Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-30
THE COBURN.McCOOLE FIGHT.
A StupendOus Humbug.

Owing to the late hour OF the night at
which we returned from the scene of the
great MILL" which did not come off, we
will not attempt an elaborate description
of what we saw and heard. We will add,
however, to what will be found in the
associated press dispatches, few re-
marks. 1t was generally believed on the
ground that Cbburn was the author OF his
arrest, and Mike McCoole deliberately
made the charge in brief speech to the
crowd. 1t was not definitely ascsrtained
in what manner or where he.was arrested,
although his friends assert that he started
from the station to the ground, when the
sheriff with posse nabbed him, and
drove off hastily to Lawrenceburg with
the prisoner. When the announcement
of the arrest was made on the ground, at
about two o'clock p M, it created but
little surprise, and all seemed satisfied
that no fight was contemplated on the
part of Coburn.
Shortly after the arrival of McCoole,
Barney Aaron took a position in the
center of the ring, and said: / am au-
thorized to say that if no fight takes
place, every man who purchased ticket
for the grounds will get his money back.
Ny judgment is that all outside bets are
off" This last announcement gave rise
to much dissatisfaction, and several of
the Western managers cried out that he
was not authorized to give any such
opinion. For while, fight in the ring
seemed imminent between the bummers.
Jim Elliott, of Cincinnati, after several
attempts to speak, finally succeeded in
restoring order, and said whichever
way the main or battle money goes, the
bets go" This was received with shouts
of that's rightl' on every hand. Elliot
also charged that Coburn had himself
arrested, and had no idea of fighting
McCooe.
At the hour of 3 o'clock pm, it was
declared by the referees that the desig-
mated time had elapsed, when Mr.. Louis
Clark, reporter of the st. Louis Times,
mounted a chair in the center of the
ring, aud said: "On Mike McCOole's
behalf | claim the battle money. Every
man who bought ticket to the fight will
get his money back"
Mike McCoole next mounted the chair,
and said: "The money will be refunded
to every man who bought ticket for this
fight / claim the battle money. | came
here to fight, and die if necessary. Co.
burn has had himself arrested to get out
of the fight. Ia conclusion, | will say
that this is my last appearance in the
prize ring" His brief speech was re
ceived with vociferous cheers, and all the
Western boys evinced every feeling
of satisfaction that their man had done
his whole duty and acted ON the
square"
The New Workers were very much
crestfallen, and kept mum. 1t was gen.
orally believed that if the fight had &C.
Cured betweeR McCoole and Coburn,
the ring would have been broken into,
and bloody fight resulted. The New
York roughs" courted arrow, and came
very near succeeding several times.
There were over five thousand persons
on the ground, of whom fully two thirds
were thieves, cut throats and pickpockets.
1t is estimated that not less than $50, 900
in money aHd watches were stolen on the
train from Cincinnati, and on the ground.
The pickpockets boldly operated with
hundreds of eyes upon them, but there
were no officers present to arrest them.
The reporters of the press were treated
very shabbily. During the scrub fight
between Mike Coburn and Patsy Shep-
pard, only one, Mr.. Henderson, of the
Cincinnati Commercial, succeeded in
getting to the inner rope, and be thanked
his stars when he got out There was
no accurate report made of this light,
BY mounting boy on the shoulders OF
our friend, Fred. Hunt, of Cincinnati,
we managed to take notes of the last
four rounds from the lads calling. The
members of the press we're unanimous
in their denunciation Of the manage
ment of things about the ring. In short,
there was no management a number
of "brutes" in human shape amused
themselves by batting the heads OF all
who we're so unlucky as to get within
reach of the outer rope. Several men
we're very badly beaten up by these self
constituted guards from New York.
Had a general fight occurred, the New
York "roughs would have been taught
a lesson by the Western boys which
they would be likely to Remember The
confusion and rough and tumble fighting
outside the ring, from IL O'Clock until ;
m, battles all description. At inter.
walls there would be a general stampede,
and the breaking Of wagons, running Of
horses and Generalization Of this mass
of people was frightfuL Ii is only sur
prisiug that no lives were lost -L0sfs- !
Uilie Courier.