Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-09-10
rlarrlna rne DULL.

Just prior to the taking effect ~ the
decrr- sgainst bull-nghtlng ! was fortu-
nate to witness contest Ia which one ~
the most skillful. daring and expert of the
professional fghiers ~ Mexico took a
leading part, writes city ot Mexico
correspondent io the indianapolis Jour
nal. The performer was q young woman,
whose equal has probably never appear
81 IN the "Pliya de roros." In thl-. her
farewell eNhlhliiou. Scnorita Hernandez
advertised for the Widest and flcrcest
bulls the country could produce, sud
agreed io nght them wearing stills.
The novelty ~ Young girl engaged In
a bull.hghi handicapped by having .iili.
fastened to her feet. was sufficient to at
tract a ,ast crowd. aud on the day hNcd
Cor the event fully 5pn persons asscmhl-
81 Ia thc large amphltheatrr. The AMI
mails provided for the OCCASION we're
small acii,c ani wholly uniamc'i, each
having hl. horns trimmed and polished,
until the paint. were a. bright aud al
most ~ sharp as ne''ll"s.
Never Nas more expert work done In
thi. cruel sport than Was coolly perform
syl hy the Mexican girl on that day. "
ti,e bull. mad With rage would max" his
furious charge .hc would stand until he
hsd approached within a distance OF
alsuut three fc,t. when suddenly spring
lng o. one .iie. shr would, as the animal
ushcl furinu.ly hy, With one hand slap
him iu The face With the r~l cloak With
which MI. anger hld l,ccn hrst arousel.
while with the other hand .hc deNirrous-
Ia thrust into hl. meek a giudy hariei
.'hanleriili." [" causing him a. roar With
pain and rag. thargr after charge was
made hS the mtdienei brute, only a. h"
eluds,i by the active girl while the bull
met the sams treatment a. before.
The little srnorlta PLAYED With him aud
tortured him a. q cat would mouse,
until the animal, bleeding and sor-, and
worn out with fatigue aud pain, gave up
the contesi aud would fight no morr.
IT, had met hls conqucror and was taken
from the ring.
In the next contest the fair CaGalhn
va. under an adycrilsei obligation while
yet wearing the .tilts, to LII the bull
With a sword scarcely mor than two fc"i
Ia length. hi. was tu De- don" 10y the
.enoriia ~ the time the animal Nas max
lng the charge, the fatal thrust to De-
given while she was directly la front ~
and fairly facing the bull.
The animal selected for this contest
was beautiful specimen ~ hi race.
Black a. coal, agile as cat, savage and
Wild. be- Was nO sooner within the arena
then b. wa. rradv for the battle. Aiicr
he had hcrn Permitted lo make . charge
or two a. warm him up to hi. work, the
governor Who presided On the ocrasion,
gave q signal aud the buglc sounded the
"death call" The senorita, With stili.
~ one foot Ia height securely fastened
tn her limbs. rrc-iVrd the short sword,
saluic,l the governor. aud. turning Ia her
enemy. gave shout ~ defiance and
wa,s-i her scarlet cloak to rouse his
anger. Nt this time the .pac. separating
the antagonists Was almost 81 feet. The
ball qui,ering With excitement and paw
Ing the earth ln hl. rage. waited for no
.econd Invitation. With hashing -les
and head lowered io the ground hc start
ed At fall speed for the object of hi. hate.
The brave girl waited until the b'ast VA.
within ~ fc-t. When. bracing hcrscli
firmly. .hc held her sword AZ shoulder
hrlghi, rrady for hls coming.
When within about four feet shc threw
her body suddenly forward, gave a quick
thrust with her sword, not waiting "a
.ec the effect of the blow, swung quickly
around aud again saluicl the governor.
In the twlnkllng ~ an ey. -he turned Ia
face the bull, and a. shc did so he
dropped dead. 80 close to her that, With
out moving from her position, she placed
one foot upon the neck ~ her nov help
le.. enemy.
Tie sword. directed by the strong arm
of ilr- girl, had severed the spinal cord,
and death Was instantaneous and prob
ably painless. II was q perilous feat.
.klllhily and fcarlcs.ly performed, aud
the slightest seriousness on the part of
the performer would probably have re-
suited Ia her death. The great audience,
In recognition ~ the Kill of the torca-
dora. rose to it, feet, and for several
moments there was shower ~ gold aud
silver coins falling around the Victoriou.
girl.