Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-10-11
An American Boys Feat.
HOW JOE BENTLEY WON A BOUQUET
FROM THE QUEEN OF PORTUGAL.

Joe Bentley 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 horoe
for the more congenial life on board a
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, a
great bull6ght. The widest bulls had
been brought from AndaI nsla, large
number of horses from the royal stables
were to be in the ring, the queen her
self would preside and distribute the
favors. and, in short, it was to be the
grandest bull-fght seen IN Portugal Tor
many years.
All this had peculiar fascination Tor
Joe. In all his allusions TO Portugal
and Spain, he had declared TO the boys
that the only thing he cared to see III
,bose countries was bull-fght.
The bull fights Of Portugal are dif-
ferent from those OF Spain in several
important particulars. At every such
ilobt in Spain, where, this cruel sport ID
conducted 10 the most barbarOds man
uer, many horses are killed. aud some
times 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 nc
cannot gore the horses. Once IL a
while, however, man Is killed, dn
spite of this precaution. The excite
ment is intense, as the object is 10
drive or drag the bull from the inclo-
sure.
Accordingly, haylng obtained per-
mission to 60 ashore on the day of the
fight. he made his way at IAN early hour
10 the bull-ring, and obtained one o.
the best seats. He thoushs that all
Lisbon must be there. All waited III
suspense for the queen TO enter the royal
box. Presently she appeared, and wss
greeted with repeated cries OF applause
Then the sport began, and Joe watched
with interest and enthusiasm the mac
rush of the bull into the ring, and ad
mired the agility Of his tormentors in
evading his onslaughts. Finally, how
lever, the superb animal has driven al
Ibis opponents from the inclosure.
Fer an instant the bull was master
| the ring.
The most perilous feat of the bull
ring was now attempted. a youps
| man. covered with silver lace hung al
lover with little bells, undertook t
Throw himself between the BULBS horns
| and cling to them till the bull should b.
overpowdered and taken from the ring
lie courageously made the attempt bu
Iunhappily missed his aim and fell di
|rectly IN front Of the enraged animal.
l AT this moment of terrible suspense
moreover, Joe suddenly saw what hat
not vet been discovered by any ont
else-that the bull had lost the padding
from one of his horns. He stood ove'
the young man, his eyes glaring and bi
whole attitude one Of furious anger
He refused to be diverted by the color
Iglancing all around him, and he SCENE
to be considering whether he shoul
ltrample on his victim or pierce hlr
with the naked horn. The yonng ma
did not dare TO move, for he was awar
that the bull possessed every advaI
taee. The excitement of the audlenc'
e. was a, its highest point, and the over
wrought feelings OF our hero would a
I low him to retain his seat no ionge
With the sprightliness of a sallor-bo
ne leaped the paling. Everybody wa
astounded at bis temerity. An Euglish
man present fearing for the lite OF u
uopracticed lad, cried out, Come back
Several Americans shouted Tor him
leaye the ring; but Joe had made u
d. venture, and he was not going TO
=. ~ frichtened from the ring. On the Tar
at home he had conquered many s'e
20 90 unite as wild aud powerful as even II
" maddened bull.
lie vas conscious that thousands
ewes were watching him with eager
teres,; but without hesitation be
7r- yanced toward the bull, coolly placl
nv ,na himself 70 that, with one hand,
the could graep the bulls horn, while "