Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-20
BULL RING ANTICS
Mexican "Sport" as Viewed
Through American SpeCtaCIes.


Thank you, Aguirre. but I hardly
think l want 70 see one Of your bull
fights. l have heard enough about
them TO make me sick Of the thought"
had seen every other kind Of fight,
from messenger boys up to bull moose
and buGalO. and A-u.rre felt that
wOuld foreves regret IL If left Mexico
without at least once Witnessing the
national sport
I reluctantly consented 90 accompany
him, and after our dinner. instead Of
taking the usual siesfa, we vent to
the ring. had often read the stories
Of such fights and after the series OF
three had been finished ! wondered II
any writer had ever taken the trouble
10 describe the ridiculous and funny
stunts that crop out during the course
Of the fights
The first bull that was released went
through the ordinary course OF sprouts,
first Coriug "a broken down race hor-s
which had seen service on many of the
tracks IN the States and was used in
the bull ring only because he was a
thoroughbred Finally the bull was
put 10 death by q stab between the
shoulders. which paralyzcd his spine.
The second cnfgaut was q little black
fellow fun Of hve which had been
especially raised on the big ranch OF
Governor TirazZOs. Between the tOTil
tpenJ and the ring there was a short
alley, Just wide enough TO allow the
q. -.
the hair from their TANKS. leaning
over the boards which formed the
sides OF the passaCeway was 81 MeIi-
can negro, who. when the little bull
was showed ont 81 the tOril. juhbcd a
GshhOok "barbo" into bis left shout
der. which maldrncI the animal TO
such an extent that be hardly knew
which way 20 turn, so eager was be to
locate bis enemy
The crowd az this time was going
mad and from all sides could be heard
frantic cries or "C0bardo. podridO.
putrefscriou" coward rotten. rotten
nessj. and "EI toro es muerto' Uhe huIl
IL dead. ON the contrary, he was
very much alive and showed II u few
moments later. After he was chased
into the Tori the tOrerO. whose name
was Albcrtis. appeared before the
presidents box. AZ Is the custom when
a failure il made. 10 explain himself
and ask for another chance before he
was condemned. The opportunity was
given, and the result was only u repe-
tition OF the former attempt, except
that the bull was prevented from
catching him by helpers who were arm
ed with long pixies and prevented the
beast from scaling the fence
Spriuriug ten or dozen yards
toward the center Of the ring, the
frcuzicd creature stopped short. spread
his front feet out as far rs he could
and madly paved the ground In his
shoulder the wicked barb still stuck
and 10 II were fastened a big yellow
rosette ana half dozen red stream
crs trailing the ground
Presently a volunteer novice tOrerC
Chuuhghter on FOOT jumped over the
fence on the north side Of the ring anC
advanced a few feet toward the defiant
bull. one fauut OF the ;oreros rec
baudcra jbauueri and the bull beram,
demon. With heud down he rushed
at the novice. who meanwhile haC
lost his nerve. for he stood quukiul
with fear when be should have beef
advancing 10 meet the Onrushiug AMI
nal When tie latter was only tweutl
yards away the volunteer dropped th
bandera and espBda tswordD and pu
for the fence as fast as he could &C
The fence was about four feet high
and the torerO cleared IL in q straight
way dive.
The poor bull was not 50 fortunate
although he WAS game enough TO al
tempt the fence IN his mad effort {
catch his tormentor. He landed o.
top OF the boards and stuck there
with his hind legs IN the afr. unit
be was released by some attendant
who ventured from the other side O
the ring.
took a heap OF fun out Of the antic
OF my little hero, the bull. and wa
having a good laugh all 70 myself Will
the mob was going wild with DISCUS
at the Cowardice Of Albertis whe
Agutrre advised me 70 suppress m
mirth or there would be trouble Il
both OF US
When order was restored the HIT
black bunch Of muscle. Drawn and ct
was brought into the Enclosure for n
third tune, but II took the efforts
two toreadors bulldghters on hors,
back and professional foot tighter