Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-03-17
DuDUQUE. March IA.

EDITOR BULLETIN:-A stormy
March has stolen in upon us, and,
at this date, We arc having a letting
down of rain from the tcmpestuous
spring clouds, with an accompani-
ment Of thunder and lightning.
There is q prospect for a wet
spring.
About two weeks ago the Father
of Waters very quietly rid himself
of the ice-fetters which had bound
him, the greater portion of ice pass
ing out between two days, leaving
the river clear for navigation. The
first steamer of the season, the Sa-
vana, arrived last Sunday, and left
for down river the same day, bear
ing heavy cargo of wheat, -four,
and mineral, taken on at this point.
The opening of the Mississippi has
put an energy into every branch of
industry, and Dubuque is all life
and activity.
Another thing which has contrib
uted to the enlivenment of our city
for the last month, was the O'Con-
nor-Carr match in the prize ring,
which came to finale yesterday,
resulting in a draw between the
contestants. The fight took place
at point about three miles above
the city, on the Wisconsin shore of
the Mississippi, which was reached
on the steamer Charley Rogers,
chartered for the OCCASION; the ex-
cursionists paying So per ticket for
passage to and fro. The levee was
crowded at an early hour, with those
wishing to join the excursion up
river for the fight, but the boat did
not leave until 10 A. NJ, when she
left taking about $50 excul sionists,
and landing them safely at their
destination. The men were in the
ring at 3:l5 P. NJ, fighting 81
rounds in two hours and half, with
the above result. The fight looks a
good deal like sham, the whole,
from beginning to end, being SER
les of counter-hitting and dropping;
there was no heavy fighting done,
and both men escaped with little
punishment, although Red Handed
Mike is undoubtedly the best man.
Thus these pugilistic gentlemen
saved themselves and good many
others financially, and gain little
on the excursion money, which is
divided equally between them.
O'Connor and Carr were seen on
the streets and in the saloons to-
gether after the fight, seeming to be
friendly enough, taking their egg
nogg and whisky-straight with evil
ident satisfaction, and after the alb
stinencc required Of them during
their training for the fight, could
not withstand the temptation of get
ting on drunk. O'Connor intends
to give sparring exhibitions in Du-
buque for a while before starting on
a travelling tour.
Dubuque is gaining an unenviablc
reputation as the hcad-centrc of the
sports in the Northwest, and what
makes it worse than all is that ev-
crybody is agape with curiosity to
pry into their doings. The advent
of Danny Carr, Jerry Donovan,
and numerous other leading Chica-
60 sports in Dubuque, has also
brought delegation of roughs and
select men in the fine art of pugilism.
Every one is determined to learn
the manly art of self defense, so as
to be prepared for any emergency
in life's devious way, wherein their
'muggs," snuff-tanks," or "peepers"
may be endangered. The youthful
members Of the community are not
behind their seniors in this ambi-
ton, which if it continues will &C
| tually compel every parent to be
proficient in the art if he would con-
troll his darling. Sonny goes to see
Red Handed Mixes sparring cxhi-
bition, gets practice among his
mates, and goes home and tells Dad
not to give him any of his Slip or
he will show him little science"
|Tad, probably being a common
plodding man of few points, feels a
little delicate about initiating Sonny
under the circumstances, who prob
ably informs him that he intends
making a tour on his muscle, and
that GIN foreign climes you'll find
no change in me-" "Not even five
cents, I presume" responds Dad,
and tells him depart in peace.
Cock-fghts, and dog-fights also, are
now on the lists, with full attendance
and fine returns. Paddy Sutton
gave a cock-fght at his ranch, the
evening after the prize-fght, which
we learn was well patronized; we
did not attend ourselves, as the
company and proceedings were al
together too select for people of
weak nerves and fine sensibilities.
The city authorities do not seem at
all concerned at these proceedings,
but, on the contrary, rather wink at
them, which may be accounted for
by the fact that the city election is
drawino near And. before IOnr. il