Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-11
A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE.
Harper Lee, Native of Texas. Is Mex.
ico's Greatest Bull Fighter.

OF all the soldiers of fortune who
have helped to make Latin America in
tcresting in recent years. none was
more picturesque than young Harper
Lee. who nearly lost his life in the bull
ring at Ghladalajara the other day
whether he will get we'll and take uL
DUH lighting again the Mexican dis
patches have not yet made quite clear
1t wouldn't be surprising if he did. fol-
it isn't the first time that he has beer
reported dead.
Last October the papers told how he
had been badly gored while saving Tho
life Of fallen picador, and it was
would retire then. But he recovered
only to add still more daring perfor
mances to those which had alread,
made him hero to the crowd whicI
follows bull fighting in Mexico. He was
v"rv popular down there, both witt
Mexicans and with Americans boil
with those who flock TO the Plaza d.
TorOs. as our crowds flock to the Pol
grounds to see the Giants beat tn
Brooklyns, and with those vino, per
haps. considered bull fighting a crue
and bar barous amusement and KEEP.
away from it. That meant a prett.
all-round popularity. To novelists tire
of Herzegovina and unhoard-of ltti
European courts and the Zenda scene
we commend this tall and agile youn
man. standing, sword in hand, await
ing the charge in the dazzling sun o
the Mexican bull ring. with the seno
ritas and soldiers and politicians an
promotcrs-all that curious. vivi
crowd-watching with bated breath.
It has been said that he is Han
ward man. Princeton man-all sort
of stories have been told about hin
As matter of fact. he isn't colleg
man at all. He came from Texas. Hi
grandfather was ColoneI George Bay
lCr, Confederate veteran and India
fighter. He went to work while a DO!
for the Mexican Central Railway. an
most of his young life--he is not yet
years old-has been spent in Guadala
lara.
Several years ago he took up bu
fighting AS an amusement, very much
as young men up her go IN sometime
for boxing. He began to appear as
amateur in the ring at Guadalajare
and there. it is said, he attracted tn
attention of an old Spanish bull fighter
who at once took the young gring
under bis wing. Lee improved rapid.
and finally-like Gentleman jim Cor
bett for MISUNDERSTANDING a prOfes
sional 1t is a lucrative business. H
probably received 5000 Mex 70
each performance in Mexico, and
popular bull fighter makes good ma
ny appearances during the season. A
money-maker he compares favorabl
with an operate tenor Of the first elias
here: socially his position is like that O
a successful prize fighter. Often az
pcaring at several smaller rings. LIE
made his metropolitan debut in Mex
leo City about year ago
In the minutest details of dress ar
department Lee was all that the mos
dandy bull fighter should be. And ev-
erytnins goes by tradition in bull fight
ing. The ring was crowded to the roof
As the American toreador entered h.
lowered by a head above the other two
matadors He killed his first bull,
powerful black animal. in slashins
style. and the ring rang with tn
shouts Of "El Americana" and "E'
otro Monies Gle is another Monies.
Monies was perhaps the most famou.
Of the Spanish bull fighters.-Colner''
Weekly.