The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-01
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
OPTIONAL LOCAL 1TEMs sHH INSIDE PAsHs,
THE HARDFLSTED

n "Bruisers' MiII" at Washington Hall
Pretty "MIIIs" Between Noted and
Un-noted shoulder Hitters-A Motley
Grew of lockers on - Description OF
she Way I'm which the Men "Toed the
Chalk"-AppearanceO OF EngIand's ex-
Champion, Jem wnrd-Our Curb-stone
"Knucks" out I'm Forco-Rags, Filth,
Profanity, Tobacco-A Fancy Evenings
Entertainment.
All things, says the poet, turn In cycles times
recur aud SO do circumstances. DE the truth OF
this what it may, it is yet certain that OF late
the press has been flooded and the public edited
wi so many reports OF prizc-aghts and pugi-
listIc encounters that we could readily imagine
ourselves back again in the palmy days OF
quarter slaves and square "stand-up and knock.
down" mile. Quiet Quaker Philadelphia has
not escaped the contagion of this returning
appetite ior the ring, and within few months
past we have had to chronicle any number OF
these fstlcuH meetings. Indeed, we can boast
shat we have ID our midst some OF tne most
notorious and widely famed shoulder-hitters.
Philadelphia "knucksn rival the "knucks" of
New y ork, and just as our merchants cherish
an ipborn grudge against the merchants OF the
other city, do our hard. listed people nurse the
enm .ty against those of the came class in the
other metropolis. We have them senper para
ius-accordlng to the ancient moto-there Is
no back down about them, and II any challenge
to u "set-ton within the ropes comes 10 this city
il watts not long for defiant answer.
Well, our Philadelphia plugs amused them
match, or rather ser es of matches, at Washing
ton ball. Eighth and Spring Garden streets. BY
the hugely Haunting posters stuck upon every
fence and deao-wall around town, announcing
the time and place OF the mill" we learned
shat 1t was rendered as a complimentary benefit
to the famed Jem Ward, ex champion OF the
British prlze-rne. THIS same Ward, for some
two or three weeks has been sojourning in the
city, and the hosts of his lind insisted on bring
ing h,m out publicly to display OF some of his
peculiar points. He gralided them, as the little
show was to crafty his Pocket, aud hence the
pupilistic spectacle OF last evening. The bills
also said that 'host of taenp would appear,
and we went to see them. So much for the cir
cumstances.
Long before the hour of eight, at which the
exhibition was to begin the vicinity OF the hall
was dotted with individuals to whom you would
have given q wide berth in lonely street upol
a dark night. The majority OF them however,
appeared to possess plenty of stamps" and
''the man at the hole'-or ticket wndow-was
kept constantly busy exchanging his slips Of
we're OF two kinds and had two prices. Tue
managers OF the thing, though, couldn't come
down to the modern and geuteel fashion of
having secured seats. They didn't even allow
YOU the privilege Of stating. whether you
wished high or low priced tlcket-the fellow
inside looked out through his small window,
and, upon his own judgment as to your being
s'biS knuckn or little knuck," he handed the
kind Of passport with which you were furnished.
We must have been "big knuck," for we got
frst class ticket. With this open sesame in our
fingers, up the stairs we went.
Squads OF the "nasty" eyed you curiou.ly as
you ascended. You were thronged in the door
way and hustled to your seat. We at once felt
for our valuables--not to say that we had many
but our watch was jammed in tight and
secure place-apd although we never have much
money, what little we had was also safely slowed
away. They were all right, and we felt relieved.
DIDN'T mind our toes or ribs. Fully exoected to
get the first mashed-the second punched before
the show was overland didn't think it worth
while to take any special care OF them at tins
y sad poes ssss odrs OF ae up n hs sye
OF a bona fde rough, hat nonchalantly thrown
over one eye, hair pulled down over our bro VS.
hands in pockets, and cheroot in mouth. Felt
ugly, aud conseq uently felt safe. By dnt of a
little trouble and great deal of hard cheek we
managed to plant ourself in an eligible position,
and then threw seemingly careless, out really
As we took them IN at glance, we
shivered to our shoes. Weimagined We could see
iunumerable reyolvers and iDnumerabe bow
lee" protrudiDg from innumerable hinder pockets
and innumerable boot-legs. A nice place for an
angel to get into by mistake! The windows
upon the public highways were all open,
however, though they were curtained, and we
several huge. blue coated fello VS., carrying the
s'municpal locust" keeping the peace within
by their presence without. Bolstering ourselt
up with a sort OF theoretical confidence in their
protecting care, we endeavored to allay all fear
by a scrutiny OF the individuals composing the
mingled throng.
The entire hall was pretty we'll filed. 1t has
already been mentioned that two kinds of ad-
mission tickets were issued, and the line of de-
marcation IN the room between the holders OF
the two was squarely drawn. Nearer the stage
were the flush and fancy customers-sportlng
white-top hats, black dress coats, diamonds ~
and dyed moustaches. Further back we're tue
''shrimps," the 'great unwashed," the bolster.
Gus, and the ragged. The frst class, as
general thing, seated themselves de-
Gently upon the benches: the second class
were pned promscuously upon the
arms and backs OF the benches, and upon the
window lodges. Hats and coats were worn at
pleasure. The heat was overpoweringly swell
tering, and unable to keep themselves dry by
moppIng with handk ercbiefs, the great ma.
jorlty of the rear auditors, and many of the
@'choce" aired themselves in their shirt sleeves
All were either smoking or chewing. Clouds oil
rank smoke ascended from still raDker pipes aud
segars vitiating the cir, and rendering misty the
ceiling. Tue chewers sDllt about as much Juice
rs an ordinary water cart.
Small rivers of the nauseous liquid made theii
way around and under the benches, trlckled uI
TO your very feet, splashed against your gar
ments and made slippery the floor. The man
ner in which some of them disdained the aises
In reaching their seats was amusing. They were
all acrooats. They played 'leap frog" over the
benches, and resting their hands and theil
weight upon the shoulders of a twain o.
luckIess wights sitting close together, some
of the more impudent and reel kless would
vault between them to the bench ahead. Shrieks
OF laughter would follow every such exploit
and prompt Its repetition Others while waiting
for the Using OF the curtain on the stage, whiled
away the minutes in perusal OF the Last Sensd
ton or POfice NelDs. Their appearance was
characteristic; just such a seeming as one would
imagine belonged to their tribe. Pug noses
bull necks, heavy chests. square shoulders
cropped heads, massive cheek bones, sturdy
limbs. Here and there you noticed chap with
black eye, making yet more sinister