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How A Bullfighter Met Death In Arena

How A Bullfighter Met Death In Arena image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
February
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The annual bullfight at Juarez, Mexico, held in honor of Guadalupe, the patron saint of the republic, reached a thrilling climax a few days ago when the famous banderillero, Francisco Matillera, was gored to death by a fierce Samalayuca buil.

Matillera was pierced through both thighs by the beast's horns and pinned to the parapet. His bones were broken, and his flesh was torn.

A company of bullfighters engaged tor the El Paso midwinter carnival was giving its first performance. The fight attracted an enormous crowd from EI Paso. The first two bulls turned into the amphitheater proved indifferent fighters.

The third was a monster, wild and full of fight. In his first charge he unseated both of the picadors and tossed one of thein, then faced Matillera, who was coming toward him, tauntingly waving his flag decked dart. With a bellow the bull charged. Matillera stood his ground until the beast was almost upon him, then stepped aside and planted the banderillo in his neck as he swept by.

The spectators were cheering when the bull made another rush, caught Matillera against the fence and, driving a horn through his thigh, tossed him high in the air. The man fell on the bull's horns and was fearfully gored. On striking the ground he rolled under a plank, and the bull turned to the other fighters.

Five thousand people, many of them Americans, witnessed the spectacle. A number of women fainted, but the Mexican contingent of the audience cheered lustily and seemed to gloat over the torture of the banderillero. In the meantime the bull was slaughtered by a clean stroke of the sword of the matadore, and another animal was brought into the ring to be goaded to madness and put to death after being tortured.