The New York herald., 1870-01-29
THE PRIZE RING.
rwo Battles Near st. Louis--The Seddons
and Lafferty Fight Nineteen Rounds in
Forty-three Minutes-LafFerty Van
quished-The Carey and Gallagher
Mill-Carey mollshed In
Fourteen Rounds and
Eighteen Minutes-In.
cidents Of the Day.

cIdentS OF the Day.
From the st. Louis Republican, Jan. 2e.l
day the match made about one month since
between George Seddons ana John La1erty. both
as aav.rssdDtae stakes being $500 Side ana ex
curslon money, at catch weights.
The morning opened IKE one OF early spring, and
az early as seven O'Clock the crowd commenced
gathering the foot OF Morgan street, awaiting
the steamer Lady PIKE. which had Deen chartered by
the friends OF the party Tor the occasion. About
eight O'Clock she came steamlng up the river from
the foot OF Plum street, and was greeted with anima
tion by cr0wd OF some ifty or more who Thought
the pnglIsts and friends were safely stored away on
board.
starting aud the crowd gradually increased 10 wit
hess the embarkatlon OF the pleasure excursion
tsts, so called until as the hour arrived there was
promlscuous mass OF people gathered along the
ievee, watching the party as they came struggling
along In twos. nves ana tens ready 10 20 down the
spun,sn George seddons or cice persa There was
vast amount 0l snrmlsng and speculation IN the
crowd as 10 who was who as the men went over the
narrow gangway 60 the steamer, carefully guarded
Dy TWO persons, whose duty consisted simp,y in
taking the three dollar lee for the pleasure excnr-
Hlon or ITS equivalent in the matter OF pink c0ored
tickets. The crowd was OF all grades and nallonali-
Ties gathered together IN that spirit OF morbid
From y to one naadred Of these curostv seexers
the number gradually swced 10 about 1000 as the
signal whistle and the toling OF the bell indicated
the readiness OF the Lady Pike to start. Down close
to the water's edge gathered the crowds. In front
were the advance guard OF metropolitan nfe-the
earnest newsboys and boot blacks. Behind them
there all sorts OF people, for 1t was an eXcur-
sion OF prize fighters and their friends who love such
tnings. Many there were VINO SIMPLY went to tell
those who stayed &C home how the affair was con-
Quoted; how they fought, bled and fell. OF course
those In the crowd along the levee would not go;
tneY did not believe IN patrOnizng such dsgracefui
Anairs; dignity revoted at IT, and, besldes II cost
them three dollars TO patrOnize 1t.
start Or THE FiSTIC EXCURSION.
When the bell toled It's parting there were about
goo on board. Noticeable among them were the
parties IA Chief Lallerty seddons Carey and Gala
gner Then there were as leading spirits Tom Alien,
Mike McCoole, Dick Roche, Billy Carroll, Frank
Currie, AL Smith, OF chicago; Jack Looney, Patsey
Curtin and Pat Hallord, Tom Cary, Nike BecKlln,
Tom Garland ana most or others. "Dead bealing'
was engaged IN as pleasant pastlme as the boat
leaps were made with resemblance Of fare money
In ha d. number were put ashore for want OF The
requisite stamps and guard OF "protectionists''
beat or and, If necessity required kick or
all those whose 'inalienable rights in the
pursuit Of happlness" did not extend 50 far as
PERMISSION on board without the requisite stamps
In one case an over anxious prolectOnist drew bis
revolver and forced ashore some deenceless mortal
only 70 find the party on shore Indignant IN thus
abusing one OF tner party, and rocks, bricks sticks
and indeed anything available came hurting from
eh0reward. Az 6rst II seemed like the fire Oi an ad
vance guard. the IRON shore as the Lady
Pike swung out into the stream met with o CORE
spending retreat from the lower docks AS the poat
awung out about hall her length from the levee the
hurhng OF rocks from shore increased, forcing all
who could into the oest protection available. Thick
and laSter they came upon the decks at the cabin
and haltng down upon the hurricane deck Dis
tance lends an encbantment sOmetlNes TO the
vleW-So the pleasant excursonists thought in this
case as they started. 1be boat left the Home
Guards ON the levee at twenty minutes past ten
4. II.
THE TRIP DOWN THE RIVER.
Inc goo1 steamer Lady Pike Is . comfortable In
atituton; at least 80 1t appeared to the pleasure
party yesterday. Capt. Q. L. Salisbury was in
naand, and he is entltlcd to tue thanks OF the
'peasure party" Tor kind treatment. The boat had
been hired Tor the excursion by DICK Roche, Nike
10 afa
Laherty ana aeddOns. Nike McCoole opened u bar
III Inc cabin. which, though well patronized, bcgot
not 30 much nllscnlef as many were led W suppose.
In state-roOm, about mdships, Was Joan Lalrerty,
under the kind care Of his Trainer, Tom Kelly. He
1t was sImpe-mereIy resting and rubbing the
hands with preparation calculated TO harden
and tOughen them. He appeared cheerful aud con
Gdent. IN the cauln were two banking INSTITUTIONS
one Was known as 'the DanK or chuck-a-luck,''
and the otner similar plan OF losing money,
known as lottery" presided over by the Faklr OF
Ava or &C least one OF them. Around these were
gathered motley crew. These with the bar, were
the only sources OF interest to the pleasure excur-
bow were groups discussing the coming contest and
also the prospects OF cnalces IN the Mace-Allen
"reminiscences to be gathered among that crowd.
They knew 1t ALL Their conversation was enhght-
ening. Down past the city the Lady Pike padded
with her select ana pleasant party. There little
betting on The trip, and there appeared to be put
little money to oner IN all the crowd. watch was
9 curiosity; each seemed to have formed an idea
that the excursl0nists were not all honest men, and
accordingly left their tlnepieces At home. A land
ing was made at CarondeleJ ferry landing at eleven
minutes past ten, ana tnen came on board George
SeddOns with O'Keeie, Of Boston, and Henry Rein.
saeder. Seddons WAS taken cnarge OF by his friend
Tom Allen ana hurreJ INTO comfortable little berth
In the roar OF the oOat lor finishing touches
THE PLEASURE GROUNDS
At a quarter TO twelve O'Clock the party reached
the head OF Carol Island about twelve miles south
OF this city, spot OF San0 and willow growth, said
to contain about $40 acres OF land lD. 1t IL about
one mile long and varying IN width from one rod
half mile. This Island Is under the protection and
laws OF Illinois, and II the State is not proud OF ir 1t
tins apology Tor land is the remnant OF a dlsiery,
where Uncle samuel g alleged 10 have been de-
fauded out OF ms dues ,r me matter OF revenue N
place. About 400 feet back from the steep and
muddy bank was little diapidated and dooriess
Of decay. This was called the old disiillery." IN
front or 1t was what might once have made some
pretensions TO q corn field, somewhat memorable ~
the spot Of ground where our friend Allen was
knocked out OF time IN o little miil' with Charley
Gallagher last summer. Torment the old rookery
the Lady PIKE lanoed, and an exploring party, CON
sisting Of Roche Kelly and friend or SO, went Out
to vlvw the land" ana select site for the "set to
THE GROUND FOR THE RING.
At ten minutes past twelve the exploring party
found the only good camping place for present pur
poses about pistol snot distance from the boat up
stream. on pOrtlon OF q Bandbar, and about 300
teet back fre:n the river, and ten feet above
its present level On the opposite side OF the rIver
and above was plainly IN view the United States
barracks. Around IL was one dense thcket Of young
willows ana brush. Close upon the cast, ana on the
main Island were y number OF TALL trees, whose
limbs, by the way, offered resting place I0r hail
dozen or SO OF free l0okerson at the ring making and
fight. Guards were stationed on the boat 80 as not
to allow the pleasure party" OH until the ring was
formed.
Frank Carey was master Of the ring ceremonies
and nls outfit WAS Immediately brought on shore
and the work OF forming the squared circle" COM
enCed. IL Will be borne IN mind tnat certain estab
lished and recognized rules govern not only the
duct Of brusers" in the ring, but in the formation
OF the ring itself.
II must Dc .wenty-four feet square. Eight large
posts are driven in the ground Lhe four cOrne ones
being twenty-lOur feet aparC each way, and the
other four posts are intermediate aud SIMPLY assist
In sustaining The rope. Tue lower stretched
two feet from the ground The upper rope is still
two feet higher up and intended to roucn under the
shoulder blade. outside OF THESE ropes and about
Six ieet distant come another sec Of ropes between
the two are the privileged paying ana dead head
mankind.
At ten minutes past one, the ring being complete.
announcement was made on board to rnat eject,
willows, hurried the eager pleasure party.' In