Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-08-03
JOE BENTLY,
And How He Won a Bouquet from
the Queen Of Portugal.

| H. H. Clark, in st. Nicholas for August.
Joe Benly was an American boy who
had been brought up on cattle farm in
the interior of one of the New England
States; but who had left home for the
more congenial life on board a man-of-
war. His first voyage took him to Lis
bon, where to his great delight he learn
ed that there was to be, during the fol-
lowing Easter week, great bull-fght.
The widest bulls had been brought from
Andalusia, large number of horses
from the royal stables were in the ring,
the queen herself would preside and dis
tribute the favors, and, in short, it was
to be the grandest bull fight seen in Por-
tugal for many years.
All this had peculiar fascination for
Joe. In all his illusions to Portugal and
Spain, he lad declared to the boys that
the only thing he cared to see in those
countries was bull-fght.
The bull fights in Portugal are differ
ent from those of Spain in several i'm
portant particulars. At every such fight
in Spain, where this cruel sport is con-
Quoted in the most barbarous manner,
many horses are killed, and sometimes
men, too, fall victims, and at the close
of the fight the bull is dispatched by the
m0t0dor, or bull-killer. The law Of Por
tugal does not allow the bull to be kill
ed, and his horns are always padded, or
tipped with brass, so that he cs1 not
gore the horses. Once in willis, how
ever, man is killed, in spite of this pre-
caution. The excitement is intense, as,
the object is to drive or drag the bull
from the enclosure.
Accordingly, having obtained permis
sion to go ashore on the day of the fight,
he made his way at an early hour to the
buIl-ring. and obtained one of the best
seats. He thought that all Lisbon must
be there. All waited in suspense for the
queen to enter the royal box. Presently
she appeared, and was greeted with re-
peated cries of applause. Then the sport
began, and Joe watched with interest
and enthusiasm the mad rush of the bull
into the ring, and admired the agility of
his stormentors in evading his onslaughts.
Finally, however, the superb animal had
driven all his opponents from the inclo-
sure.
foran instant the bull was master of
the ring.
The most perilous feat of the bull
ring was now attempted. A young man,
covered with silver lace hung all over
with little bells, undertook to throw
himself between the bulls horns and
cling to them till the bull should be suf-
ficiently exhausted to be overpowered |
and taken from the ring. He courage
ously made the attempt, but unhappily |
missed his aim and fell directly in front
of the enraged bull.
At this moment of terrible suspense,
Joe suddenly saw what had
not yet been discovered by any one else
that the bull had lost the padding
from one of his horns. He stood over
the young man, his eyes glaring and his
whole attitude one of furious anger. He
refr sed to be diverted by the colors
all around him, and he seemed
to be considering whether he should
trample on his victim or pierce him
with the naked horn. The young man
did not dare move, for he was aware
that the bull possessed every advantage.
The excitement of the audience was at
its highest point, and the overwrought
feelings of our hero would allow him to
retain his seat no longer.
With the sprightliness of sailor boy
he leaped the paling. Everybody was
astonished at his temerity. An English
man present, fearing for the life of the
lad, cried, "Come backW
Several Americans shouted for him to
leave the ring. Bnt Joe had made the
venture, and he was not going to be
frightened from the ring. On the farm
ut home he had conquered many steer
quite as wild and powerful as even this
maddened bull.
He was conscious that thousands of
eyes were watching him with eager in
terest, but without hesitation he ad-
vanced toward the bull, coolly placing
himself so that with one hand he could
grasp the bulls horn, while with the
other he could seize his shaggy name.
The young man, meanwhile had leaped
to his feet and retired to safe position,
leaving Joe to fight the bull alone. Joe's
mode of attack had never before been
seen in Portugal, and it appeared the
extreme of folly. A murmur of remon-
STRANGE was heard in every part of the
audience. Many cried out for the cam
pinos to rush in and rescue the reckless
youth. The bull did not seem to appre-