Morning journal and courier., 1882-08-11
Joe RentIey's Adventure.


Joe Bentley was an American boy who had
been brought up on cattle farm in the in
terror of one of the New England States but
who had left home for the more congepial
life on board man-of-war. His first voyage
took him to Lisbon, where to his great de-
light he learned that there was to be, during
the following Easter week, great bull fight,
The widest bulls had been brought from
Andalusia, large number of horses from
the royal stables were to be in the ring, the
queen herself would preside and distribute
the favors, and, in fact, it was to be the gran
dest bull fight seen IN Portugal for many
years.
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 bull
fight.
The bull fights of Portugal are different
from those of Spain in several important par
ticulars At every such fight in Spain, where
this cruel sport is conducted in the most bar
barous manner, many horses are killed, and
sometimes men, too, fall victims, 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, man is killed, in spite of
this precaution. The excitement is intense
as the object is to drive or drag the bull from
the inclosure.
Accordingly, having gained permission to
go ashore on the day of the fight, he made his
way at an early hour to the bull-1 ing and OBJ
tanned one of the best seats. He thought that
all Lisbon must be there. All waited in sus-
pense 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 en-
thusiasm the mad rush of the bull into the
ring, and admired the agility of his tormentors
in evading his onslaughts. Finally, however,
the superb animal had driven all his opponents
from the Enclosure.
For an instant the bull was master of the
ring
The most perilous feat of the bull-ring was
now attempted. young man, covered with
silver lace hung all over with little bells, un.
dertook to throw himself between the bulls
horns and cling to them until the bull should
be sufficiently exhausted to be overpowered
and taken from the ring. He courageously
made the attempt. but unhappily missed his
aim and fell directly in front of the enraged
animal
At this moment of terrible suspense, more
over, Joe suddenly saw what had not yet been
discovered by anyone 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 CLAN
cling all around him, and he seemed to be con.
sideripg whether he should trample on his
victim or pierce him with the naked horn
The young man did not dare to move, for he
aware that the bull possessed every adj
vantage. The excitement of the audience was
at its highest point, and the overwrought
feelings of our hero would allow him to re-
tain his seat no longer.
With the sprightliness of sailor boy he
leaped the paling. Everybody was astonish
ed at his temerity. An Englishman present,
fearing for the life of the Impractical lad,
cried: =" Come backn' SIEVE al Americans
shouted for him to leave the ring. But Joe
had made the venture, and he was not going
to be frightened from the ring On the farm
at 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 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 leap
ed 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 fol-
ly. A murmur of remonstrance was heard in
every part of the audience. Many cried out
for the cempinos to rush in and rescue the
reckless youth. The bull did not seem to ap-
preciate the turn events had taken, and for q
moment stood motionless. A strange silence
almost ominous of defeat to our hero, settled
upon the pavilion. It was a thrilling scene
the brave sailor boy apparently at the mer-
cy of the furious animal, and thousands
of spectators looking on with breathless in
terest.
Suddenly the bull recovered himself, and
with an angry faunt of his head, renewed
hostilities. Joe quickly found that clinging
to yard-arm in a tempest was less diff
cult than to the bulls slippery horns; but
he was determined to be captain of this
livelys craft. Somehow he felt that the
WINDOW his country depended upon his vic
OLE D.
VAC '"" good seamanf IS his ship In bur.