Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-25
Sports Chats
- With
Hal Eustace

Staid publications have "diScov-
cred" Sidney Franklin, American
matador, following his debut in the
bullring at Seville. While Franklin
may be a new thing to the American
public in general, he is no new
conner to Valley bull fight fans. He
fought in the Matamoros ring short
ly before the weather beaten struc-
ture was licked up by flames some
two or three years ago.
Franklin. believed to be the only
American matador, put up a splen-
did exhibition in teasing the in
furiated beasts in MatamoroS. He
ran his sword through the vital
machinery of three MalpasO bulls
with a calmness an average Valley
man would demonstrate in Oiling
up the flivver for a Sunday outing
at Point Isabel. Sidney decided to
call it a day after killing the third
bull, and turned the last One over
to an understudy. The neOphyte
dubbed about eight Iunges at the
animal, striking bones and gener-
ally making a mess Of things.
Franklin became impatient. He
stepped in and caught the carved
up animal by a horn and the tail,
inviting the understudy to kill the
bull as he held him.
Franklin attended Columbia uni
| verSity and later became a COM
mercial artist in Brooklyn. Sent to
Mexico to do art work for a steam
| ship line, he was interested in bull
fighting. The Brooklyn youth be-
came a pupil Of Rudolfo Gaona
generally conceded to be MeXico'S
greatest toreador. after beating
around in the bull fight bush
leagues for a while during which
he visited Matamoros). Franklin be-
came recognized as adept at the
Latin national sport.
y
His debut at Seville definitely
placed him in the big league"
His daring work drew cries of
"Viva Ell Americano!" from the
gathering Of 10000 fans. DOwned
by a bull, Franklin returned to
the arena swathed in bandages to
kill the beast that nearly ended
his life. He was hailed with re-
newed vigor, and accorded honors
only given the greatest of tore
adors.
Spain regards Franklin as a nov
city and is not inclined to readily
accept him as a star performer
Critics pointed out his errors in his
technique. but all hailed his cour-
age. He has been granted the title
Of "matad0r de novillos.' This per-
mits him to kill only tire year Ole
bulls weighing from $50 to COZ
pounds. He will return to SPAR
next year after a tour Of Mexico anc
South America to seek the alter
nativa." This would permit him tt
fight the largest and most ferociou'
cows husband in anybody's paSure
Franklin wants to introduce
bull fighting into the United
States. He believes Americans
would take to the snort readily.
Perhaps the fans would, but there
are other things to be considered
the anti-this and the anti-that
leagues. We would suggest that
Franklin get in touch with Benny
Freudenstein for information on
this subject. Ben learned about
bull fighting from Atlanta. or
some other town in that section.
And a painful lesson il was, too.
An amusing incident to US is tn
fact that Franklin asked his par
ants' permission to so to Spain T
10 his little bull slaughtering Get
Obliging son this, who asks his par
ents If he may 60 out and kill
toro or two.
There's one new umpire in the
National league who will take no
sass and who's willing to back up
his decisions with a hefty pair Of
fists. He's George Magekurth.
George recently put John McGraw
cut Of the Giants park-a feat
that hadn't been ACCOMPLISHED in
full many a moon Magekurth
came up from the American asSO-
citation and Pacific Coast league.
TIE bids fair to become to the Ma
tiGnaI loop what Hunter Hill is in
the Texas league. If you know
Hunter. You'll understand what we
are driving at.
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