Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-22

Ciudad JuareZ, across the Rio Grande, and
resulted in a victory for the bull.
Romulus' failure was not due to lack of
courage. agility or stamina on his part,
and il was not until the struggle had lasted
for two hours that the man. exhausted.
bleeding and bruised. finally acknowledged
himself defeated. The bull was a mag
nificent specimen of the bovine tribe. a 4
year-old Shorthorn, weighing 1000 pounds.
He was selected by the city authorities of
Ciudad Juarez. who always take a hand in
public exhibitions TO see that people get
the worth of their money. Two thousand
people, drawn largely from the American
side of the river, witnessed the contest,
which was full of exciting features, not
withstanding the failure of the man to Sc
cure victory. Romulus was assisted by two
professional bullfighters.
These men aided in maddening the ami
NAL and getting him into a lighting mood.
though the Italian was forced TO do most
of this work himself, as il was necessary
for him to keep in the thick of the melee
10 get an opportunity to seize the beast by
the horns, which were encased in rubber
shething 10 give the gladiator a firm hold.
Bull Charges With Fury.
When the beast was released into the
ring he charged right and left at the three
uuarmed men, and 1t was ten minutes be-
fcre Romulus succeeded in seizing him by
one horn. In a twinkling the brute jerked
a'H' h'1A up oAo w Vic VI III W lllS Nilt
athlete over his back and landing him
twenty feet away. The undaunted man
ieaped up unframed and returned at once
10 the conflict. Again lie secured a grip
on one horn and again was he hurled over
the animals head quicker than Il flash.
Time and again the intrepid athlete ap-
preached the lowered head of the mad
dened brute, only TO be charged, and sew
eral times he was tossed into the air. but
fortunately he landed on his feet and was
able 10 leap to one side before the bull
could reach him again.
-Four times during the conflict the man
succeeded in graspinS both horns, but was
Shaken off before he could bring his
strength TO bear. In the midst of the con-
.flict the sheathing was torn from the horns
of the animal. and. in spite of the fearless
man. the authorities interfered and or
dered them replaced.
programme. Two ragged Mexicans clad in
the typical earb of their country and armed
with ropes entered the arena TO lasso the
now thoroughly maddened brute. In a flash
he charged upon the foremost. knocked
him down and trampled him, and then turn
ing upon the other treated him in a SIM
liar manner. Fortunately neither man WAS
seriously hurt and the animal was finally
roped. thrown and the sheaths replaced
upon his horns.
CnuSht Under Kneecap.
Later the coverings were again torn of
and the bull in charging the athlete caught
him under the knee cap with one of the
sharp points. tanning the man so that it
"dS uStltSS W CONTINUE the Struggle 11r-
Their.
Then the Mexican rabble leaped into the
ring and harrassed the creature until the
spectators dispersed. Romulus was seen
after the battle and asked TO relate his ex-
perience. He was badly bruised from head
10 foot. One eye was swollen and his
thumb had been half severed by one of the
sharp pointed horns of his antagonist. He
spoke modestly and simply of his attempt
TO equal the feats Of the gladiators Of old.
He said:
81 have performed this feat repeatedly
in private and three times in public in the
interior of Mexico. and this is my first fail
ure. In this contest the conditions were all
In favor of the bull.
THE animal selected by the Juarez au-
liberties was OF the Shorthorn variety and
pot a typical Mexican bull. which has wide
Eorns. which taper gradually 10 the ends.
The ends of the horns are wide apart and
small enough 10 allow me to secure a firm
grip. and ! am able TO bring my strength
10 bear and twist the bulls neck in a
short time. AS did Ursus in the story of
Quo Vadis.'
BIames the Horns.
THE horns of the animal l fought to-day
were so large that I could not clasp my
fingers firmly about them, and the ends
being SO close together ] could not get suf-
his head from side TO side and throwing me
on furthermore, the bull had fought in
the arena before and knew the tricks of
the sport. lie did not waste his strength
in useless charging.
1T is well known that no professional
bull fighter will meet an animal which has
once fought in the ring. SO you see that
contrary TO custom in this case it was the
man who had no chance. With an ordinary
bull with horns of average length and
thickness | am more than a match"
Romulus' appearance in the ring did not
belle his claims. and no gladiator of old
Rome could have displayed superior pow.
ers of courage and agility. in which he far
excelled the trained b~ullfghters who were
his associates. He is short in stature and
weighs only 1o pounds. but he has a chest
girth of fifty-one inches, a chest expansion
of eleven inches and he measures seventeen
and one-half inches around the biceps.
This said the bystander, must be thu
proudest moment of your life" Nit
sadly answered the owner of the winning
horse. 1T was a great race and I've wor
a fortune. but from now on. ! see that
shall be known only 4s owner Of the hors,
that won it.'-New York journal.