DISASTER AT A BULL-FIGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4259, 19 January 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

DISASTER AT A BULL-FIGHT

MADRID, Nov. Id. At a bull-fight' held on Tuesday at Pndreguer, in the province of Alicante, the collapse of stands caused over 200 casualties. Aa'audience of some five thousand people had assrm'blcd to witness thn fight, which had' been organised by :i troupe o"f young girl toreros (professional bullfighters) who always attract a largo public. 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 Pedreguer 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 col. lapsed. Instantly there were frantic cries of terror, tho panic T>cing increased by the bull attacking the mass of struggling people, goring one boy almost to death, while to add to the confusion the work of rescue had to bo carried out in semidarkness, the only .lights being a few torches. Twelve corpses have, .up to the present, been recovered, sin<l of the two hundred.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 tho authorities who were responsible for the arrangements.