Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-19
Disgraceful Affair.
TERRIBLE ROW AT A PRIZE FIGHT.

inst, gives the particulars of prize /
fight near that city, accompanied by iEci- i
dents of a most brutal and disgracetul
character. 1t appears that on the 9th
inst, two pugilists, Michael Connors OF |
St. Louis, and James Byrnes of New
Orleans, left the city to engage in prize
fight on an Island in the Mississippi.
Such was the rush of rowdies, fancy
men, &c, to witness tine fight, two steam
ers were required to take them to the
island-one conveying seven hundred
and the other four hundred passengers.
The wife of Connors, with child of fif-
teen months, accompanied her lord. No
less than five fights occurred on board
the steamer Henrietta before she reached |
the island, and similar scenes are said to
have transpired on her consort, the Ell |
vira. About fifteen hundred people |
we're on the ground to see the fight
During the fourteenth round, Connors
was brought to his knees, and while in
that position was struck. There arose at
once the cry of {" Foul play p and the
referee re-affirmed that decision. The
victory was thus awarded to Connors.-
The scene that followed is thus describ-
ed.
When the decision was announced,
Byrnes fercely demonstrated. Some
five or six hundred outsiders then burst
into the ring, and general row ensued.
Byrnes seized the referee, Moreland, by
the throat, saying" Do you mean to
; say I've lost it Moreland was then
attacked by Byrne's principals, was
struck and kicked, and had portion of
his face gouged out with stick. Con-
nors with the most of his party prompt
ly drew of TO their boat, while the bal
ance remained fighting with Byrnes' men.
Stripped, bloody and enraged, Byrnes
dared Connors to come out and finish the
fight, which he declined to do. Then
many of Connor's men rushed on shore
and joined their comrades, and a scene
: of riot and murderous attack followed
t, which battles description. Knives were
', freely used, bottles, sticks, and rocks
E, were hurled, and at last shot was
it fired.
n This was the signal for general draw
$ ing of pistols, and some one hundred
81 shots were rapidly fired. Those who had
not pistols rushed for their boat. which
at the same time began backing off from
n the shore. There was then heavy rush
= to get on board, and some forty persons
were instantly in the river. Certain
a. 81; F-man nnlled e,ray in terror leaving
: the victims TO swim or drown as they
"a might. One or two fights actually occur
10 red in the water! The swimmers a
!, length scrambled on board, not knowing
70 how many had sunk and been drowned
"a Probably three or four persisted Ia
. least.
!, The Henrietta was soon following tn,
: Elvira, both boats leaving numbers be
hind them on the island. The mood o
the Henrietta may be inferred from tn,
fact that some taOenty fights were wagec
), on board before she reached Alton
Whisky reigned. There were robberie.
. and complaints of robberies of watches
pocket-books, &c, which had 10 be rec
>. tilted by attacking the robber or robbed
One victim, accused of having stolen
- purse of $50, was assaulted by seyera
persons with such fury that he sough
:, his revolver. His intent being perceive,
there arose cry of Kill him, kill him
and fresh onset was made upon him
In response, he struck, bit, kicked, goug
ed, tore and scratched his opponents ii
style which should entitle him to tn,
laurels and stakes of the glorious day
By nearly tearing off his pants, the PTS
os tol was taken from him-and also. as HI
ha alleged, $40 of his hardearnings. Final
,.t ly he was kicked senseless, dragged I,
:, the hurricane deck, and left TO revive o
D.. die.
= Shortly came off the fight for the pos
session of pistol, between John Monag
! han and John Ryan, which resulted il
he the casual discharge of the weapon
&c Its contents passed into the abdomen O
No. Ryan, inficting shocking and probabl,
~ fatal wound. Monaghan was at one
n subdued by this incident. He sat dow
d and wept over the wounded man, declar
"A ing that Ryan was one of his best friends
:. An impression to some extent prevailed
o. that pistol was actually fred by Ryan
In ten minutes afterward, Monaghan
nd jumped overheard, and swan toward tn
lin Illinois shore-then nearly two mile
distant. When last seen from the boa
en- he was still swimming, about halt mil
70. from the bank.
n