The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1914-05-21
National Sports
In Old Mexico


May IL, oablsd the following to the
spokesman Resisw:
Vera Cruz, May i7.-~Natjopsl sports.
as INDUCED IN by MeTicans and Yam
kess. were tried out today. and the ma
tional sports Of the Nesiesns lost the
decision.
The sports began early, with much
advertised cock fight, the main taking
place in the cockpit 81 Senior Meiendez,
! am proud 70 record that, With the ex
1ePs'on Of an army lieutenant led astray
Pinto accompanying me, was the only
American VINO disgraeed himself ~ Al
tending. and did not stop long After
watching one rooster chase another
round his narrow circle Of tnr pit, while
| 800 Mexican true sports swore, bet,
and yelled, and finally seeing one OF the
roosters peck the other 70 death, our
desire for blood was satisfied, and we
left.
Without giving details. the cock fight
can best be described il the words Of
the midshipman who was sent by his
admiral TO make a report on the morals
and customs Of the Fiji islanders.
Morals, none." he wrote, "and customs
horrid." 1t was like that.
From the Cockpit we went to the
bali game, where the Fourth infantry
met the engineers aud took them into
camp by a score Of u to- 4. We need
not describe baseball. Mexico cannot
wither its infinite variety. The tropics
cannot put their spell upon It's thrills.
its punches, its years OF suspense, its
moments Of action, nor the shock that,
when Corporal Tanner lined ont home
run, flashed down our spines.
But with all its beloved and time
honored observances, such as bawling
out the umpire and rising in the lucky
seventh to stretch, the game possessed
novel features. One was the sight
from the bleachers OF l6 warships, and
another the fact that portion OF the
nt1t
we're bluejackets who came from the
bathing beach 200 yards away on
Mexican ponies. Clinging to the pom
mels Of their saddles they galloped from
the surf to the local Coogan's buff, or
"Deadhead Billy" and from that point
OF vantage, dripping with sea water,
stripped to the waist. their bare toes
stuck in their stirrups. they made pic
ture OF healthy, clean-limbed mascu-
unity that would have delighted Angus
tus st. Gaudens and William Mul-
doom.
Leaving them racing like cowboys
over the downs and In the surf like
porpoises lighting the waves, we went
to the bull ring Why is 1t that when
ever YOU leave "A ball game something
OF intense snterest happens AS we
rode away we could hear the aston.
Ished, deepthrosled roar, as some one
lashed out a three Dagger. the shouts
of advice and entreaty, and the yels
Of welcome aud triumph Us some one
crossed the pa,e.
Al the bull ring also they were
shouting and yelling advice and hurl-
ing curses. These curses were direct.
ed at trembling, terrified animal
From loss OF blood aud from WEAKNESS
the bull staggered and stumbled, In.
great head swinging, his eyes glazed
His only instinct was to avoid his tor.
mentors. In panic, seeking to escape,
he half pressed, half leaned against th,
barrier.
la gold, in pink, in green, his as
sallants stabbed at him with unsklled
angry blows. From these his bloc,
leaped in jets, bloodine his tanks Ii
the blatant sunshine it flashed like
crimson mirror. He wanted only to b'
allowed to die. They wanted onl,
something TO torture. SO we went Uacl
to the ball game.