A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 79, 16 March 1878, Page 2

A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

There have been a series of bull-fights in Spain on the occasion of the Royal marriage. Tliat on 2-3 th January was the finest w\inessed since the Royal marriages iv lS\(i. The new ring is made to hold 15JQ0O people, but there were 25,000 there, all by invitation, though many tickets were sold for £5. As the King and Queen were present, punctuality on the part of everybody was indispensable. The Court arrived in great state through crowded streets, and were heartily received, hy the immense multitude on entering the Royal box. Their Majtsties were accompanied by Lord Rosslyn and the foreign envoys. The halberdiers, with lowered halberds, kept guard at the front of- the Royal box, where they atood against the ' attacks of bulls, tly> palisades, being withdrawn. Their task, was no sinecure. The Guards 1 band played a march, when tho «lcor3 of the arena were opened to admit a procession of grandees with carriages and six,' each grandee having hjs cabeilerro de plaza or proxy seated hy li* side, magnificently attired. The fl,rat v.ore scarlet velvet and silver ; second^ carmine velvet and gold; third, violet silver; fourth, blue and gold. They were, very handsome young men of a eayalry regiment, all with dresses of time of Philip IV. Following them were seventeen espadas, twenty-seven picadores, and fortyeight bandilleros, clad in new jfHUeriag dresses. Afterwards the proooeskMß gathered proudly round the Ring. Amidst ths spectators' pl.3u.dits,, four chief actors, with their grandee patrons, descended from the coaches and advanced to salute the Court. They then retired and reappeared upon splendid horses, preceded by mounted alguazils in picturesque costume, followed by their cuadrillos of practised bull-fighters. They had to attack the bull armed only with thin

lances «i\ feet in length, held like daggers, extremely difficult to handle, especially on horseback, the great art being to save your horse whilst killing: the bull. The first "bull entered the ring in a fury, and the first cavalier soon had au opportunity to distinguish himself, and did so gracefully, leaving the point of the lance in its shoulder, to the delight of the spectators. A second cavalier did equally well, and the bull, soon exhausted, fell to the espada to kill. A second bull falling to the Duke of Vera Cruz, a magnificent fiery animal, irave greater proof of courage, killing first a cavalier's beautiful and valuable white Arab, and much endangering the position of the halberdiers, whom it attacked furiously, breaking their halberds. At length, weakened by well-planted thrusts from the first cavalier, he became an easy prey to the espada watching on loot. The second and third cavaliers' turn now came for the third bull. One of their horses, which was| blindfolded, would not face the bull, and the cavalier, not quite happy, retired, and returned with no t2tter result. Ultimately the bull was killed by the espada. The third bull gavo greater difficulty, through only one cavalier being in eflect 'left to kill him, but it was not badly done. At its couclusion all tho four cavaliers presented themselves before the Court ; the third one hung back, but forced on his horse, which was principally iv fault. Then the real business of tho day began — a sickening ouo ; lor the picadore* not having to save their horses, four better animals than usual were soon sacrificed. One bull, a most magnificent animal, jumped over the palisades, but was driven back, aud appeared unexhausted and quite fresh when the signnl was given for Julian Cazas, the veteran espada, who had long since retired, but who, bs the head of the profession, came forward on this occasion vowing to kill a bull. Being so old and the bull so fresh, he had the greatest difficulty to contend with. Three tunes he was thrown down, and once evidently injured. He rose again, but the populace kindly insisted on waving their liandkerchiefs, nnd wore satisfied with skill, the bull being vigorous and fresh. Kini»' Alfonso, instantly seeing how matters stood, fr gave orders to the mounted nlguazils to request . Cazas to retire, satisfied with his skill and courage, which he did, and tho almost unparalleled siggt in the annals of tauromachy of n bull being: allowed to leave the ring alive took place, 'ihe noble animal marched out head erect with all honour, the spectators applauding vociferously, the bull gaining the triumph of the day. The King, much applauded for his kindly act, did not remain longer than the killing of the next bull.