A BULL FIGHT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9166, 28 July 1890, Page 3

A BULL FIGHT.

A few years ago the inhabitants' of Seville read with surprise, in the advertisement of an approaching bull fight, this unusual notice: — " When the third bull shall have attacked the picadors and received three pairs of banderillas, a young peasant, by whom it has been brought up. will appear in the ring. He will approach the pull, caress it, and, after removing the Imhderillaa [one after another, will lie down between its horns.” The announcement of so singular a feat attracted an immense crowd to the amphitheatre. The third bull appeared, an animal with splendid horns, and very brave; it slew four horses, received the banderillas, and became furious. Then, contrary to custom, all the toreros retired from the ring, leaving the bull stamping and shaking the bloody darts which hang from his neck. All at once a long whistle was heard. The bnll paused and listened. . It was repeated* The bull approached the barrier, and a young man leaped into the ring, calling the bull by its name, “ Mosquito!” The animal knew its master came to cares* him, and was appeased. The peasant gave it his hand to lick, and with the other began to scratch it behind the ears—an operation which seemed to afford the brute much pleasure. He then gently removed the banderillas which annoyed the neck of Mosquito, made it go down on its knees, and placed bis head between its horns. The grateful bull seemed to listen with pleasure to a pastoral melody sung by its master. The admiration of the multibnde,hitherto suppressed by surprise, burst forth with Andalusian violence and shook the building. Hearing this frenzied applause,, which had accompanied all his sufferings, the bull, till then under a charm, appeared to wake and return to reality. It suddenly rose, bellowing, and the peasant tried to escape. But it was too late. The animal, as though furious at being betrayed, tossed the young man into the air, received him again on its horns, gored him; trampled on him and crushed him to pieces, in spite of the efforts of the toreros. The performance was suspended—a phenomenon in Spain—and the horrified public quitted the circus in silence.