New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-08

A OuApRuPgpAL TRAGEDY-GREAT SHEKP-DRKss-
ING MArcH.-About one hundred butchers and BUTCH
ers bow. assembled at Harry Jenningss ratpit White
ST. on Wednesday evening to w.ness sheep-dressing
match between Rodger German and George Darby, foo
$50 eide. The process Of shesp-dressing requires
deIcate and experienced hand to avoid cutting and
sasbine into the meat and rendering it unstable.
The knife mus, glide dex,erousy between the skin and
the inner covering Of the hesh without hsrming.
Dressing sheep does not include the killing, or e
least Il did not last night The animal being dead the
dresser performs the operation Of Logging it, or TO
moving the skin from the legs in such manner that
the body will peel easily when hung up He then
ties the hind legs together, hangs the animal on
a hook 80 that it swings free Of the floor.
removes the hide, "bows up" the four quarters
extracts the entrails, and then turns the carcass
over to boy, who carries 1t away. The match last
night was between two experienced dressers, who
were to prepare the animals for market dressing them
as well in every respect as II they were not working
against tine German il young man, about 20 years
If age, who is daily engaged in dressing sheep for
Washington Market. He has long been noted for hia
expertness. but never contested for wager before.
Darby is an older by several year, has won sew
e matches but has not followed the business Of drees
ing for four years. Hapast was the hour fixed for
the commencement of the mortal combat but the antsg
ouiss did not appear in the ring till two hours later
Ten live sheep were brought in, when the men tossed
for the first choice, German winning. They each
then selected five animals making their choice alter
nately. Two judges and time-keeper were chceen,
and also killer and two assistants TO each man. Daroys
five sheep were then Slaughtered, and he commenced
work slowly at irst but quckening bis motions az 30
got the taste Of blood. Two minutes and upward were
consumed in "leggipg" his first animal, whereupon
several bets were made against him OF odds OF two 10
one All five Of the sheep were thus served before
any were hung up. In "pelting" or ssnning he made
better time, completing bis task in 81 minutes and Is
seconds German then took the knife and commenced
his part in the sheep tragedy "eggng" his frst AMI
NAL in one minute and quarter thus gaining nearly
minute on DaIby's time. Germans handling oil the
knife was the admiration of all beholders, single sash
taking the skin entirely from leg. lie is consdered
extensive on "leggng" His work was handsomely ald
quickly done be turning out his five sheep completely
dressed in % minutes and 3seconds When the result was
announced and he declared winner terrific cheers were
given for the " champion sheep-dresser," and finally
the enthusiastic butchers took him upon their shoulders
and carried him from the rat-pit to the bar sttache
where much percussion liquor was consumed in his
honor Sbeep-dressing is thriving branch of buss'
ness little thought of heretofore. Prices for dressing
range from to II cents per animal, according 70 p'
quantity slaughtered; one man and an assistant ca''
perform the pleasing operation upon hundred ahi.s
per day. German is said to have dressed i'V Shee' !"
ten hours.