New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-29
THE AMERICAN HERCULES.
n Coat that Wouldn't Come Qn. but
Fight that Did.
from the New York SUM-

Some twenty years ago, when muscle
was king in New York. Captain Rynders.
Yankee Sullivan, Tom Hyer, Tom McCann,
Bill Poole, and others of like stamp, with
their followers, controlled the mum cipal
elections. The rule then was to first
strike the politicians and then strike out
among themselves.
The best dressed and smartest fighting
man at that time was Tom McCann. He was
gambler, and his favorite resort was the
Gem, adjoining the old Broadway Theatre.
Tom would walk up to the wall and nip a
fly between his thumb and foreinger nine
times out of tea. He was the hero of
many bar-room fights, and the terror OF
the gamblers.
One night, while McCann was at the
height of his fame, John Morrissey walked
into the Gem. He had thrashed all the
fighting men from Troy to Hudson in
ugh-and-tumbie style, and now came to
beard the tigers in their den. His clear
eyes, round head, broad shoulders and
sturdy limbs at once attracted the atten-
ton of the sports. Johns first words
rallied the boys. The words were: "Come,
let's all take drink" Mccain observ-
ing that Morrissey had money, entered
into conversation with him The talk ended
in a little game being made up. Morris
sey was hail fellow well met with them.
Everything was lovely while his money
lasted. He was soon cleaned out, how
ever, and while smarting under the sUspi-
cion that he had been cheated. he was in
formed that McCann had lad him out with
a ''cold deck" This laid to the most
stubborn fight that ever occurred in
Broadway saloon. The particulars of this
struggle were never before published.
The few fighting men who saw it declare
that it was the prettiest mill they ever
witnessed.
Mccain was down at Florence's, lean
ing against the bar, slipping hot whisky,
when in came Morrissey. Morrissey
looked at Tom a moment and then said:
Hello, pretty, how gay You get your
self up on the money you cheat people out
of. Florence ought to put you IN a vase
and place you over the bar"
"Who says | ever cheated? inquired
Mccain, fiercely.
81 do" replied Morrissey.
"You lie, you country cub. And now
look out, for I'm going to lick you into
shape in just five minutes" said Tom,
placing his glossy tile on the bar.
GAN right, my hearty" replied Nor
risey, proceeding to pull off his coat.
Before Morrissey could get his right
shoulder out Of his coat, McCann was on
him with the spring of leopard, plant
ing lightning blows on Morrisseys face,
breast and ribs. John clenched his teeth
ana tried to free himself from the binding
coat. Mccain knocked him against the
stove; over went the stove and down went
Morrissey on the marble floor. Mccain
pounced on him like wildcat on a pigeon
The blows from his hammer like fists fell
fast and furious on M0rrissey's face, the
back OF his head beating a tattoo on the
marble slabs. An ordinary skull would !
have been crushed Id at once, but not so |
Johns. Morrissey soon changed bis tao
tics. Instead of trying to get off his coat, |
he worked himself into it again. He then |
lay quiet for a few seconds. McCanns |
blows stu fell like hail; he began to think |
that he had knocked about all the life out |
OF Morrissey, and shouted:
'Holler enough or I'll dash your brains
out"
mot just yet, my nosegay," said Nor
rissey, coolly, rolling Tom from him with |
apparent ease, and jumping to his feet.
Tom was up just as quick. At it they
went again. The tide of battle now |
began to change. Tom got in three blows
to Johns one, but Morrissey's were stag
gerers, while McCanns were only en-
liveners. Morrissey's eyes twinkled over
his bloody nose, while McCann's glared |
above the gashes that were opening on his |
cheeks. The floor looked as if a dozen |
boxes of waters had been spilled Oh it.
AT last they went down again, this time |
Morrissey was on top. NcCann soon |
gasped "enough y
Morrissey was now king pin among the |
sports. He had whipped their best man.
They also discovered that he possessed |
three sterling traits-courage, truth and |
generosiiy-rare qualities for man whom
they had looked upon as provincial bully. |
Since that day John has been relied in
rough school, He has never gone back
on his word. Sporting men and politicians
OF all classes, place large sums of money
in his hands, pending the settlement of |
their bets 1t is enough to say that ''the
is in John Morrissey's hand" to
know that the right man will get it.
The American Hercules has now shaken
hands with the Cincinnatus of Chappaqua
over contract to clean out the stables of |
the ring. His muscle has always proved |
in ring encounters; there is now
a chance for his brains.
On the evening of April 1, two Bowdoin>
College students. with blackened faces and
shabby clothes, went through college with
. subscription paper, stating that they were
,ryiDg to obtain the wherewith to return
south. Quite q sum OF money was subscribed
before it was discovered to be an