The Washington herald., 1907-10-27
Sets Madrid Wild by Feats
in the Bull Ring.
BORN IN MEXICO, HE IS %
Though Millionaire, He Satisfies
Lifelong Ambition to Fight the
Bulls, and Having Won His LAUREL
Wreath and Been Received by the
King, He Bears HonOrs MOdestIy.

doris who become milliOnaires, IN pesos X
not in pounds. But there is only in the
bUll-rngs history one millionaire who
has become a toreador. This millionaire
is but twenty-five years Of age. He is a
Mexican, born in Pechucha, and named
Vincente Segura.
Since a boy Segura's one ambition was
to become a famous toreador After five
years continual hard work he has
achieved the distinction, and is to-day
hailed as a master in the very first flight
Of famous bullfghters Of the world. Segu-
ra achieved this distinction in this city
when he was publicly crowned in the
Madrid arena the other day by the cele-
brated Fuentes.
On his native heath in Mexico, Segura,
as a boy. equipped himself with the bull
fighters regaHa. and, his father having
constructed ring for him, fought calves.
He soon graduated TO COWS, and then TO
young bulls.
His First Savage Bull.
At last. on his eighteenth birthday, his
father allowed young Vincente to tight
his first full-gr0wn and savage bull. Il
was a fete day on the estate. Amid loud
acclaim from the tenants and villagers
| SeguTa skillfully dispatched his animal
After his fathers death Segura engaged
! a "cuadrilla, or troupe OF fighters. and
started on a tour Of Mexico and South
America. The audiences at all the places
! visited gave long and loud applause %
| the young millionaire for his splendid
| prowess. But there was no one on the
! Western Continent 10 give Segura the Of
| fetal investiJure. the alternative" which
a young matador must receive in d pub
/ lie exhibition from master before be-
/ coming an acknowledge toreador This
alternative" is the sort of reception
given in the days Of old TO squIres who
/ entered the charmed circles Of chivalry
[ as knights on having won their spurs.
So Segura set of for Spain. He was
not heralded in advance in Madrid The
masters knew not that the young man
7 was a millionaire. They knew him but as
an aspirant for fame.
sppreBticeshfp Hard Work.
/ Segura was given hard work He took
| part in all the big fights. and the Span
ish toreadors did not spare this Mexican.
/ They gave him the difficult roles, the dan
| gerous posts The public soon came 20
know him He was nicknamed 'EI Neil
! cano" fThe Mexicanl. Then came the time
when the masters said Segura could fight
his first bull in public. He had qualified in
| their eyes, and was 10 enter the exclusive
ranks OF the treadores.
/ So Segura prepared himself, and he told
/ for the first time that he was wealthy,
| and had no real need TO seek a career.
vet would rather earn the gold of the
/ bullfghteT than dawdle through life on
his Mexican Millions. The eventful day
/ arrived.
/ The arena was crowd 10 the very gates.
I The entire Mexican colony Of Spain was
present. with gay scarfs Of national colors
/ and flowers in profusion. The king and
/ brillian staff sat in the royal box. Every
one wanted 10 see the Mexican millionaire
/ in his glory. 4 sudden fanfare Of -trum-
pets, the gate opened and Vincente Sc
! gura sprang into the arena He was daz-
zlingly dressed in a splendid apple-green
and gold costume. and wore huge diamond
! earrings.
Showers of Flowers and Gems.
/ He marched IN procession around the
ring amid Wild applause. and was intro
duced 10 the king and the public by three
famous old fighters. Segura divested HIM
self Of some Of his frilIs. The ring was
cleared, and. single-handed. Segura had
TO combat TWO wild and vicious bulls He
was equal TO the task, and in a very few
minutes had baited and stabbed both ami
mails. The attendants drew the carcasses
out Of the arena as Segura was hailed
/ as q master
The new knight Of the ring then made
the tour Of the arena, with his sword. red
with gore. and his crimson cape in his
/ hands The exploit Of the millionaire
aroused extraordinary enthusiasm. The
crowd applauded with frenzy. Showers OF
/ flowers and jewelry fell around him, the
women especially waxing frantic over
/ him.
/ The young millionaire is still modest.
despite his honors. He can be found any
evening seated amid his new comrades,
the famous toreadores. drinking coffee on
! the terrace Of the little cafe freQuented
I by them, and dressed as they are in the
shor; black coat and fiat hat Of thu mas
/ ter bUllfghteT.