Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-05
MExICo's DANDY BULL FIGHTER
An American Soldier of Fortune and
His Career in the Bull
Ring.

OF all the soldiers OF fortune who have
helped to make Latin-kmerican interesting
in recent years, none was more pictureque
than young Harper Lee, who nearly lost
his life in the bull-ring at Gundalajara
the other day. Whether he will get well
and take up bull-fighting again, the Next
can dispatches have not yet made quite
clear. 1t wouldn't be surprising IL he
did, for it isn't the first time that he
has been reported dead.
Last October the papers told how he
had been badly gored while gazing the
life OF fallen picador, and It was sup
posed that the young daredevil would retire
then. But he recovered, only to add still
more daring performances to those which
had already made him a hero to the crowd
which follows bull-fighting in Mexico. He
was very popular down there, both with
Mexicans and with Americans, both with
those who flock to the Plaza de Toros, as
our crowds flock to the polo grounds to
see the Giants beat the Brooklyn, and
with those who, perhaps. considered BULL
fighting cruel and barbarous amusement
and kept away from It. That meant a
pretty all-round popularity. To novelists
tired OF Herzegovina and unheard-of little
European courts and zenda scene, we COM
mend this tall and agile young man. stand
Ing sword in hand, awaiting the charge,
in the dazzling sun of the Mexican bull
ring, with the senoritas and soldiers and
politicians and promoters-all that curious.
vivid crowd-watching with bated breath
1t has been said that he is a Harvard
man, q Princeton man-all sorts of stories
have been told about him. AS a matter OF
fact, he isn't a college man at all. He
came from Texas. His grandfather was
Colonel George Baylor. a confederate vet.
eran and Indian fighter. He went to work.
while boy, for the Mexican Central rail-
way, and most Of his young Ife-he lie moi
yet 30 years old-has been spend in Quad.
alajara.
Several years ago he took up bull fight.
ing as an amusement, very much as younf
men up here 80 in sometimes for boxing
He began TO appear as an amateur in tn,
ring at Guadalajara, and there, it is sait
he attracted the attention OF an old Span
ish bull fighter, who at once took tn,
young gTingo under his wing. Lee i'm
proved rapidly, and finally-like Gentle
man Jim Corbett for instance-became {
professional. 1t is a lucrative business. HI
probably received $500 Mex" for eacl
performance In Mexico, and a popular bull
HghteF makes good many appearance
during the season. AS a money-maker h
compares favorably with an operatic teno
OF the first class here; socially his posi-
ton is like that OF a successful prize
fighter. Often appearing at severa
smaller rings, Lee made his metropolitan
debut in Mexico City about year ago.
In the minutest details OF dress and de
pertinent Lee was all that the most dand
fun fighter should be. And everything zoe
by tradition in bull fighting. The ring wa
r crowded to the roof AS the America
toreador entered he lowered by a hea
above the other two matsdors. III
killed his first bull, powerful black ANNA
in slashing style. and the ring rang wit
the shouts OF Ell Americanog' and "E
= otro Montes" (Hs Is another Monies
Monies was perhaps the most famous {
the Spanish bull fishters.-ColIier's Week.,