El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-13
How the MatadOr Died
Vivid Word Sketch Of A Bull Fight and the Dramatic
Crisis and Final Scene.
Written Esrecia Iy 70, the b KnALD.

a forward movement. then the Dfeecn-
es quickly move to- one side and the
coveted bits OF gaudy ribbon are all his
own. But alas. possession seems worse
than pursuit. He shakes his head Il few
times but they prove to- be fast col
orS.
This act Is repeated twice while the
heroic fighters alternately Haunt their
colors and run to- hide; some what as
we used to play poor puss wants
| corner" only in this case it's mad bull
wants more blood.
| The bugie sounds again and the
swordsman comes out. with smile.
sword and q short red cloak mount
ed on a staff. First he looks down
the sword and finding ii crooked he
places the point on the ground and
| jumps onto the middle OF the blade
couple of times. AS it doesn't break
ii makes it straishter or crookeder.
which is satisfactory; and he pro-
ceeds to hang his cap up against the
ground-which according to what the
ladies say Is sure sign that he would
not take good care of wife.
! He next unfurls his mounted cloak.
shakes il a few times, when he has
caller; but he steps nimbly TO one
side and lets the horns pass within
few inches of him. This maneuver
| is repeated a few times. each time
the horns coming little closer. till
as he turns to size up some cheers.
the bull checks in his mad career. in
stead of passing him as he has always
done before. One glance at the quick
breeches when presto. rip go the
breeches and the valiant swordSman
is standing on his head: while a smile
that was intended for a senorita fades
into vacancy; followed by the inevi-
| table cheers.
! Unfortunately before the bull has
1 (.
! again. one of the men passes in front
of him, slaps him in the face with
his red cloak. and Immediately retires
followed by the bull; when the swords
man is allowed to get down off of his
head and repair his clothes. which he
quickly does.
But mark what achange has come
over him since the bull subjected him
to ridicule. He picks up his sword but
sees it not gathers up his cloak but
needs il not And do you notice those
set teeth, those glittering eyes. and
that crimson streak down his quick
breeches? which is slowly widening
showing that his life's blood is ebbing
away. Silence falls over the assem-
bIage. The three judges and almost
all the spectators rise and stand with
bated breath. Each one silently asks
himself or herself will the swordsman
be able to avenge his own death?
But look: with one sweeping glance
he takes in the situation and sees his
compadre fleeing for his life from the
now Infatuated bull And does he run
and hide. when the bull turns his at
tention his way? Not he. He pauses
an instant raises his sword on a line
with the bulls neck. and now when
his majesty is within six feet of him.
coming like a thunder bolt. his eyes
flashing fire. and with each breath
blowing froth flecked with blood from
his nostrils. he suddenly springs for
ward. the sword pointed just right
to pierce the bulls heart: when-did
the bull fall dead? asks some one. No
dear reader. the moZo probably got
drunk instead of sharpening the sword
point. as told to do: consequently il
failed to penetrate the untanned sole
leather which it encountered. and now
the footmen are flying right and left
while the swordsman cody selects an
other sword.
| This time he tests the point with
| his finger and throws his weight on
the blade to try the metal. Having
| found one that suits him he again in
vites attack. This time the sword is
buried to the guard. The bull stops.
plants his feet wide apart; his head
gradually sinks, a convulsive shudder
passes over his well knit frame then
| those nerves of steel give way and
with defiance still flashing from his
eyes. he falls with a dull thud. amid
breathless silence.
| Once more the shudder runs over his
| frame Life and death are engaged in
their last struggle. His head falls limp.
| Death his won.
| The swordsman faces the judges and
with palsied hand raises the bloody
sword with a gesture of appeal. as if
asking for their decision. They step
forward and with one voice shout.
| Bravo" Then as with one impulse
the spectators take up the refrain.
One chorus of shouts follows another
till all is confusion. Silver dollars,
some of them wrapped with five dollar
! bills. are showered around him. as he
stands bowling right and left to the
most enthusiastic audience he has
ever faced. The hour of his triumph;
that which he has worked for. longed
for. and dreamed of. has come. But
his brightest dreams have been as
| shadows compared with what he sees
today.
Slowly but surely the sands of life
are running out. He lowers his
sword and leans heavily upon it, His
face blanches. then suddenly one of
the judges with a viva losses a fine
bouquet at his feet. He changes his
sword to his left hand: carefully leans
forward grasps it. raises it to his lips
then majestically waves it over his
head. He has gained his 1aurels.
But see. the hand that a moment
ago he waved so proudly falls at his
side. Again a breathless silence falls
on the assemblage. Then with a con-
vulsive movement he makes the sign
of the holy cross. His knees shake
he falls limp, motionless. Now all is
confusion. A ciruJano. who up to that
| moment has stood smell hound IaanS