EIGHT BETWEEN A LION AND A BULL.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 118, 6 March 1895, Page 4

EIGHT BETWEEN A LION AND A BULL.

Tim, .-following is reported from | Madrid by the Cologne Gazette : ( never roineinbor a scone couuoeloil •V ili'.'ll f.:i il< -<l tnl'tll .'v u it- .11 liuii uud a . ar-oiil bail. High bets wuro made, and nothing elso was talked of for days ; it seemed as if tiio national honour depended on It. Tlio tickets were sold in no time, and those who were not able to procure tlie:n in good time had to pay 10 or 20 times the original price for one. At two in the afternoon a regular migration took place across the Alcala-streot to the Plaza do Toros, and this was soon filled to the last place. Several thousand personscould not gain admittance, but in consequence of the crush the barriers yielded, and about 300 were jammed in without tickets, and the gendarmes had to make free use of the butt end of their rifles to keep order at the entrance. The aeronaut Enrich, and Mallen, the lion tamer, the proprietor of the lion, which was captured in Senegaiubia in lSßts, were scarcely noticed. Everybody awaited with impatience the great moment when the two animals should try their strength with one another in the gigantic iron cage, 39ft in diameter, which was put up in the centre of the arena.

With a tremendous spring and loud roar the lion entered first—a splendid animal, and su savage that Mallei; could do nothing with liim, and could not make use of him in liis performances. It was only last year that lie nearly fell a victim to his foolhardinoss, being dragged out of the beast's claws almost torn to hits, tho lion having just before killed a hyena. The lion paced round the cago several times, anil then lay down opposite the door of the bull's cage. A second bell being rung this door was opened, and an indescribable motion went through the crowd. Like lightning the bull started up aad went straight at the lion, which now raised itself and lifted its great paws. For one moment the two animals seemed to be one moving mass, then tho king of beasts was seen to fly through the air. Thundering applause from the thousands and cheers for Spain filled the air, for they evidently considered the bull's victory as a symbol of tho national destiny. The bull now took a few steps backward towards tho centre of the cage, and awaited a now attack. But as this did not come lie rushed forward and rolled his enemy about in tlio sand like a. ball, till by a sudden turn the lion struck its claws into the bull's hindquarters, when ho was driven off by several powerful Icicles, and was finally again tossed. The lion now gave in, and, aniid tho hisses of tho public, attempted to escape till lie was allowed to slip into his cago. The result was, therefore, quite different; from what the large hills posted up everywhere had predicted by an illustration of the lion finally devouring his opp merit. Most people had not expected such an issue, but were from the beginning convinced that the bull would bo victorious. They based their conviction on the results of similar fights during the past 40 years, m which the bull had triumphed over lions, -Bengal tigers, and ice-brars. He was, however, not equal to the elephant, for his horns e<>uid not pierce the thick hide, and a tremendous blow from the trunk sufficed to lay him in the dust.