Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-11-05
A N()MAN BIJLL-FIGHIER
One Still Lives In the City of
San Francisco.
OLD AGE OF CHIQUITA

What She Did In the Early Days o.
the Mining Camp-Had Witnessed
Bull Fights in the City of Mexico
Living in the Latin quarter, on the
western base of Telegraph Hill, at ar
advance age, though still sprlghtly, is
the pioneer female bullfghter of Call
fornia and of the United States Per
haps she is the only woman in this
country who has tried conclusions
with the bull in the arena. She was
known to early Californians in and
around Marysville as "Senorita Chi
quita." When asked to say something
about her remarkable career, the re
tired bullfighter replied that she spoke
English very leetle," that she came
| from the City of Mexico to San Fran
] cisco the year Casey and Cora were
hanged by the citizens" that she was
then very leetle"-only fifteen years
old--and from here went to Mary3
Vile As the Vigilantes did their
good work in 1856, that year marks an
era in bullfghting in California by the
introduction of a woman in the arena
Marysville at that time was very
lively "camp" and was crowded with
saloons, gambling houses and dance
halls. These places Of Amusement"
never closed their doors-in fact, some
of them were built without doors
The miners of that section came to
town to spend their wages and rich
finds in playing monte and in taking
a turn at the numerous Mexican dance
houses, which were in full swing every
night. Sunday was set apart for the
| bullfght. The pavilion was a rough
board circular structure about twelve
feet high, and held about 1900 people
at S1.J0 and 50 a seat.
The bulls were of the most ferocious
nature that could be found on the wild
California ranges. for the miners
wanted something exciting. The local
bulifghters usually sawed Off the
horns Of the most ferocious animals
but Chiquita preferred to face the
animal at his worst. She was small
very active and quick and expert with
the sword-mOre expert than the male
fighters who had preceded her, for she
never failed to dispatch the animal ut
the first thrust of the sword. II is
the Office of the "matador" or chief
fghter. to dispatch the animal after
ne has been sufficiently tormentcd by
the "picadores" and the "banderil
leros" and the work must be done at
one blow.
In order to accomplish this tic
sword blade is thrust in the back cl
the neck. between the shoulder blades
and with sufficient force to pierce the
animals heart, when he instantly
falls dead. 1t requires a quick eye,
very quick movement and much dar-
ing and presence Of mind to select
this vital spot and thrust the enraged
bull as he charges upon the matador.
But Chiquita possession all Of these.
and was the most successful bail
fghter in the history Of the Mary
vile arena. which was kept open Tor
several years. Other fighters had
merely wounded the bull by falling To
strike at the right spot, and still
others. In making a second attempt
had been injured by the ferocious AM
mai. but Chiquita never failed TO
make a fatal thrust and was never
wounded. This is remarkable, espcc;
ally for a woman, and when the dan
gers of a real bull fight are consid
ered-that Is, when the animal is IN
q fighting humor and the tips Of his
horns have not been sawed off.
Chiquita had witnessed these ma
tional sports in her native city, where
she had received a little training
When the bull has been released from
the dark cell. where he has been held
TO 1artly blind him, he charges into
the arena with head down and a de-
termination to upset everything that
comes across his path. a number
of "picadores" are on horseback,
armed with long spears, waiting to re-
ce;ye him. One after the other rides
ND and spears him and perhaps the
bull turns and upsets one of the men,
or cores his horse. After these men
have tortured the animal to the extent
of their cruelty, the "banerilleros'
appear. They are on foot, and each
has red sash which he shakes at
the animal and jumps aside to escape
q horn. When the bull lowers his head
and charges, the banderillero plants
barbed steel point in one of his
shoulders, or two shafts, if he mas
time. This makes the bull really
good and mad and ready for the mata-
dor. who now enters the arena. The
matador carries a red sash in the right
hand. in the folds of which is con-
ceaied an unsheathed sword Of the
finest steel.
After a few waves of the red man
tle. which has the effect of binding
the bull. he charges upon his tormen-
tor. who must stand before him until
he comes within reach Of the sword.
Chiouita being under the average size
was more active She dressed in the
costume of the professional bullfghter
of Mexico and after dispatching the
animal. was always welcomed by
shouts of "Bueno, Chiquita" "Hur-
rah for the little Mexican woman"
But Chiqulta has long since retired
from the arena. Its excitement and
the spangles and tinsel of a matador's
costume have no longer charms for
her. and now, in her quiet old age, 1t
ts a subject in which she does not
take much interest.-San Francisco
Chronicle.
Bound to sell-books.