1

Great Bull Fight in Madrid

1 - DRIVING A HERD OF BULLS OVER THE PLAINS
2 - THE HERD OF BULLS RUSHING INTO THE BULL RING ENCLOSURE
3 - THE EXTERIOR OF THE " COURSO DE TORO " (Arena) on day of Bull Fight
4 - ARRIVAL OF SPANISH LADIES AND GENERAL PUBLIC
5 - THE GRAND ENTRY OF MATADORS, BANDERILLEROS, PICADORS, MULETEERS, &c., &c.
6 - A BEVY OF SPANISH BEAUTIES Showing thousands of ladies in white mantillas watching the opening ceremonies
7 - CAVALLIEROS ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF THE BULL FIGHT
8 - A FIERCE BULL CHARGING INTO THE ARENA
9 - A TURN WITH THE PICADORS Charging the horses
10 -THE BULL GORING FOUR HORSES TO DEATH
11 - BULL FIGHTERS IMPLANTING THE BANDERILLOS
12 - THE FATAL PLUNGE OF THE MATADOR'S SWORD
13 - THE MATADOR'S SECOND THRUST (the coup de grace)
14 - THE DEATH OF THE BULL
15 - ENTHUSIASTIC DEMONSTRATION BY THE SPECTATORS. 
16- THE MULETEERS DRAGGING THE DEAD BULL ACROSS THE ARENA

Not since the last contest of gladiators has there been such a spectacle as the Bull Fight affords. Seats rising tier upon tier afford accommodation for ten thousand spectators, wild with excitement. After a blare of trumpets, the doors under the President's box are seen to open, and from each door emerges a file of bull fighters.
First in the opening procession come the trumpeters, then the picadores on their sorry steeds, then the banderilleros with beribboned spikes, then the matadores, each with his four aides-picked men these last, the idols of Spain.
After all except three or four of the picadores have withdrawn,  another door is opened, and the bull rushes in. He stands for a moment, dazed by the glare of sunshine; then, recognising an enemy in one of the picadores, he charges with head down. The picador has his spear and wears great boots which reach to the thigh; he is also added, so that he is not likely to receive injury. As the horses have no protection, four of them are soon accounted for, and dragged out of the arena. ·
After the first charge the bull, who has received some, pricks stands for a moment, panting. Then enter the banderilleros, who seem to take their· lives in their hands; owing to their agility. however, they are rarely injured. One of them faces the bull, and holds .a banderillo, or barbed spike, above his head. The bull charges, and the man, watching his opportunity, emplants his spikes one on either side of the bull's neck ; at the same moment he leaps aside, while the bull rushes past, and the crowd yells its applause. After a few of these wild rushes the bull is ready for the matador, and the last stage of the fight begins.
The matador and his four assistants take the centre of the arena amid the cheers of the crowd. Their object is to tempt the bull to make short rushes, and to this end each carries a red scarf with which to infuriate the animal. A man will approach a powerful bull mad with rage, wave a red scarf before his eyes and step aside, drawing his scarf across the bull's horns.
The selection of the moment for giving the coup de grace requires good judgment and steady nerve. The bull must be made to charge directly at the matador, who must face him, and kill him by one thrust of his long heavy sword. A moment too soon and the blow will fail, when all the sympathy of the crowd will be transferred to the hull ; a moment too late, and the matador's life is not worth a pin's fee.

CUT 1906-11