A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 20 March 1878, Page 4

A SPANISH BULL FIGHT.

There have been a series of bullfighta in Spain on the occasion of the Koyal marriage. That on the 25 ih January was (he finest witnessed biuco the Royal marriages in 1846. The new ring is made to hold 15,000 people, but there were 25,000 there, nil !>7 invitation, though many tickets were sold for £5. As the King and Queen wera present, punctually on the part of everybody indispensable. The Court arrived in great state through crowded streets, aud were heartily received by the immense multitude on entering the Royal box. Their Majesties were accompanied by Lord llosalyn and the foreign envoys. The halberdiers, with lowered harberds kept guard at the front of the Eoyal box, where they stood against the attacks of bullp, the palisades being withdrawn. Their task was no sinecure. The Guards' band played a march, when the doors of the arena were opened to admit a procession of grandees with carriages and bix, each grandee having his cabelerro de plaza or proxy 6eated by his side, magnificently attired. The first wore scarlet velvet and silver ; second, carmine velvet and gold ; third, voilet and silver ; fourth, blue and gold. They were very handsome young men of a cavalry regiment, all with dresses of the time of Phillip IV. Following them were seventeen espadas, twenty-seven picadores. end forty-eight bandilleroe, clad in new glittering dresses. Afterwards the procession gathered proudly round the King. Amidst the spectators' plaudits, four chief actors with their granoee patrons, decended from the coaches and advanced to salute the Court. They then retired and renppeared upon splendid horses, preceded by mounted alguazils in pictureEque costume, followed by their cuadrillos of practised bull-fighters. They had to attack the bull armed only with thin lances sis feet in length, held like daggers ;extreme!y difficult to handle especially on horseback, the great art being to save your horse whilst killing the bull. The first bull entered the ring iv a fury, and the first cavalier soon had an opporlnnity to distinguish himself, and did so gracefully, leaving the point of the iance iv its shoulder, io the delight of the sue-, lalorg. A second cavalier did equally well, and the bull, soon exhausted fell to the espada to kill. A second bull falling to the Duke of Vera Cruz,, a magnificent fiery animal, gave greater proof of courage, killing first a cavalier's beautiful and valuable white Arab, and much endangering the position of the halberdiers, whom it attacked furiously, breaking their halberds. At length' weakened by well planted thrusts from the first cavalier, he became an easy prey to the espada watching on foot. The second and third cavaliers' turn now came for the third bull. One of their horses, which was blindfolded, would not face the bull, and the cavalier, not quite h;!ppy, retired, and returned with no better result. Ultimately the bull was killed by the espada. The third bull gave greater difficul ;y, through only one cavalier being in effect left to kill him, but it was not badly done. At its conclusion all the four cavaliers presented themselves before the Court-, the third one hung back, but forced on his horse, which was principally in fault. Then the real business of the day began — a sickening one ; for the picadores not having to save their horses, four better animals

than usual were soon sacrificed. One bull, a most magnificent animal, jumped over the palisades, but was driven back, and appeared unexhausted and quite fresh when the signal was given for Julian Cazar, the veteran espada, who had long since retired, but who, as the head of the profession, cauio forward on this occasion vowing to kill a bull. Being so old aud the bull so fresh, he had the greatest difficulty to contend with. Three times he was thrown down, and once evidently injured. He rose again, but the populace kindly insisted on waving their handkereriefs, and were satisfied with skill, the bull beinrr vigorous aud fresh. King Alfonso, instantly seeing bow matters stood, gave orders to the mounted alguazils, to request Cazas, to retire, satisfied with his skill and courage, which he did, and the almost unparalleled sight in the annals of tauromachy of a bull being allowed to leave the ring alive took place. The noble animal marched out head errect with all honor, the spectators applauding vociferously, the bull gaining the triumph of the day. The King, much applauded of his kindly act, did not remain longer than the killing of the next bull.