The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-25
A BULL RING EPISODE,
PerilOus Adventure Of the King .
Portugal In His Youth.

| FerSlOus Adventure OF the king d
Portugal In His Youth.
Before he became a Benedict Don
Carlos was passionately fond of the excite
ment Of the bull ring, which he would en-
ter incognito, not as spectator, but tt
take al active part in the dangerous game
Now, in the Portuguese method of bull
fighting neither bulls nor horses are
killed, and to prevent the possibility Of a
bull goring horse which he may happen
to corner his horns are covered with
| padded guards. One element Of danger
! which is present in the Spanish method ia
thus removed from the Portuguese rings,
though even without this particular peril
there are still plenty of short cuts to the
other would left open to tho daring.
Now, Dom Carlos is nothing If not
brave, SO, when one Of the court beauties
rallied him on taking the poor animal at
. disadvantage and thoughtlessly dared
him to face bull with sharp, unguarled
horns, the king gallantly replied that he
would do SO at the next fight and invited
tho scoffer to witness his or the bulls tri.
umph from the royal box.
Now, the regulations of the ring strictly
enjoin that no bull Is to be fought in
Portugal with points UNDATED" but, in
face Of royal wish, regulations have a
way Of becoming elastic. Orders were
given therefore that bull WINS to be ad.
mitted to the arena in full untrammelod
possession Of all his natural weapons
offensive and defensive.
Dom Carlos took his stand before the
swinging doors and waited with the frilled
darts ready in his hand for the bull to
charge. There was below and scurry,
and then tornado Of quivering brown
limbs and glancing horns made for the
place where the present king of Portugal
was standing But bull rarely charges
home at the first attempt, and this one
did as others do. 1t stopped, snorted
angrily and threw up the sand with its
front hoofs
The king waved his arms, made feint
to lure 1t on, and then as it charged again
sprang to one side to avoid it, but in the
very act Of his spring slipped on a wet
place left by the watering hose-and fell
The whole audience rose with simultane-
GUS cry Of horror, for, though Dom Carlos
OF course fought incognito, every one knew
who the too bold banderillero was.
Another fighter waved his red capa in the
pull s lace, the animals attention was d.
verified for second, and the king rose
The bull saw the movement and, taking
no further notice Of the enticingly waved
cape, made once moro for his first adyer-
sary.
1t was run king, run bull to the bar.
riers, and, fortunately for his country,
the king won-by inches. As his mai. |
estys heels cleared the timbers of the |
barricade the bulls horns knocked splin-
tiers out Of the woodwork few inches be.
low. "Yes," concluded Dom Carlos, with
q smile, II fancy did those rs yards or
30 in very good time" And then, with
r downward glance Of self criticism, he
added, II don't think I should stand
much of chance If had to do tho same
thing now. Do your" l looked at the
norfolk Jacket clad figure of his majesty,
and l felt that even to crafty a king
could not honestly soy yes.-Cassell's
Magazine