LION AND BULL FIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 66, 1 November 1911, Page 3

LION AND BULL FIGHT.

THRILLING ENCOUNTER IN AN ARENA. Not many people, outside Spain or Spanish-American countries, have witnessed a bull-iight—a matter which they need not deplore—and perhaps still fewer have seen the rather unusual spectacle of a Hon and bull fight. Two magniliccnt lions, male and Female, finer than any I ever saw in any menagerie or zoo (says one who was present) had been purchased by the Peruvian Government for the Botanical Gardens at Lima, and by order of the authorities the male don was pitted against a bull on a ii\ed day in the bull-ring., A largo iron structure ivas efcted in the centre of the bull-ring, and into this the male lion had been introduced. As lie lay crouched on the ground at . full length, looking up with half-shut eye at the sea of faces, and, no doubt, wondering what all the fuss was,,.about, npfi could not help admiring liis"hoble ; proportions. From the door of this iron structure a longboarded alleyway, led to the pen whore the bull was housed. A great hush falls an the multitude as the doors of the pen are rolled back, and out rushes a bull of large proportions, heading down the alleyway (there was no other road for him), straight into the lion's den. Willi a sharp roar the lion sprang to his feet and, nimbly'a- a cat, vaulted in his first spring right over the back of fche bull, missing him. The latter, instantly taking in the situation, backed and lowered his head to charge, but ere he could move the lion .was upon him, seized his muzzle between his own enormous jaws, and encircled the bull's neck with his fore paws. Tims locked* in mortal embrace did !he bull make frantic efforts'to free himself, and at times almost lifted the lion bodily off the ground, such was his strength; but it was all in vain, for the lion held him as in a vice. The struggle lasted about three minutes, and so great was the tension amongst the spectators that one could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Then there was a perceptible tottering of the bull's hind legs, a swaying of both bodies from side to side that nearly overturned the structure, and finally a groat lurch, in which both rolled over together. The bull lay stone dead. Slowly relaxing his death-grip, the lion rose, sniffed all round Ids prey, and, placing one of his foropaws; on the bull's haunch, glared proudly round on the crowd, as if demanding •approval, ■ ■