The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-02-01


Has Slain Seventeen Spanish Bulls.
Senorita Laura Lopez has como across
the wator from Seville, Spain, to kill the
great, flcrco bulls of Venezuoln, writes n
Caracas correspondent. She officiated the
other day at the Circo before tremcn-
dous crowd, and the grace and finish of
her performance put to shame tho efforts
Of her male rivals Such an exhibition of
woman's pluck and skill Caracas had nov
er before witnessed. She is the idol of tho
hour.
sat near her Mt the fete before she had
donned the gay apparel of tho ring. Adj
mirers surrounded her. Her eyes were on
the bloody sconcs being enacted in eager
silence A look of contempt was on her
face. The torcadors wero clumsy.
watched her fcarfully when sho did
baltic with beast beside which tho 9TH
ors wcrc as farmyard cows. Sho laughed
in glee. A wave Of blood rcd bandcrillas.
and, presto, tho sharp instruments were
affixed together in the startled creatures
neck. mad rush at his torturer, and
then the animal lay dying on the sawdust
cnrpetcd floor. Senorita's sword was near
his heart Its owner was tripping to tho
exit. Tho audience was laundering nm
plnuso.
We wcro seated ut the left of tho box of
the president and of the stand of tho Ma
tional Militn-:. band, which is situated
just above az in the rear of the prcsi-
dents box. AS fast as humanity could
crush itself into given space "tho all'
OF Caracas seemed bcchiving into this pal
ace OF pnstimc. The grand circle, which
L learned seated 4 200, was quickly filed.
The military band, which had now ar
rived, salutcd tho assembled multitude
with tho national hymn. Tho arrival of
each woman, attircd in rich Partisan
robe, as She took her scat in q box WINS
greeted with rounds Of applause and np-
probation by tho other spectators who by
this time wero thoroughly in tho amuse-
mont spirit. Tho arrival of the governor
and party, who occupied the box of the
president, was hailed with u salute from
tho band.
Promptly at 4 o'clock, at signal from
the governor, the trumpcts Of the herald
sounded. Two massive doors leading into
tho arena were thrown open as by magic,
and the famous band of Spanish bullfight-
ers inado Il royal entrance, amid the deaf
cning applause of more than s, 600 admir-
crs, which completely drowned tho salute
of the military band
A moment later tho smiling face of n
proud and naughty scnorita of Spain was
seen in the audience. The mighty roar of
Laura! Laura! lopez Lopez" shook
tho cdiflcc to its foundations There She
was, the heroine of the hour, tho idol of
the populacc, i'll the center of an escort of
picadors of rs good material rs comes
from sunny Spain. Tho names of Potoco.
Troni and Bomba are famous in all parts
OF the world where the pastimo of bull
fighting is practiccd.
Once more tho buglc of tho herald sound
ed, and from somewhere large red bull
came trotting into the arena, ornamented
with tricolored rosette. He stood for Il
moment i'll the center of tho arena, with
eyes like balls Of fro and with head clc-
Nated, quivcrinE in every norvo and fiber
Suddenly, amid tho thunder of applause
the "toro" sighted tho tantalizing object
of bright colorcd cloak waved invitingly
for the challenge. With n roar and lower.
ing his head he charged upon bis enemy.
The dcXterous picador quickly stepped
aside ana MS the now thoroughly cnraged
animal passed he beheld another who was
equally adroit i'll avoiding his charge.
The third had very narrow escape. and
the multitude loudly called for Potoco and
the bnnderillas, and this gaudily attrcd
individual at once presented himself before
the cnragcd animal. Tho bull lost no time
IN charging his new adversary, only to re-
ccivc the cruel bandcrilla's thrust i'll his
neck. With howl of approval, the spec
tators, now at white heat, demanded the
blood of the animal, loudly calling to Po-
TOGO to draw his sword and deal n death
thrust
Grasping the red mantle of Il nearby
picauor, Pocoto boldly advanced to within
Il few feet of tho then stationary bull and
slowly shock the mantle before his ewes.
Again charging him, the bull received the
cold steel to tho very hilt between his
shoulders and fell deal before his victor.
while blood spurted from his mouth and
nostrls in sickcning flood
1t had been lung thrust" and did
not meet the perfect appreciation of the ntl-
dlcicc. While some checred others Missed
The band struck up n lively piece and the
dead bull was dragged from the arena hur-
rledly by pair of mules, gorgcously ca
pnrisoncd with bright colored harness and
curious mountinRs. Again the trumpct
sounded, and the second bull appeared in
the arena. This animal proved too tame
and at tho demand OF the audience was
driven from the scene
The third animal proved more satisiac-
tory ana was killed in 20 minutes from the
time of his entrance by Troni, who re.
ceivcu "a Numbering ovation from the spec
tators, hats canes, cigars and even money
being thrown into tho arena. Bull No i
jumped tho barriers of the arena and was
returned TO the central arena by "a side
door. Bomba entered on stills, and after
the bull had made several amusing at
tempts to charge him it was finally killed
to the entire satisfaction of the now thor
oughly bloodthirsty crowd
Tho introduction of Scnorita Laura
Lopez as an espatla was the cvont Of the
occasion. All those who doubted her abil-