A NICE BULL FIGHT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 3 May 1901, Page 3

A NICE BULL FIGHT.

The Matador Injured, Bull Slain, and Horses gored.

For some weeks past Nice has been the possessor of a bull-ring. The character of the performance given therein was however, not up to Spanish standard, and the good Nicois sighed for something more spirited ; they wanted, in fact, the real thing. They had it.

The bull-fight as fought that day was against the law, but the officials did nothing to prevent it. For a week past the word was passed quietly round that to-day’s performance would provide plenty of excitement in the way of the slaying of bulls and the goring of horses, and the result was a full house despite the cold weather.

To say the scene in the arena was exciting is to put it very mildly—it was terrible, sickening; the ring ran with blood. The bulls which were tortured were were splendid animals, and fought with fury. One of them caught and tossed the celebrated Spanish matador, Felix Robert, as a cat tosses a mouse. The spectators shrieked, and a few cried “ Bravo el Toro” Robert, however, was but slightly hurt. Not so another matador, who was badly gored in the groin by the bull. Three horses were thrown and so cruelly injured that they had to bo taken out of tho ring amid the yells of the spectators. Tho onlookers, too, had their moments of fearful joy. Two of the bulls jumped tho barriers, causing indescribable commotion.

The climax was reached when Felix Roberts asked the spectators if they wished the bull to be killed. With one voice they cried “ Death !” At the same time every thumb was turned downwards—Rome’s fateful signal. As the sword of the matador was poised for the final stroke tho crowd, hitherto yelling and-shrieking, was hushed into silence. Tim as the animal fell a roar of applause wasbellowed forth; ladies flung their scarves and bouquets and men coin and trinkets to the bull-fighters.