Sanchez Mejias

August marks the anniversary once again of the late Ignacio Sanchez Mejias. Writer, poet, intellectual, brother-in-law to the Gallos and a matador de toros, Mejias died from the effects of gangrene following a leg wound. His death was the focal point of the poem, Lament For Ignacio Sanchez Mejias by Lorca.

As a torero, Mejias was especially known for his work with the banderillas and the placing of the sticks el quiebro.

 He was also reputed for extreme valor with both the capote and muleta, marking his work with adornos that could rival those of his brother-in-law, Joselito.

 His lone flaw as a torero was the fact he was not always reliable with the kill.

Mejias died following a goring in Manzanares, where he was caught and pinned against the fence while doing a kneeling pass with the muleta, sitting on the wood stirrup  surrounding the ring.

The goring in itself should not have been fatal and had it happened in modern times he would have been out for only a few weeks before being back in action. In his day, such antibiotics were not available. Thus, infection set  in, which became gangrene and resulted in his death.

Mejias rests in the San Fernando cemetery in Sevilla.