The San Francisco call., 1909-09-21
FIESTA KING WOULD
CLASH WITH Bull
Don Nicolas de Covarrubias
Wants Scientific Fight
for Points
No Gore i'm Plan Outlined for the
PorfoEa Festival Spectacle
by Modern Gaspar

There viii be a bull fight in San
Francisco in Portola week. if Don
Nicolas de Covarrubias, the sturdy old
king Of the festival. who is to enact
the role Of Don Gaspar de Portola at
The celebration, has his torreadoran
way about il. Don Nicolas is more
than. anxious to measure his skill
against the strength and savagery of
any bull now roaming California or
Mexico, but he points out that the con-
test viii not be fight to the death.
according 10 the way he wishes it
given. 1t will be a battle for points
only-and if the, bull scores even "a
number of times in this imitation clash
lie viii but decorate his opponent, or
lis opponents horse, with bruise or
Two.
RECoUNTS YOUTHFUL PRoWESs
I want to measure skill with a bull
al a contest in the festival. CoVarru-
bias declared yesterday. Many time
in my youth / pricked an angry bull to
savage charge, and avoided his lnfu-
rated rush, and ! believe l can do it
again. In this bull fight you know,
the animal will have his horns sawed
of. and the stumps covered with
leather pads, so that, even If he does
strike YOU or your horse, no harm Will
result from it. Still. the contest Will
be a picturesque and exciting one, and
] see no reason why one of this sort
can not be given. Ii occasions no pain
10 the bull or his adversaries. and gives
plenty OF pleasure to the spectators
Don Nicolas eyes flashed rs he told
again OF the bull fights that were given
in his youth, and, despite his three
score ana ten. he moved with a surpris-
ing. nimbleness back and forth, por-
traying the various methods OF attack
and defense.
The bull stops short close to you
and waits to see what you IRE going 10
do. You pranee back and forward, way-
ing your blanket in his face. All, he Is
very angry. and would like to Kill you,
but he is puzzled by your movements
and is waiting for you TO stop, so that
he may put down his head and rush at
YOU.
You see a bull always shuts his
eyes when he makes the charge, and
he wants TO locate you So you pause
an instant close to him and wave the
end OF the blanket in his face. He
puts down his head. closes his eyes and
in a flash has his head in the middle of
the blanket. Too late. You have
swerved foot or so aside and you trail
ile DI2Nkel gently over HlS brANh. IL -
your point, bat don't rest too long, Tor
lie is round again in a minute and you
must keep lively or he will have you.
II he catches You he might Craze your
leg or your horses side. but with the
leather pad he can do no harm.
IMITATION, But EXCITING
"Of course. this is only an imitation
of the real game. but il is veryfexeiting
and picturesque for the fighters could
be dressed in the beautiful costumes of
the picadors and matadors and torrea-
doris IL would be a very fine feature
for the festival. / would enjoy battle
for points with lively bull, and if we
have one you will see me in the ring
Senor covarrubias arrived from Santa
Maria yesterday morning for short
stay and brought beautiful saddle for
the use of Queen Hergilia- He viii re-
turn again on October 3, bringing his
two splendid horses, one OF which he
will lend to Miss Bogue for the festival
re also tried on the uniforms which are
heiuC made for him