Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-23
! Oulv welsh Q WuDdsoA ana Tw eney.
Elghe Pooa6s 80
OR HOW A BRU IsER GOT STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.

Eight Poo06s -
OR HOW A BRgIsER GOT STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
Whenever "things" are dubious and
uncertain, they are, in the slang of the
day "checkered.' The expression is
. common one. Almost everybody has
heard it, but few know its origin.
One night in going up the Hudson,
with the renowned Dick Sandz-who
is . great yarn spinner as he was dar
ing performer. and as he is a manager
some half dozen of us were gather
ed in the freight clerks Office, and dis
cussing the quality Of some Bourbon
which Hine recommended as choice
article, and which vas nothing else"
when Dick, who is occasionally in the
habit of "making few remarks when
he is IN voice." gave the following as
the origin of the popular expression
we have alluded to. 1t is impossible
to write the story as he told it F.; his
"style" cant be put in print, and the
story must, of course, loose something
at our hands in consequence
"Just after the great fight between
Hyer and Sullivan" Dick commenced,
1.-THE friends Of Tom we're in the habit
of meeting in Dick Platt's saloon, un-
der what is now Wallack's Theatre
while the partisans of Sullivan congre-
gated farther up town, at another sa-
loon. At these places, all, or nearly
all of the prominent fighting men and
sports might be found nightly, and all
the news Of the day in which the fan
cy' we're particularly interested might
be picked up. One evening when the
party at Dick Platt's was unusually
large, Hyer himself being present, and
while they were talking Of various sub
jects of interest over an occasional tod,
the door suddenly opened, and a small
man, neatly dressed in the flash style
of the day, and with wildness Of sx-
preston in his eye, entered the room
and slamed the door after him. He
walked up to the bar hardly noticed by
the crowd, and calling for some brandy
and water, took a drink, and turning
his back to the counter surveyed the
party. Then stepping out into the
room, he exclaimed, throwing out his
arms fittings are checkered !"
Everybody turned to look at him.
Some laughed, and others looked sur
prised. 4 tell you,' the little man went
OIL tell you, gentlemen, things are
checkered! They don't make 'em as
they used to, and you can't tell who's
who Things are checkered They
are, by - And with rapid stride
he commenced pacing up and down
the room.
What's the matter, sonny 2 said one
Of the fighters Of the party. who's
hurt you! Go home to your mother
II tell you, gentlemen again said
the little man, looking round him.
things are checkered and you DOM
know who's who! Look at me! I'm
little man-welgh just one hundred
and twenty-eight pounds, and l feel SC
good can taste myself. Where.
your fighters ? Bring on your fight
ers ! only weigh a hundred and
twenty-eight pounds, and can tell you
things are checkered And the little
man threw his arms about like an in
sane wind mill.
zone Of the party, large, broac
shouldered, bullet-headed brniser, who
bore about his figure head the scars o.
many an encounter, now went up te
him, and laying his hand on his shout
der, said, in shaggy way
"Dry up, will you Say! What
are you mussin' about ?-say! You
don't want to fight nobody! Go anc
lay down i; you'll get hurt sure!!'
4 tell you,' again exclaimed the lit
tie fellow, as he turned away, without
needing the remarks addressed to hin
Il tell you things are checkered.-
They don't make 'em as they used to
You can't tell who's who, and vinegar
tastes just like molasses. Where's
you fighters! Fetch 'em in! l only
weigh a hundred and twenty eigh,
pounds, but I'm nasty cuss, and car
lick anything that walks, and l don,
make any discount for cash Look a,
me there Amt nothing of me I'm
light papers, l am, but l feel so good
can taste it, and things is checkered ~
And up and down, up and down the
floor he paced, painting like young
war horse. exclaming every moment
"Where's your fighters! l thought
should find 'em here!"
"Oh, stop your blowing Dry up
Simmer down! 60 to your hole =
came from divers Of the party, who be
gan to be bored by such a demonstra-
ton but still the little man paced ur
and down, and still he insisted upon il
that things were checkered.'
Finding that words we're of no avail
the same bullet headed gentleman who
has spoken before, now went up to the
little man, and with his open hand
struck him smart slap on the cheek.
The little man stopped dead still. Hi.
eyes glowed like two electric sparks
and taking . step backward, he stop
ped moment and crouched like ii
ger; then spring,ng forward and up
ward like lightning, he planted his fist
square between the eyes Of the man
who had: struck him. As though il
had been shot out Of q gun, the stall
wart form Of the bruiser landed in the
fartherest corner of the room. Quick.
er than lightning the little man spranq
forward, and ere his antagonist could
L. -