Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-17
HOW ZOE WON A BOUQUET FROM
THE QUEEN. s,;t9

Joe Bently was an American boy who
had been brought up on a cattle farm in
the interior of one of the New England
States; bat who had left home for the
more congenial life on board man-of-
war. His first voyage took him to Lis
bon. where to his great delight he
learned that there was to be, during the
following Easter week, a great bull
fight. The widest bulls had been
brought from Andalusia large num-
Der OF horses from the royal stables were
to be in the ring, the Queen herself
would preside and distribute the fayors,
and, in short, it was to be the grandest
bull-fght seen in Portugal for many
years.
Z All this had a peculiar fascination for
Joe. In all his illusions to Portugal
and Spain, he had declared to the boys
that the only thing he cared to see in
those countries was a. bull-iight.
The bull-fights of Portugal are differ
ent from those of Spain in several inn
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
naatador, or bull killer. The law of
Portugal does not allow the bull to be
killed, and his horns are always padded.
or tipped with brass, SO that he can not
ever, man is killed, in spite of this
precaution. The excitement is intense,
as the object is to drive or drag the bull
from the Enclosure.
Accordingly, having obtained par
mission to go ashore on the day of the
light. he made his way.at an early hour
to the bull-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 repeated cries of APP
plause. 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 torment
ors in evading his onslaughts Final
ly. however, the superb animal had
driven all his opponents from the in
closure.
For an 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 ali
over with little bells, undertook to
throw himself between the bulls horns
and cling to them till the bull should
be sufficiently exhausted to be over
powered and taken from the ring. He
coura geously made the attempt, but
unhappily missed his, aim and fell di-
rectly i'll front of the enraged animal
At this moment of terrible suspense,
moreover, 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 refused to be diverted by the coIors
glancing 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 to move, for he was
aware that the bull possessed every
The excitement of the
audience was at its highest point, and
the overweight feelings of our hero
would allow him to retain his seat no
longer. M ! sts# gf tIa3sf
With the sprightliness of sailor-boy
lie leaped the .paling. Everybody was
at his temerity. An En-
glishman present. fearing for the life of
the Impractical lad, cried out: . Come
him to leave the the ring. But doe had
made the venture, and he was not go
ing to be frightened from the ring. On
H. l
many a steer quite rs wild and power
full as even this maddened bull. ~.
He was conscious that thousands of
eyes were watching him with eager in
tcrest; but without hesitation he adj
vanced toward the bull, coolly placing
himself so that with one hand he could
grasp the bulls HON. while with the
other he could seize his shaggy name.
The young man, meanwhile, had leaped
to his feet and retired to a 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
was heard in every part
Of the audience. Many cried out for
the canapi,aos to rush in and rescue the
reckless youth. The bull did not seem
to appreciate the turn events had taken,
and for a moment stood motionless. A
strange silence. almost ominous of de-
feat to our hero, settled upon the
pavilion. 1t was thrilling scene-the
brave sailor boy apparently at the
mercy of the furious animal, and thou
sends of spectators looking on with
oreathless interest.
Suddenly the bull recovered himself,
and, with an angry faunt of his head,
hostilities. Joe quickly found
hat clinging to a yard-arm in a tempest
was less difficult than to the bulls Slip
perry horn; but he was determined to be |
captain of this lively craft. Somehow
ne felt that the honor of his country de-
pended upon hislvictory. 81