The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-25

gions beyond Thomas street, poured dowI
on their opponents below; they were op
posed by the butchers, and the contest com
menced on the quays whica extended from
Essex to Island Bridge. The shops were
closed, all business suspended, the sobeI
and peaceable compelled to keep theil
houses, and those whose occasions led
them through the streets where the belhger
ents were engaged were stopped, while tbs
war Of stones and other missiles was CARR
ed on across the river, and the bridges were
taken and re-taken by the hostile parties.
Ii will hardly be believed that for whole
days the intercourse Of the city was inter.
rupted by the feuds Of these factions. The
few miserable watchmen, inefficient for
any purpose of protection, looked on in ter
ror, and thought themselves well acquitted
Of their duty if they escaped from stick
and stone. A friend of ours has told us
that he has gone down TO Essex Bridge,
when he has been informed that one of
those battles was raging, and stood quietly
on the battlements for a whole day looking
at the combat, in which above a thousand
men were engaged. AT one time the Or
mond Boys drove those Of the Liberty up
to Thomas street, where, rallying, they re-
pulsed their aSsailants, and dove them back
as far as the Broad Stone, while the bridges
and quays were strewed with the manned
and wounded. On May II, 1890, one OF
these fnghtful riots ragged for an entire Sat
urday on 0mond Quay, the contending
parties struggling for the mastery of the
bridge; but nightfall having separated
them before the victory wa, decided, the
battle was renewed on the Monday follow.
ing. 1t was reported of Alderman Elmer
son, when lord mayor. on one Of Those occa-
sions, that he declined to interfere when ap-
piled to, asserting that "it was as much
as his life was worth to 60 among them.
These feuds terminated sometimes in fright
fol excuses. The butchers used their
knives, not to stab their opponents, but
for purpose then common in the barbar-
Gus state of Irish society-to hoUgh or cut
the tendon Of the leg, thereby rendering
the person incurably lame for life. On one
occasion after defeat Of the Omond Boys,
those of the Liberty rstaliatsd in man.
ner still more barbaTous and revolving
They dragged the persons they seized to
their market, and dislodging The meat they
found there, hooked the men by the jaws,
and retired, leaving the butchers hanging on
their own stalls. The spirit Of the times
led men Of the highest grade and respscta-
bility to join with the dregs Of the market
in these outrages, entirely foIgetlul Of the
feelings of their order, then inmeasurably
more exclusive in their ideas Of gentleman
than now; and the young alistocrat, who
would have felt it an intolerabls degradation
TO associate, or even be seen, with an honest
merchant, however respectable, with sin
gular inconsistency made bo;st Of his In
innate acquaintance with the lawleSs exces-
ses Of the butchers and coal-Porters."
In some respects the gentry exceeded the
humber orders in a taste for outrage The
most disorderly individuals were a class Of
" gentlemen called Bucks, who seemed
to be above all considerations Of law or de-
csncy. {" 1t was their practice TO cut of
small portion Of the scabbards OF the swords
which every one then wore, and prick or
"pink the person with whom they quarrel
led with the naked points, which were suti-
GENTLY protruded to infict considerable
pain, but not sufficient to cause DEATH
When this was intended, a gnsater length
Of the blade was uncovered. BARRIERS at that
time were essential persons to Bucks
going TO parties, as no man cou d then aP-
pear without his hair being deliberately
dressed and powdered. The disaPpoint-
ment of barber was therefore sentence
Of exclusion from a dinner, supper party,
or ball, where a fashionable miin might as
well appear without his head as without
powder and pOmatun. When any unlor-
tunate triseur disappointed, he was the par
ticular object of their rage; aud more than
one was, it is said, put to death by the long
points, as a Just punishment fer his delin-
quency. There was at that time a celebra-
ted cofee-house called "LucaHs, where
the Royal Exchange now stands. This
was frequented by the fashionab e, who as
sumed an intolerable degree o nsolenoe
over all Of less rank who frequented It.
Here Buck used TO strut up and down
with long train to his morning gown;
and If any person, in walking across the
room, happened accidentally to Tread upon
L, his sword was drawn, and the man pun
ished on the spot for the supposed lnsO-
lence." An account follows Of the acking
Of a tavern by party Of Bucks, one o.
whom was lord, two were cololels in the
army, and the others were officers Of rank
in the service Of the Duke of Rutland, then
lord-lieutenant. 1.-The latter interested
himself on their behalf; and such was the
influence Of their rank, that the matter was
hushed up, and the gentlemen engaged in
this atrocious outrage, though all well
known, escaped unpuniShed."
DUelling also was universal. Between
1880 and 1900, three hundred duels were
fought and counties became distinguished
for dexterity in using certain weapons-Gal-
way for the sword; Tipperay, Roscommon,
and Sligo, for the pistol; Mayo for equal
skill in both. 'Duelling clubs were actual
ly established, the conditions Of which were,
that before a man was ballotted for. he must
sign a solemn declaration that he had ex-
changed shot or thrust with an antagonist.
Barristers used to retire to fight when they
seriously differed in argument, and Judges
were equally ready to step down from the
bench.tO have a round with penons with
whom they differed. An anecdote is given
lof II. IL