DISASTER AT A BULL-FIGHT

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 13

DISASTER AT A BULL-FIGHT

MADRID, Nov . 14. At r biAMMhA held ou Tuesday at Ped.veg’.'.oi'i in !;Ue province of Alicante, the coi lapse of si amis caused over 200 casualties.

An audience of some live thousand people had assembled to witness the i;ght, which had 5 been, organised by a troupe of young girl toreros (professional bid.fighters) who always attract a largepublic. The ring had been made by closing in a ’piece of ground with carts and barricades, and the hastily improvised stands were quickly filled by the leading- natives of jPeclreguer and visitors from the neighbouring villages. Just as it- was becoming dark, and while the toreros were lighting their third bull, there was a terrible crash, and the stands forming’ half the ring collapsed . Instantly there -were frantic cries of terror, the panic being increased by the bull attacking the mass cf struggling people, goring one boy almost to death, while to add i;o the confusion the work of rescue had to be earrieu out in .semidarkness, the only lights being a lew torches. Twelve corpses have, up to the present, been recovered, and of the twoluuiclred people injured many have been horribly mutilated, some of the bodies having been pierced with pieces of wood. Public opinion is justly indignant . severe punishment being demanded for the authorities who were responsible for tj 1 e arraiigements.