Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 12 February 1895, Page 3

Notes and Events.

There is another Word olifc of tile common — tauromachy — it is, of course, all right, but it is a jump to discover it simply means a bull fight. The newspaper man who has unearthed this splendid example describes a fight which took place in Madrid between an African lion and a five-year-old bull. The two animals tried their strength with one another in a gigantic iron cage, 89 feet in diameter, which was put up in the centre of the arena. With a tremendous spring and loud roar, the lion entered first— a splendid animal and savage. The lion paced round the cage several times, and then lay down opposite the door of the bull's cage. A second bell being rung, this door was opened and the bull started up and went straight at the lion, which now raised itself and lifted its great paws. For one moment the two animals seemed to be one moving mass, then the monarch of the desert was seen to fly through the air. Thundering applause from the thousands and cheers for Spain filled the air, for they evidently considered the bull's victory as a symbol of the national destiny. The bull now took a few steps backward towards the centre of the cage and awaited a new attack. But as this did not come, he rushed forward, and rolled his enemy about in the sand like a ball, till by a sudden turn, the lion tried to get at him behind, and had already struck its claws into the bull's hindquarter when he was driven off by several powerful kicks and was finally again tossed. The lion now gave in, and amid the hisses of the public tried to escape, till he was allowed to slip into his cage. The results of similar fights during the last 40 years has been that the bull has triumphed over lions, Bengal tigers, and icebears.