Animals: New Bull Rules

A bull-breeder, a Madrid police official, a Matador (sword man), a Picador (lance man), a Banderillero (dart man), a member of the association of Bull-Fighting Impresarios, a sports writer, a veterinary surgeon, a season-ticket holder at the Madrid Plaza ring, all under the chairmanship of Madrid’s Director of Public Safety, have been sitting as a high national committee to consider and meticulously represcribe the details of Spain’s great national pastime, bull-killing.

Not since 1924 had the Reglamento of the arena, instigated by Primo de Rivera, been revised. Last week, rejoicing was general throughout Spain when the committee finished, King Alfonso signed and the Gaceta Oficial published verbatim the taurine code revised, a document longer (ten quarter newspaper pages) than the text of the London Naval Treaty. Rejoicing was great, for just as cockfighting was resumed after the fall of strict Dictator Primo, so it was seen that Spain’s bull-killing will regain a touch of ferocious color which “humane” Primo forbade. Permitted once more are the banderillas de fuego—the fire darts which, after their steel points have been stuck firmly into the bull, explode with infuriating effect.

Other changes in the rules: Where formerly children under 14 were not admitted to fights, now all may go. All must pay, except sucklings. To ensure lively fights and no decrepit bulls, the latter must be at least four and no more than seven years old; must weigh at least 470 kilos (approx. 1128 lb.). They shall receive at least three punzadas (goadings), and more if not particularly brave or wild. Other parts of the code provide that: There shall be four horses for each bull, all horses to be at least 2.7 metres high.

Picadors’ horses must wear protective pads, to protect the spectators from unseemly sights.

The goads shall be 2.70 metres long ending in a triangular steel sticker with a flattened point. The point will have a circular guard of iron seven centimetres in diameter, three centimetres thick, to prevent undue laceration of the bull’s skin.

Picadors’ stirrups may have no damaging prongs.

Picadors’ right legs must be sheathed in metal to mid-thigh.

Banderillas shall be 70 centimetres long

(the wooden haft) with a seven-centi-metre steel point.

Spain’s most popular fighter is now Joaquin Rodriquez, nicknamed “Cagan-cho” (nightingale) because his father was a famed Flamenco singer. An obscure gypsy, Rodriquez entered the ring five years ago, left under a shower of miscellaneous objects (U. S. equivalent: pop bottles). Subsequent triumphs made him so popular that he is now trailed about the streets by mobs of adorers.

Famed Matador Sidney Franklin (ne Frumkin) of Brooklyn has had a bad season. Many times he has been tossed, (see cut), never seriously gored. Madrid cafe gossip holds that he is about through, that few impresarios are offering him contracts.

Last fortnight, however, Matador Franklin proved that his courage has not deserted him. One Tomas Cobos, 29, dairyman, was drowning in the reservoir near El Pardo palace. Twoscore other swimmers stood about gibbering. In plunged Matador Franklin, fished out Tomas Cobos, revived him by artificial respiration. Dairyman Cobos prepared a petition to the Government, asking the Cruz de Beneficencia (Spain’s Carnegie medal) for Matador Franklin.