The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-27


feuds from generation to generation, and
vary the even course of stealing their neigh
bors' cattle with robust and refreshing
habit of breaking each other heads. Tragedy
laDguishes because such bloody quarrels
as those of the Montagues and Oapulets
are supposed to have no parallel and
history, even, loses half its fascination
because we have no more Guelphs and Ghib-
belines to give touch of sanguinary
personal hatred to the affairs of nations aud
empires. On the principle that living dog
is better than dead lion, we fail to see any
good reason why the modern ruffian may not
yield poetic suggestion MS well as the ancient
mcss-trooper and noble or royal swash-
bucklers. What, for example, could be more
replete with materials for a ballad-writer or
dramatist than the progress and termination
of the great feud between Jim Haggerty
and "Reddy the Blacksmith" Two rival
cities trained the pair, and sent them
forth as challenge to the world
to show scoundrels of deeper dye.
Philadelphia, however, failed to ap-
preciate her favored son, and, like an un-
gracious step-dame, sent him adrift in
world that was hardly prepared to welcome
him. In New York he found at length con-
ISOLATION for the ingratitude of his own fell
low-citizens. There he had but one stead
fast friend in the city government; here he
soon discovered he might easily find good
many; there the policemen were not afraid
to arrest him when the occasion presented;
here he was regarded with impressive awe by
the force, and treated with that considera-
ton and respect which his versatile talents
deserved.
There was but one man wh o ventured to
dispute his supremacy when it pleased him to
sally forth of an evening, attended by his
admiring and faithful henchmen. If New
York was not jealous at seeing her own
ruffians excelled in their own especial walk,
William Varley, alias "Reddy the Black
smith, certainly was. He felt that the blue
ribbon of pure rascality was in danger of
being snatched from Manhattan, and SO,
having an unquestionable right to become
its champion, he meditated mischief to the
young Philadelphia. The smouldering feud
burst into flame some months ago, when,
after days conviviality, the two doughty
champions had a battle royal amid the
congenial surroundings of a Broadway
saloon. On that memorable occasion, the
bold representative of the City of Brotherly
Love had recourse to what may be termed
his "swashing blow, and which consisted of
getting an opponents head in chan oery-j. g.,
under his ARMAND then and there pummel
ing it very badly with a decanter. Haggerty.
being either too useful q character to be
locked up before an election, or his capture
being too dangerous an achievement for the
| police, was allowed to enjoy unmolested all
the honors of victory. 1t is impossible to
say how soon he might have become a Com
mon Councilman, or even a Sheriff, had not
the untoward accident of Tuesday night
brought his career to a beautiful termi-
nation. ''Reddy" doubtless suffered some
what in reputation from his inglorious de-
feat, but he appears to have borne it phlo-
sophically, sustained by the certainty that his
opportunity for retrieving it would in due
course occur. On Tuesday Haggerty had
been bracing constitution already showing
signs of wear, with the natural stimulant of
sleighing and the artificial one of numerous
drinks. Attended by his customary body
guard he had entered on the series of nightly
prowlings, which is familiarly termed being
on the rampage" To a man who valued
decanters as much for being handy weapons
of offense as for holding his favorite liquor, a
saloon was likely to bring suggestions of
fight. Accordingly we find that on the even
ing in question Haggerty's progress was plea
sanity varied by hard drinking aud heavy
fighting. He had already achieved another
victory over his friends, the police, when in
the full tide of elation, following day well
spent, he entered the friendly shades of Pat
Egan' saloon, and basked in the admiration
of a select circle of admirers.
Next to being in fight himself, Haggertys
dearest delight was to see some other body
so engaged. Accordingly, when two lesser
ruffians came to high words on the great ques-
tion of whether Mace or Heenan was the
greater pugilist, Haggerty felt that it was
due both to the place, the company, and the
subject, that the disputants should settle it
by blackening each others eyes. The pro-
prietor of the saloon appears to have had
some base prudential considerations to urge
on the subject, but he was Immediately over
ruled, and the doors were shat as reli-
giously as if the cellar had been Free
mason's lodge and Haggerty Worshipful
Grand Master. At the critical mo-
ment ''Reddy the Blacksmith" appears
like Ben0OltO among the servants of the rival
houses of Verona, and attempts to drag off
one of the chief actors in the fight. This
was more than the imperial Haggerty could
stand, and after scornfully reminding the
other of his previous experience under SINH
lar circumstances, was preparing, by a move
towards the decanters to administer once
more his ''swashing blow" Warned by ex-
perience, the wary ''Reddy" finished with his
pistol the career of rival who would, doubt
| less, have conferred a similar favor upon
society had he been allowed few minutes
longer to do so. The world is well rid of
such man. We cannot affect to regret the
result of this row; if the law will not take off
the rogues we suppose they must be left to
finish each other like the Kilkenny cats.