Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-03-14
Espinosa, the Dancer.

Many doubtless remember q very supple
young man who travelled through this country
some years ago-with the Ravels, we believe
in the capacity of a dancer. A late number
of the London Era contains an interesting
sketch of his life, from which we take the fol.
lowing
One day California with its golden prestige,
fascinated our hero'S mind, aud forthwith he
dreamed of nothing else, save artistic glory,
ornamented with gold and in the hope of gath,
ering the same, be embarked for the Pacific
Ocean. Crossing the Rocky Mountains he fell
who relieved him of all he possessed, aud kept
him close prisoner for three months. Here
he was destined to be roasted and served up
at the table Of the canniba chief at their next
grand solemnity But Espinosa would not
grow fat" for the grand cannibal display so
when the day did come, he was tied, as useless
flesh lumber, to the fatal tree, there to be tor
tured to death. The last savage dance had
already begun around him, but the "paleface2
stood and looked undsmayed non timeO sed
spero, thought he During his captivity he
had learned enough of the savages dialect to
make himself understood ; so as the cannibals
jumped and lrisked around him, he suddenly
exclaimed "Oh We accursed red d,Skins ! call
ye that dancing? Loose my cords and I'll
show ye what dancing is" He was silent,
and the capering red horde stopped suddenly
short The chiefs moved to a short distance,
and held conference "C0nticuere 0mneS, ct
rulgi Staate cOraaa r' The result of which
conference was "Be it as the pale face hath
spoken let him dance" spoke the principal
Chief Amid yell of Internal noises a ring
was quickly made, and Espinosa loosened from
his bonds, jumped into the middle of it with a
putowte so m0r!Jotans so fantastic, yet so out
landish and extravagant, that the red-skinned
squatters giggled, and grinned, and chattered
like monkeys. He then gave them dance Of
the regular gamin de Paris style. He vaulted
head over heels a Ia GrimaLdt prouetted
round the savage enclosure, within and with
out and enraptured one and all. Finally, see
ing the favor he was stepping" into, be began
the popular Paris dance called La SGrate, and
through it he went, con anlOre et Pedebws, right
and left, backward and forward, dispensing his
audience on all Sides surprising them, delight
ing them, meSmerizing and entrancing them
by his impromptu dance 'twixt life and death {;
and, while all were in solemn amazement and
mute astonishment at the velocity of his twist
ings and turuings, his jumping and vaultiDgs,
be suddenly vaulted into the vacant saddle on
one of the feet steeds of the chief, aud, presto,
off he went like an arrow, to the general ad-
miration of the Red Skins, who miStOok that
pas for part of his exhibition or, as Doc
tor O'ToOle says, "a part of his system F" But
when the entranced savages saw him fly through
the air, and when they lost sight of him, feel
ings of rage and vengeance succeeded admira-
ton and delight, and yelling out their war
cry, the best riders jumped on their steeds in
pursuit of the "Pale face Devil !" But For
tune favored the brave" and Espinosa ne'er
saw the silly Red Skins more. What dance
he had of it on his borrowed courser " Yet
twas only when his pursuers from afar saw
him arrive in sight of numerous and well
armed caravan that they gave up all hope of
reeapturing their fascinating fugitive dancer !;
and, as q desperate signal of rage and ven
geance, they fred off at him a shower OF poi
soned arrows, while he rode, under safe convoy
towards San Francisco.