Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-22

4
| For some who reach his Pole
My Poet, it is thus with thee
| Beyond this twilight. gray
| This frozen blight, this somber sea
| An hast thou found the Day?
| Paul IL. Hayne, in Harper's
JOE BENfLsY's ADVENTURE.
Jos Bentley was an American boy who
mad been brought up on cattle-f farm in the
interior of one If the New England
States, but who had left home for the more
congenlal life on hoard man of. war. His
first voyage took him to Lisbon, where to
his great delight he learned that there was
to be, during the following Easter week, a
great bull-tght. The widest bulls had
been brought from Andalusia, large mum.
Der OF horses from the royal stables were
to be III the ring. the Queen herself would
preside and distribute the favors, and, in
short, it was to be the grandest bull. ght
seen In Portugal for many years.
All this had a peculiar fascination for
Joe. In all his illusions to Portugal and
Spain, he declared to the boys that the
only thing he cared to see in those countries
was buli-fght
The bull fights of Portugal are different
from those of Spain in several important
particulars. At every such fight in Spain,
where this cruel sport Is conducted in the
most barbarous manner, many horses are
killed, and sometimes men, too, fall vie.
Tins, and at the close of the fight the bull
is dispatched by the matador, 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
| cannot gore the horses. Once in while,
however, a man is killed, IN spite of this
precaution. The excitement is intense, as
! the object is to drive or drag the bull from
| che Enclosure.
Accordingly, having obtained permission
to so ashore on the day of the fight, 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 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 tor
mentors IN evading his onslapghts. Finally,
however, the superb animal had driven all
MS opponents from the inclosure. For an
instant the bail was master Of the ring.
The most perilous feat OF the bull-ripg
was now attempted. A young man, COW
cred with silver lace hung all over with
| little bells, undertook to throw himself be
tween the bulls horns and cling to them
till the ball should be sufficiently exhausted
to be overpowered and taken from the ring.
he courageously made the attempt, but
unhappiiy missed his aim and fell directly
in 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 glazing and his whole attitude one
Of furious anger. He refused to be diverted
| by the colors 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 advantage. The
excitement of the audience was at it's
highest point, and the overweight feel.
ings of our hero would allow him to retain
| his seat no longer.
With the sprightliness of sailor.boy he
leaped the paling. Everybody was aston
ished at his temerity. An Englishman
| present, fearing for the life of the unprac.
| ticed lad, cried out "Come back !" Sew.
eral Americans shouted for him to leave
the ring Bat Joe had rar3e the ventures,
and ne was not going 10 be frightened from
the ring. On the farm at home he had
conquered many steer quite as wild ard
powerful! as even this maddened bull.
He was conscious that thousands of eyes
were watching him with eager interest !;
but without hesitation he advanced 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 ex.
treme of folly. a murmur of remon.
STRANGE was heard in every part of the audi
enee. Many cried out for the campinos to
rush in and rescue the reckless youth. The
bull old not seem to appreciate the turn
events had taken, and for a moment stood
motionless. A strange silence, almost
ominous of defeat to our hero, settled upon
the pavilion. 1t was thrilling scene
the brave sailor boy apparently at the
mercy of the furious animal, and thousands
of spectators looking on with breathless
interest.
Suddenly the bull recovered himself, and
with an angry fiaunt of his head, renewed
hostllities. Joe quickly found that cling.
10 70 > yard, arm in a tempest was less diff
isS't Ihsa 20 the bulls slippery horns !;
bas .asse.ll-s rmined t. be captain of this
lively craft. nc $ fs!t that the
honor Of his countr; OK s,.gsd upon his
victory. $500
As good seaman favors his snip in a
hurricane, so Joe resolved to humor the
bull. He realized that he must take care
of his strength, for he would need it all
before he got through with his antagonist.
Now the bull began TO exhibit his
wrath. He writhed. and hooked, and
| stamped. One instant the audience ex-
| pected to see poor Joe dangling from
his horns, and tho next trampled helpless
beneath his feet. But Joe chung as ne
would to lifeline in q fearful surf.
During the intervals of the bulls vio-
lence, as in the water on its ebb, be
struck calamity upon his feet. Each
time be did so cries of &C Bravo !! bravo |"
rent the air. The bull continued TO put
forth still greater power. He plunged and
tore around the ring Alternately he
SIASU dbu swung JUG lIUul Ulk ISSV, ana
fairly spun him through the air. The pa.
vilion tossed and reeled, and whirled be-
fore Joes giddy sight Round and round
flew the bull as in a race for life. Several
times he completed the circuit of the ring
circle of dust rose from his track and
hung over it like wreath of smoke.
How Joe held Oh ! He feared he could
/ not endure the shock and strain for min.
ute longer, and he dreaded TO let go. He
began to lament his rashness. But all at
once the bulls speed slackened. Joe felt
a thrill of gratitude as his feet once more
touched the ground. He was tired of fly
ing, and was very glad to run. The bull,
convinced that he could not liberate his
horn from Joe's unyielding grip, came to
halt, and with disappointed anger began to
paw the ground. Joe had longed for this
disadvantage, which, strange to say,
| bull seldom gives till toward the close OF
fight, and he sprang directly in front CT
him and firmly grasped both his horns.
:" Bravo bravo rent the air. Joe braced
himself and waited, and when the bull
| threw his foot high in the air with its
little cloud OF dust, by quick, powerful
movement, Joe twisted his head to one
side go strongly that the fierce animal was
thrown off his balance, and fell heavily
upon his side.
A score of men rushed in to hold him
down until he should be secured then
be was rolled and taken triunphantly
from the ring. Joe was almost deafened
by the applause. He suddenly found him.
self hero in the estimation of the audi.
ence, and was overwhelmed by the out
bursts OF enthusiasm. He was not allowed
% 4. L 4.