Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-25
AMERICAN MATADOR
Harper Lee Of Texas Surprises the
Experts of Mexico.
oUTDoEs MEXICAN IN THE RING
Texan by birth, He's Turned Profess
sIonaI hull Fighter and won
Fame on Ills First APP
pearance.

AhAAi| ~ hNNN 1871 - NV ~ AaN1 80
American has entered the field. Harper
Lee, a native Of Texas and a resident in
Mexico for the last fourteen years, after
a six months practice in Guadalajara,
made his debut In Mexico City in June of
this year as a bull fighter.
His reception was immense. Never did a
bull fighter receive a greater ovation than
did Lee on the completion Of the days
sport. Carried on the shoulders Of a rio+
Gus and e~xultant crowd, he was taken from
the center OF Ell Toreo' ring to his car
rage awaiting on the outside.
\ The success Of the American bull fighter
\gaeans the invasion by Saxon blood of the
Hatin sport. At least that is the view
taken by the Spanish editor Of a Mexican
paper. This writer compared the toreros
OF his country unfavorably with those cap
able of being produced by the cool blood
of the Saxons. He declared that when the
saxons entered bull fighting in real earnest
the glory of the Spanish bull fighter would
be eclipsed.
Lee has been in Mexico so long that
his command of Spanish is perfect. He
speaks 1t perfectly and makes his bow be-
fore the president of the day In the bull
ring with all the flourish OF the dandy.
His parents are now living in Guadala-
lara. In that town he learned bull fighting
by participating in amateur corridas. His
extreme Indifference to danger signalled
him out as a most promising torero. So
great a popularity did he obtain that on
one OF the big amateur events in the city
OF G~uadalajara, to raise money for the
earthquake sufferers of Sicily, Governor
Ahumada Of the state made a special re-
quest that the Americana be asked to
. take part. To this Lee acquiesced.
Made "a Hit as Amateur.
After the amateur bull fight Lees fame
went up with a bound. He was taken in
charge by an old Spanish torero and
taught all Of the little inside tricks Of the
game. The aptitude with which the man
applied himself TO the teachings were I'M
doubtedly responsible for the great sue
cess that he earned. This was yet to be
demonstrated to the amazement of a crit
ical Mexican and Spanish audience in the
capital.
After ending his training he began his
professional career by signing with a num-
her Of small bullrings in the towns in the
states to the north of the capital. His sue
cess in these cities soon became known IN
Mexico. Regular reports of his feats In
the bullrings Of GuadalaJara, Aguasca.
~lientes, Chihuahua and Torreon were
printed in the bull fighting section Of the
Mexican papers.
At Torreon he was caught by a bull and
tossed into the air. He fell on his head
getting a wrenched neck and a deep wounC
in his thigh. He was forced to suspend
fighting for a time. The Mexican pres.
then began to take more notice OF tn,
American, especially as the regular bull
fight season had passed in the capital. Al
of the good fighters leave with the season
for Spain. where they fight until August
when they return to the American season
Pay Big as an Actors.
The management OF the Eel Toreo rims
sent a man TO follow the American around
and watch his work. SO favorable was thi
report that Lee was approached by tn,
management with an offer to appear 70
two consecutive Sundays at $500 for eacl
appearance. To this Lee consented.
Lee came to Mexico and began tralnin
in the way he had done on former occa
sions. This was a great surprise to tn
"afficionados," which might be translate
fans" who read in the Mexican paper
of the training camp and sneered at tn
Americano's idea.
The great fiasco of Pickett the Demo
from Oklahoma" who backed by a wealth
American circus man. contracted to wrestl
y with q fighting bull and throw the anims
in twenty minutes, was recalled by bot
americans ana MeNlCans.
Pickett was a negro who threw a clrcu
steer twice a day at the performance
by getting a grip on the steers upper Ii
with his teeth and then forcing the stee
over backward. He attempted to do thi
with a beautiful Spanish bull in the rims
but made a failure of It and nearly los
his life. The prospect of another Amer
can coming into the disfavor OF the rabbi
OF the bull ring kept many American res
dents of Mexico from attending the figt
u in June when Lee was to make his debu
= Dresses for the Part.
On the day of the fight Lee began dress
Ing three hours before the contest. Every
thing in the bull fighting game is don
under the %strictest rules and regulation
TIL silk &nee breeches can only fall so "a
on the knee; the hat must be worn
just one way. The bow on the hat mui
be tied according to the prescribed rule
and the '%cuelta' 0ittle plgtaiD must /
carefully braided and tied with a prop,
colored ribbon.
All OF this work was done for the Amer
can by Mexican and Spanish helper
Lee had spent so great "a time with Il
Mexicans that he had contracted man
OF their manners and a complete circle
Mexican friends. These crowded about II
entrance or the room ana wished the Anne
lean boy luck.
The FL Toreo ring was crowded to II
roofs that covered the topmost CALLER
A crowd Of 5000 persons were in the
places promptly at $3.50 o'clock, when Il
afternoon sport was scheduled to begi
This ring is a steel and concrete structur
occupying an an entire block. The sid
slope downward to the center like a gre
amphitheater. The cement steps that a
swer the purpose OF seats extend the e
tire circumference OF the ring.
The bugler at the side Of the preside
of the day blew a shrill, short blast that
known all over the bull fighting world. ]
stantly cheering began and then, amid Il
playing OF "El Toreador," from Carmen
the parade Of the bull fighters OF the d,
began.
His Imposing Entrance.
The three matadors always lead the DR.
c~ession. The matador is the man that do
the kShng, and is the only bull fight
who Sxeites more than passing applaus
Lee, the central figure OF the three. ",