Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-14
BY SIDNEY FRANKLIN.

MADRID, April 14.-Well, this Brook
!yn bull-fighter, speaking of myself. has
had his blood baptism" as we of the
bull-ring speak of accidents such as /
had recently. And now watch me!
That's what every one in Spain is
doing. They want to see if the Brook
Ign boy, this curious American who
likes to fight bulls. has lost his nerve
because he lost lot of blood.
My next appearance in the ring, and
that's coming soon, will be in Valencia
All the fans are waiting for it impa-
tiently. Have I lost my courage be-
cause that Madrid bull hooked me? Has
my skill been affected? That's what
they want to know.
AS for myself, I'm eager to be at 1t
again. l have no fear. and the eX-
me, rather than the contrary. We
Brooklyn boys bounce up smiling, you
know.
Blames Self for Accident.
That goring I got in Madrid was all
my own fault. 1t happened March Is;
just week before I had made good
showing in Valencia. There, because
of accidents to my comrades, had to
dispatch four bulls myself. I got away
with it nicely.
Then, in Madrid, my first bull got
me. I was caught and tossed, and, AS
the newspaper cable told, 1 was Seri-
ously wounded You see I had de-
veloped a habit of turning my back
on the bull, and walking away from
him.
This time I misjudged my adversary.
and the accident resulted. That is the
great difference between bull-fighting
and other sports. The slightest miSstep
or misjudgment may bring death.
don't remember what happened
Just after that bull rammed me. But
they tell me I was operated on right
away at the ring infirmary. Since then
have been treated daily. Now I'm in
great shape again. I'd like to fight
right away, but my wound hasn't en-
tirely closed and the doctors won't let
me fight for week or so.
This season looks mighty bright for
me. Barring any more accidents I'll be
kept very busy appearing all over Spain
and in parts of France. This is big
shot" stuff. 1 am now getting con-
tracts that will bring me sums varying
from $500 to $1,000. That's a lot of
money in this part of the world.
Plans BloodIess Fights in U. S.
Next Winter I'll probably make a
tour of Mexico or South America. And
after that I hope to begin preparations
Tor bloodleSS Dull ngnCS IN the UnlCeo
States. Won't my Brooklyn buddies sit
up when prance into bull ring back
home!
Curiosity as much as anything else
got me into bullfghting. While I was
in Mexico in 1923 some Spanish friends
vowed that to be a bull fighter a fell
low had to be of Spanish blood or OF
the Spanish colonies. made up my
mind to find out.
My first step was an interview with
Gaona, Mexico's greatest bull fighter
one of the three best the sport has ever
produced. told him I wanted to learn
bull fighting, not professionally, but
for my own entertainment
The idea of an American wanting to
learn to fight bulls struck Gaona as so
funny that he invited me to parlor
practice with him. This consists of 60
ing through the movements of the
sport with cape or mulets. as if there
we're an animal in front of you, and it
keeps one timber. giving an easy grace
to the movements.
We did this few hours daily for two
weeks. Then 1 was sent to Don Julio
Herrera of the Xajay Ranch. where
some of the best Spanish blooded stock
is raised.