Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-05-14
\ Coat that Wouldn't Come OF; but Fight
that Did.


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 municipal elections The rule
then to strike the politicians and then strike
out among themselves.
The best dressed and smartest lighting man at
one 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 fly between his thumb and
forefnger nine times out of ten. He was hero
of many bar-room fights, and the terror Of the
! gamblers.
One night, while McCann was at the hight of
| his fame, John Morrisey walked into the Gem.
| He had thrashed all the fighting men from Troy
| to Hudson in rough-and- tumble 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 attention of the
sports. Johns first word rallied the boys. The
words "Come let's all take drink"
Mccain, observing that Morrissey had money,
entered into conversation with him. The talk
ended in little game being made up. Norris
sey was hail fellow well met with them Every
thing was lovely while his money lasted He
was soon cleaned out, however, and while smart
! ing under the suspicion that he had been cheated,
| he informed that McCann had laid him out
with "cold deck" This led to the most stub
born fight that ever occurred in a Broadway sa-
loon. The particulars of this struggle were never
before published The few fighting men that saw
it declare that it the prettiest mill they
witnessed.
Mccain was down in Florence's leaning
against the bar, slipping hot whisky, when in
came Morrissey. Morrissey looked at Tom n
moment and then said
" Hello, pretty, how gay you get yourself up
on the money you cheat people out Of Florence
uerhf to mt in a md MIA
the bar"
"Who says that ever cheated2" inquired
McCann fcrcely.
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"
CAN right, my hearty" replied Morrssey,
proceeding to pull off his coat.
Before Morrssey could get his right shoulder
out of his coat McCann on him with the
spring of leopard, planting lightning blows
on Morrissey's face, breast and ribs. John
clenched his teeth and tried to free himself from
the binding coat McCann knocked him against
the stove; over went the stove and down went
Morrissey on the marble floor. McCann pounced
on him like wildcat on a pigeon. The blows
from his hammer-like fist fell fast and furious on
Morrissey's face the back of his head beating a
! tattoo the marble slabs. An ordinary skull
| WOulu nave Deeu CTuSneu III HI once, DuJ not SO
Johns. Morrissey soon changed his tactics.
Instead of trying to get off his coat he worked
himself into it again. He then lay quiet for a
! few seconds. McCann's blows still fell like hail ;
he began to think he had knocked about all the
| life out of Morrissey, and shouted:
| " Holler enough 7 or I'll dash your brains
OUT
/" Not just yet my nosegay,' said Morrssey,
| coony, rolling Tom from him with apparent ease
and jumping to his feet.
| Tom was up just rs quick. At it they went
again. The tide of battle now began to change.
Tom got in three blows to Johns one but Nor
rssey were staggerers, while McCann's were
only eniveners. Morrsseys ewes twinkled
over bis bloody nose, while McCanns glared
above the gashes that were opening above his
cheeks. The floor looked as if a dozen boxes of
waters had been spilled on it. At last they
went down again-ths time Morrissey was on
top. McCann soon gasped "enough p
Morrissey was now king pin among the sports
He had whipped their best man. They also dis
covered that he possessed three sterling traits
courage, truth and generosty-rare qualities for
man whom they had looked upon as proyin-
cal bully.
Since that day John has been refined in a
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 money is in John Nor
rissey's hands, /" to know that the right man will
get it.