Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-02-02
FEMALE BULL.Fl0HTERS.
A Fair Cnstrfian's Conquests Over
the FIerccst Torros

A Fair Cnstrffan's Conquests Over
the FIcrccst 1orros
| 1t was my fortune. some timo ago.
to see Senorita Hernandez. the most
famous bull-fghter in the world. So
fearfully exciting was the so-callcd
sport that the five thousand people
in the plaza dc torros were upon their
feet in state of the widest confus ON;
men yelled themselves hoarse and
women fainted--all because slender
young girl had nerve enough to throw
herself in the path Ola fierce bull and
pierce him to the heart BY single
thrust. 1t was her farewell perform.
ance. and the strongest and liercest
torros In the country had been adver-
tised fo-. To make the novelty great.
er. 1t was announced that Senorita
Hernandez would fight upon stills,
armed with only q short sword, and
with none Of the usual defenses and
loopholes OF escape-so that in every
case it was victory or death to the
brave girl.
The animals provided were small.
active and wholly untamed. and the
horns of each were trimmed and polish
ed till the points were bright as needles
and almost as sharp. Never did veter-
an picador perform more expert work
than was coolly executed by this youth
full senorita. As the bull, mad with
rage. would make his furious charge.
she stood perfectly still until he had
approached within three feet, when.
suddenly sprlnging aside rs the animal
rushed by, with one hand she would
slap him in the face with the scarlet
cloak which had first aroused his anger,
and with the other hand dextcrorsly
thrust into his neck a gaudy bandarilla,
whose sharp barb, as it pierced his
flesh. caused him to roar with rage and
pain.
Thus charge after charge was made
by the maddened brute. only to always
be evaded by the active girl. She
played him, plagued him and tortured
him as cat would mouse. until at
last bleeding, sore and completely OK
bausted with fatigue and pain. The ami
NAL would fight no more. Three wild
bulls were worn out in this way by the
lair Castilian; and then, wcaricd rs she
must have been. came the climax In the
fuliillment of her advertised obligation
to kill n bull. with sword scarcely
two feet long, while standing on stills
directly in front of him.
The animal selected for this deadly
contest was beautiful specimen of
his race. black. agile, savage and wild
he was no sooner in the arena than
permitted to make two or three
charges, to warm him to his work, the
Governor of the district (who presided
on the occasion) gave a signal and the
bugle sounded the "death call" Even
habitues of the bull ring turned pale.
and the silence Of the grave reigned
throughout the vast amp theater. The
slight young girl, with stills securely
fastened to her limbs, received the
short sword, saluted the Governor, and
turned toward her enemy with little
shout of defiance, waving her scarlet
cloak to excite his anger At this
moment the distance between them
was about 200 feet. The toro, culver
ing with exc tement and paving the
| anpth in tba EnrnanasS Of bio r,na
needed no second invitation. With
cleaning eyes and head lowered to the
ground. he started at full speed for the
object Of his hate. She calmly waited
until he was within twenty feet, when.
bracing herself firmly on her short
stills. she held the little sword at
shoulder height, ready for his coming
Whatever may have been her thoughts
in that supreme moment, it was fear
full time for the spectators. When tho
huge brute was within four feet. she
threw herself suddenly forward. gave
one quick thrus. with tho sword. and
without waiting TO note the effect of
the blow. swung around on her stills
and again saluted the Governor. In
the twinkling of an eye she turned to
face the bull, and just as she did so.
he dropped dead. so close to her that,
without moving from her position. she
placed one foot upon the neck of her
now PROSTATE foe. The sharp blade,
directed by the skllful hand of this
wonderfully self-possessed girl. had
severed the spinal cord, and death was
instantaneous. For moment tho
great audience sat breathless, ,as if
para!yzed. and then such a shower of
gold and silver coins fell around the
victorious torradora as must have en-
riched her for her life. Fanny B.
| Ward in San AutOniO ErDress