dead bulls.
Dead and alive. the bulls and the
sport they provided presented to an
American all the picturesque features
which had been promised by stage
and fiction. The bull ring said to be
the largest in the world, not except
ling the one in Madrid can accommo-
date $4,000 persons. Rising from the
circular arena tier after tier of seats
were filled with fans. with the digni-
taries occupying the boxes at the top.
The dyed-in-the- fans, the bleach
critics of Mexico's national sport, fill
ed the sun section" Here are the
cheap seats. from one to three pesos,
for one half OF the amphitheater is in
the suns glare; the high priced seats
are In the shade.
Preceding the fight was the usual
procession OF performers-just like
the opening scene under any big top"
in the States. BanderiI1os, matadors,
picadors all appered in an array of
color and fancy costume that dazzled
the eyes.
Tricks Infuriate Animal.
This over. the arena was cleared. |
Bring on the bull, AS the bovine
rushed out. a small thin dagger, with
coiored ribbons attached is planted |
between his shoulders. This is to pro-
woke the bull. Then the boys with
the red flags get busy. The bull
lowers his head, snorts and charges.
He misses. But he finally gets a
horse; maybe two. When the animal
appears sufficiently weary and angry |
the first act has ended.
Next the banderillos. 1t is the du-
ty OF these gentlemen, armed with |
sticks two feet long. the end of the |
stick containing barb to drive their |
weapons into the back of the bulls !
neck, behind the head. They comply |
three banderilIos. each with pair |
of barbs. If by this time the bull |
hasn't displayed sufficient fury, some
sort of INT charge may be attached
to one of the barbs. This explodes in
the animals hide; that gives him pep.
Finally the matador, the execution
er who first toys with the bull waving
his cloak under his nose. the bull
charging one way, then another Aft
er thoroughly proving the superiority
of man over brute intelligence the
matador places himself in n strategic
position raises his arm and drives
home the death sword, at the vulner-
able point on top of the neck. But
on this occasion the sword was a
"dud"
The bull was spared. His fate in
the future is now in the hands of the
federal authorities.