The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-07-03
Prize Fighting,

Such disgusting scenes as those which !
have lately occurred at Aqua Creek are
among the out groupings Of the demoral-
lied state into which the public mind
has lately fallen. An exhibition in it
self brutal and brutalizing drew together
thousands, some of whom were curiosity
seekers, others gamblers and pickpock.
cts, while generally the crowd embraced
all the various classes of disorderly
spirits. So powerful in number was the
gathering of rOughs that, according to
one Of cur correspondents, it was unsafe
to except to their conduct, although the
scenes attendant upon the prize fight
were of the most disgraceful character.
1t will be 1ecollected that about six
months ago similar exhibition brought
together a crowd Of rufians and thieves,
who actually took possession of the train
on which they were proceeding from
this city into Pennsylvania going
through it" to use their favorlte phrase,
from end to end, plundering the passen,
gers, forcing their way into the ladies'
cars, and appalling the women on board
by their frightful conduct and demoanor.
The same class of characters will always
be drawn together by such exhibitions,
and the same deeds OF violence, robbery
and othes crime convert the scenes of
the prize ring into Pandenonium. 1t
is painful to think that the officers Of
the law are unable to prevent the repc7
tition of such shocking disturbances of
public order and decorum, and outrages
upon order aud dccency. In the law of
Maryland defining the duties Of the po
lice board of this city, it is made their
duty when they believe persons within
the limits of the city intend leaving it
for the purpose of violating any law of
the State, on land or water within the
State, to cause them to be followed and
arrested for an attempted outrage, but
no direct provision Is made requiring
such arrest where parties leave The city
for the purpose of committing breach
of the peace ontside of Maryland.
Is there no mode of devising more
efficient legislation by which such things
can be reached in their incipiency, such
as law prohibiting the training for
fights within the limits of the State,
or of leaving the State for the purpose
of fighting, like the provision of the
code with reference to dueling, which
declares that if any person shall leave
the State for the purpose of eluding the
provisions of the law against dueling,
" the person so offending shall be
deemed as guilty and be subject to the
like penalties as il the ofenae had been
committed within this State" and which
authorizes any magistrate suspecting
any person Of such an intention to bind
them over to keep the peace, inserting
in the condition that they shall not be
concerned in duel with the person
suspected, or any other person, within
the time limited by the rccognizance.
Ofcourse, much depends in these
matters on public opinion, which may
be made an effective means Of putting a
stop to the scandalous and growing
unisanee. People who have anything
stake in the preservation of peace and
order, of property, and even life,
should refrain from encouraging, by their
presence, the spirit of brutality, bar,
barism and lawlessness developed by
these prize fights, and which periodically
expose peaceful and law abiding com
munites to an irruption more terrible
than of Goths and Vandals.
1t is stated that the fight between
Collyer and Aaron would have taken
place in Pennsylvania but for the
prompt measures adopted by Governor
Geary for capturing and furnishing the
enthe party, spectators as well as par
ticipants. 1t is to be hoped that the
anomalous state of things in Virginia
will soon be succeeded by the establish
ment Of civil government, when she too
may be able to prevent such outrages
upon her soil. Never having anticipa.
ted acts of this sort by human beings
within her borders, she has no special
law against them. 1t is to be hoped,
therefore, that the military authorizes
to which she is now subject, will pro-
teot her against them till law can be
be passed The District of Columbia,
through the kindly guardianship of
Congress, is also without proper laws
to prevent these brutal offcnses.-BaLH-
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