The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-18
RAMBLES IN MEXICO.
Contest with the Circus Ian-Hoxv tho n,
Won the Game-A Well Told story.


On the ridge of the hill some mer-
chants OF Perote and Vera Cruz have
their residences, and their pleasure gar
dens soften the aspect of the stern bat
Elements with background of evergreen
folage. The fort itself I recognized by
the trl-color of the Mexican Republic.
though on the meadow at the foot of the
mountain we saw similar and larger
flag, and behind it a body of men, which
L took for brigade of soldiers drawn
up in close marching order. But on
crossing viaduct over the ravine of a
mountain creek l noticed that the uni
forms OF the supposed brigade were
largely mixed with serapes, and even
with the white rebosos, or head-shawls,
OF the Mexican matrons of the upper
classes. Ssss t"{4 fF
"What is it?" / asked, when we met
a trooper who had watered couple of
horses at the creek" que hay? another
execution?'' ~TE| -ets
"No," said he; "only foot-race.
Cardena's circus is in town, and one of
our muchachos has challenged their
champion runner and wrestler. The
desatio is for 10 onzas (about S16O) a
side, and they are just moving meadow
for foot-race''
Enthusiasm is contagious. I had in
tended to dismiss my guide on the same
evening, and take the stage-coach to
Jalapa and Potosi; but we all staid till
the following morning to witness the re-
suit of the desafo.
The presence of crack regiment of
cavalry at Perote and their weekly prize
drills had fostered a spirit of gymnastic
emulation, and the citizens had organ
lied different rifle, race, and bull-ring
" teams,'' which frequently tried con-
clusions with the matadores of the gar
rison. Two brothers of the neighbor-
ing village of Tresmontes, LUZ and
Juan Vegos, had scored so many VIC
tories in these local contests that, like
the Maccabees, they had come to think
themselves invincible; and, when the
circus gymnasts tried to astonish the ma
tives, one of the brothers had the bold
ness to challenge the wrestler, Gil
Rivas, an athlete of national reputa-
ton. hoes tx.re
The desafo was threefold-
running, and spear-throwing, favorite
game of the mounted Iancers-the VIC
tor in more than one match to claim the
stakes; and, by making interest with
the umpire, the Peroters had carried the
shrewd proviso that the contest should
begin with the foot-race. sIst
The next morning was cloudy and
disagreeably close, but the population
of the comarca turned out en- masse to
see their champion put his head in the
lions mouth. The competitors seemed
not fairly matched. Gil Rivas was
broad shouldered, fine looking gymnast,
a native of the warlike border State of
Nueva Leon; his rival was mere mozo,
a clean built but slender lad of eighteen
or twenty; but the Peroters had con-
ferred with council of veteran strate-
gists, and were resolved that the big
frontiersman should not have it all his
own way. --S
The benches of the circus, supple
mented by barrels and planks, formed
the stage; and, after pacing the race
course and chosing their sides, the cham
pion deposited their slippers at the UNI
pire's stand, and dashed off with fair
start, the mozo. barefooted, the circus
man in his stocking-feet. At the half
mile post the latter led by at least six
yards; but after that the mozo re-
doubled his speed, and whenthey passed
the stake Don Rivas seemed to be tri-
file behind. But that might be ON ac-
count of his fiuttering scarf. The goal
keeper pronounced it a concurso-a
dead heat. The same on the second
trial; the mozo held back for the first
400 or 500 yards, and then overlook his
rival without any visible effort. The
third time he took the lead, but relaxed
on the home-stretch until his competitor
all but overlook him. Concurso again.
Mr.. Gil's comrades looked glum;- they
began to suspect the mozo's strategem;
but thesfair Perotenas, who were not in
the secret, and the garish bellies of the
circus, rose in groups, waved their
mantas and cheered their respective ia
vorites at the fourth start.
"Anda, Don Gil! Viva! viva!"
"Anda, Juanito, por mi amor, mucha-
cho!' they screamed in intense excite
ment. - '- 1-| q
But Don Gil needed no such stimulus
to do his utmost, ana 'JuanlIO coulu not
afford to crafty his fair friends just yet.
His confidantes. chuckled behind their
serapes. Three more heats resulted in
concursos, till the athletes white
jaqueta became gray with dust and per-
spiration, while his rivals. shirt and
skull-cap looked as dry as his demure
countenance. The circus men put their
heads together, and seeing the umpire
getting uneasy the mozo's friends whis-
pered a word in his ear when he re-
turned to the stand the next time.
At the seventh heat Juanito let the
gymnast forge ahead till the contest
seemed decided, when he suddenly
flung his cap down, went away like the
wind, and wen the race by four or five
yards, through Don Gil, seeing him
come, had finished with a magnificent
squirt in the hope of saving his lead.
Shouts and viyas rent the air, for all
Perote now saw what the sachems had
known long ago-that their champion
was dallying with his antagonist in Or
der to exhaust his strength before the
caon,,d match ezzs Es