Carleton Bass

Ernest Carleton Bass, best-known as Carleton Bass, born 1876 in Ireland, was a notorious bullfighter who billed himself in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the "first North American bullfighter."[1] In reality, he was an Irish immigrant who never became an American citizen, and his anemic bullfighting skill led to him being booed from bullfighting rings in Mexico.[2] Though he had learned some swordfighting and bullfighting skills in Spain before his arrival in the United States, he was a poor fighter. In 1903, he suffered an attack of nerves before a fight in Mexico and failed to fight.[2] In 1904, he was a key figure in the St. Louis bullfight riot, which led to the destruction of a 14,000-seat arena by fire. Three days after the riot, he shot and killed fellow matador Don Manuel Cervera after the other man attacked Bass with a knife over a dispute regarding the bullfight canceled by the riot.[3] A subsequent coroner's inquest found Bass acted in self-defense and should not be charged with murder.[4] Following his acquittal, Bass went on to star in several bloodless bullfights.[2][5] These involved enraging the bull, causing it to charge and miss, but not spearing it or cutting it with a sword.

References

  1. ↑ Sherwood, Lyn. Yankees in the Afternoon: An Illustrated History of American Bullfighters. McFarland: 2001. p. 22.
  2. 1 2 3 Hail, Marshall. Knight in the Sun: First Yankee Matador. Boston, Little Brown: 1962. pp. 5-6.
  3. ↑ "Bullfighter Murdered," The New York Times. June 9, 1904. Retrieved Sept. 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Releases Cervera's Slayer," The New York Times. June 12, 1904. Retrieved Sept. 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Woman prevents bullfight," The New York Times. June 27, 1904. Retrieved Sept. 13, 2014.


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