The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-03
animal, loudly calling to Potoso to draw
his sword and deal a death thrust.
ENDED WITH THE SWORD

picador Potoco boldly advanced to
within few feet of the then stationary
bull and slowly shook the scarlet mantle
before his eyes. Again charging him,
the bull received the cold steel to the
very hilt between the shoulders, and
fell dead before his victor, while blood
spurted from his mouth and nostrils in
a sickening flood.
1t had been a long thrust" and did
not meet the perfect appreciation of the
audience. While some cheered others
Kissed. The band struck up a lively
from the arena hurriedly by a pair of
mules, gorgeously caparisoned with
bright colored harness and curious brass
mountings. Again the trumpet sounded.
and the second bull appeared in the
arena. This animal proved too tame.
and 1t the demand of the audience was
driven from the scene.
The third animal proved more salts
factory and was killed in twenty min
utes from the time of his entrance by
Troni, who received a laundering ova-
ton from the spectators-hats, canes,
cigars and even money being thrown
into the arena. Bull No jumped the
barriers of the arena and was returned
to the central arena by sled 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
thoroughly bloodthirsty crowd.
The introduction of Senorita Laura
Lopez as an espada was the event of
the occasion. All those who doubted
her ability to kill the large African bull
which had been specially imported for
this exhibition We're pleasantly disap-
pointed. She advanced to the center of
the arena. A hush still as death fell
over the multitude. All expected that
some violent action was to take place
and many feared that her ability to kill
was wanting. | glanced at her just as
the crowd commenced to call her name,
and | noticed her face blanched before
the ordeal. Nevertheless she showed no
signs of fear as she walked to the CEN
ter of the arena and calmly awaited
the first charge of the bull Armed only
with bright colored cloak she advanced
toward him with a firm step. He
charged the rag and she dexterously
lodged his onslaught.
IL L In ~ II II.
This action brought forth a round of
applause and call for the banderillas
male admirer handed down two beau
tiful ones. They were taken to her by
Potoco, who, bowling to her as he pre-
sented them, had just time to get a
short distance away before the bull
charged again, and received both ban
derlllas well back in the neck, delivered
with great GOODNESS and precision from
| the hands of the woman
Wild with pain and rage the bull
tore about the arena, scattering the
picadores like partridges Running to
| the side, she received her sword and
scarlet mantle and was again on the
aggressive. There was a short space
OF silence as she slowly raised her
sword, the bull charging as she did
so straight for the cloth Her aim
was true, but her strength lacking. AL
| though the flesh was pierced, the sword
was wrenched from her hands and car
RED several feet by the bull in the
wound she had inflicted before it fell
TO the ground and was recovered Wild
with delight at this second act the
crowd fairly rained hats and canes into
the arena in their excitement. Again
they faced, this time, as before all
waited in breathless suspense. Both
rushed. The sword was driven well
home, the brute staggered, fell and was
Immediately given it's death blow by
stroke back of the head with a dag
ger in the hands of a picador Bou-
quets. hats and canes covered the arena
Senorita Lopez vanished in the confu-
CT tto.s htti1 l.
1t was o'clock in the evening when
reached the theater. Directing my
attention first to the occupants of the
boxes, imagine my surprise to see
seated in one of them the heroine of the
buli-hsht. There was Laura Lopez, the
center of throng of admirers She
had DOTTED the picturesque masculine
costume of velvet, gold and lace of the
| prlnia eSpada" which had won her so
| much admiration in the arena and was
| now attired in a magnificent creation,
blazing with jewels, her smiling coun-
| tenance and dancing eyes. no less
brilliant than her jewels, attracting the
audience much more than the clever
vaudeville performers which had now
begun upon the stage
! BULL-FIGHTING "AMUSES, HER
l met her later at the hotel On the
wall of her room swung the sword
which earlier in the day she had used
so fearlesSly and dexterously in the
arena. Turning to the smiling face of
its fair owner | was perplexed to con-
found the one with the other. A more
critical examination of the sword and
| observed engraved upon the blade,
near the hilt, the name Laura Lopez.
Seville, Spain" Observing that ! was
| reading the inscription, she FASTENED
to remark that this sword had been
presented to her at the time she had
killed her first ''toro' in her native city,
Seville
Then to-day was not your debut In
the arena" / asked
Yes, ON American SOIL she replied.
But wait. l have something that may
interest YOU
In a moment she returned, and seat
| ing herself by my side she opened an
elaborate scrapbook, and as we turned
| its leaves we counted the events chron-
icled in the newspaper clippings pasted
therein. There Were seventeen bull
fighting entertainments in which she
had figured as the heroine upon her
native soil.
do you not find bull-fighting exhibit
| tons an amusing pastime?" she
smilingly inquired, TO which / felt my
self constrained to reply in the affirma-
| tive.
! L.. 4