Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-12
BATH, Between anlll sword ana lrosn.

A fencing master arrived IN Boston about the
year 1850, and loudly Wanting on hi. unequalsd
skill with swords, concluded TO dazzle The eyes
Of the Yankees with his stage style Of slrutting,
and for this purpose erected IN elevated plat.
form at the head Of State street, in front Of the
town house, where he parallel, sword In hand,
for three days, publicly challenging oil creation
for trial oil his skill,
AT this time, three Of the English judges who
signed the deAlh.warrant Of Charles l, Ia Eng
land, hAe escaped to Boston, aud were concealed
and protected by the people Of this State and
Connseiieui-6en, Wm. Goife, Edward Whals
ley and Col. John Dixwsll, for WHOM, dead or
alive, Parliament offered Gl00 each.
Our fencing muster made 10 great q alir
among the people, thakn aoon reached the ears
Of Cole, who was concealed in Or about the
woods OE Hadley, when he came 10 Boston and
faced the brOggart with birch broom for wea'
pom, and white eak cheese, around hich he
had napkin cloth, through which he thrust his
arm, for shield; after he had we'll soaked his
broom in u mud puddle, he mounted the public
platform for battle. The gladiator ordered him
OF the stage in q oon,ehptuouS manner, but
COTE moved not, Tho chOCrr Of the champion
became wraIhful; he made pass Al Cote with
his sword, which was neatly parted, and then
commenced the battle,
After few well parted ihrus,s, The cheese
received home lunge, when Cole, with the
broom, painted the gen,leman's mouth with a
dirty pair Of whiSkerS; during the enactment o.
this trOgieOmieal battle, the people had assembled
from all quarters, and rent the cir with shouts
and huTrahS, for the greatest Of ell fencing mOs'
tcrs had found even more than his match, When
that part OF his face was well smeared, the SwoTd
was withdrawn; but unluokily FOR the great fen.
Ger, after a few more feroely directed thrusls,
his sword Ngpingol stuck in the immortal cheese
Amid the deAfening shouts Of the multitude
GsiFs raised his birch broom to his eyes and gave
them Quixolie daub; ~ soon as tho sword was
withdrawn and few more thrusts were made
the cheese again Sheaihed its point, and then his
whole face was besmearCd with the dirty puddle
water from the broom; and the hurrAhs ant
shouts for the old cheese were irresistible side
painers. The swordsman, on the third time un'
sheNthinH his deadly instrument, laid by the tiny
blade, and graSping broadssword, was attack
ling COTE with furious temperament, when h
cried out,
"StOp, sirl Hitherto, you see, have only
played with You, and have not attempted 10 bur
lyou; but if YOU como at me with brnSd.sword
know that certainly will take your life"
The firmnesS with which this was spoken
disarmed the gladiator Of HE courage, whO, hOr
FOr-struok, exclaimed;
"whO can you bep You are either COTE
Whalley or the devil for there was no othe
man in England that could boat me-"
COTE immediately left the field OF combat
amidst shouts OF applause from the spectator.
and the great SwSrdtman, bidding adieu to a
his greatness and occupation in these parts
skunk into Obseurity, with the ChagTin Of ID
feated brsggarl chaTlNtAn.