The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-07-04

yard ear the grounds. Five minutes
before the time the gate OF this inclo-
sure was opened, and the Ave cattle
were started by the toreadors and plea
dores for the picnic grounds.
BY reason Of my intimate study OF
the subject, I had been made chief
toreador and master of ceremonies. 1
was mounted on my fathers black
mare We had one other toreador-
Tom Norcross-and three picadoress
and our costumes, though made chiefly
of cheap flannel and cambria, were in
gaudiness of color at least a close imi-
tation of those worn by Spanish bull
fighters.
The cattle proved to be unexpectedly
wild. One O. two Of them, touched up
by one Of the ~picadores, plunged about,
fery-eyed and snorting.
After a good deal of trouble, they
were driven into the arena, where they
leaped and beloved, and we five boys
went ~careening madly in after them,
amid intense excitement. The chulos,
banderillos and matadores, on foot Of
course, stood on a large dry goods box
just outside the barb wire fence, ex-
actly opposite the entrance. From this
point they could leap over the fence
into the arena.
As we rushed in | saw my father
in the grand stand, looking decidedly
nervous. / dotted my sombrero in q
grand manner to the people in the
stand as we rode by, and then, coming
to a halt, saluted the crowd with Q
harangNe in Spanish, not a word Of
which a Spaniard could have under
stood, announcing the beginning of the
sport.
Then we began to chase the steers
madly around the ring, with wild
shouts, all in carefully selected Span.
ish. The steers, with eyes on fire and
tails aloft, ran m~agpifcently.
After some ten or a dozen Of these
circuits | gave a signal to the chulos and
banderillos, who, the moment we had
passed them, leaped over into the ring
and ran for the inside dry goods boxes,
where they began to wav in the air
large sheets Of red cambria.
Now came the thrilling moment.
When the steers came around so that
the red sheets confronted them, we ex-
pected them to be furious and to rush
madly at them, whereupon the boys
were to leap on the boxes and over the
fence to a place of safety. This was
to be continued until the steers or the
patience of the audience gave out, or
the balloon went up.
But unfortunately the steers, instead
Of being filed with fury at the sight of
the sheets, were scared almost to death.
They turned about so swiftly that we
who were on horseback almost rode
upon them; hut they lodged us. raced
across the ~inolosure, huddIed together
with their tails to the fence and con-
fronted US with their long horns
Though / rode my mare toward them
as near as she would go-and she was
disposed to give them a wide berth
they refused to bulge. This was nm,
expected and Notifying.
The crowd began to laugh and jeer,
'Send the other boys around in back
of 'em and let 'em punch EN- Quit" soTae
one shouted.
This was evidently the thing to do,
1 ordered-in plain English, this time
two Of the ~banderillos to go around and
punch the steers from behind, through
the barbed wire. Two of the plea,
dores handed the banderillos thell
lances.
AS soon as the steers were assaulted
in the rear they sprang forward with
so wild a leapand such frightful below,
ing that our five horses turned tail and
ran frantically around the ring. They
were simply uncomfortable. This
steers were believing and running in
every direction. The remaining boys
in the ring, pale with fright, plunged
almost headlong over the fence to I
place of safety.
Our horses ran, and the cattle ran
each trying madly to get away from the
other. The audience shouted will
laughter. I screamed to my men
: and they screamed back again, but thu
: mad panic continued. There was really
: danger that a tragedy might follow.
: In the midst of it, I saw one of thu
boys rushing on his horse out through
the lane which led to the gate and thu
out Of the Enclosure. Some one haC
! prudently opened the gate, and thu
brave picador was taking to flight
Afterward / learned that my father hat
: ordered the gate opened.
In less time than 1t takes to tell /
every toreador and picador had charges
down that lane and out OF the in
closure; and, as we went out, the Who'll,
herd Of steers came believing after US
! Out into the open space surrounding
the grounds we rushed, with the nov
maddened toros at our heels. We coul'
! lhear great shouts of laughter from
! within. Rows of faces appeared at tn
! top OF the grand stand, grinning at us.
: I overhauled Tom Norcross.
'TomI" said I, gasping, as my hors
plunged was entirely out of breatl
and so frightfully jolted by the riding
! that I could hardly speak-"Tom,wher
: -are-you-going?"
"Pm-going-out-of town." said he
huskily, land I ain't-coming-bacl
till-thia Great Potato Picnic is over!
"So'msIp" I gasped.
1 We rode on, all i've Of us, toreadore
= and picadores, and did not slacken GU