New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-25

two ridges OF wooded hills? 1t was Col
lieT's station. 1t was a little shanty standing
in front Of a small white house, tIanked by
a hen coop and a pig pen. As the party
alighted from the cars, they stood by the
side of little brook tringed with fragrant
wild peppermint, halt OF the party began
to browse upon the shrub, for many of
them had nothing to eat since the previous
evening. O'Baldwin alghted on the right
Of the cars. and Jimmy moved under the
shade Of a thrifty poplar tree which over
hung a shallow brook After a few seconds
he moved back to an implanted frame
house in the rear of the depot, where he
drew On his tights and stockings. Mace
cOOlly sauntered to a tree near where the
stakes and ropes had been thrown, and sat
down among his party and sponges. Mean
while q tape was run along the ground,
forming in a ring twenty-fOur feet square.
The turf was very hard; the recent rain
had not evidently reached West Virginia.
1t was found necessary to cut hole IN the
ground with an old ak to start the stakes.
When the points of the stakes were being
placed in, a sturdy lover of the manly art
mounted an old rotten stump which was
lying loose on the ground, and with an i'm
mense blacksmith hammer drove the stakes
solid into the ground.
At twenty-five minutes past six, New
York time the ring was announced as
DlJCucti. Mace SIlll sal ulutI lis Tree Dut
O'Baldwin remained at the house, from
which the friends of Mace argued that he
was Sinking the fight. Harry Hill then
went up TO the house to see him, and
O'Baldwin promptly responded. Mean
time, the trouble of the day, the appoint
ment of a referee, began. COburn and
Barney Aaron. Mace's seconds, repeatedly
proposed referees, but they were repeatedly
rebuffed 10y Tom Kelley and DWycr, who
represented O'Baldwin hackers. The chin
music grew strong, and Oaths few about
like hail, and it was evident there was
storm brewing. Meanwhile loud shouts
from the spectators again announced that
the ring was ready for the comhatants.
Mace arose in his under,sEirt, pantaiOOns
and stockings, first walked to the ring and
SHE'D his castor in, he followed it midst
loud cheers, and took his seat on a camp
stool in one corner. Mace entered the ring
at precisely Twenty-Five miputes past six,
New York time. One minute later O Bald
win tossed his fur cap into the ring and
passed under the ropes, saIuted with a
round of cheers. He was arraved in
tights, with a green stripe up the
lower part Of the legs. He wore shoes with
the usual long nails in the soles. He still
kept on his velvet coat, and replaced
his cap after bowling to the responses Of his
friends; he seated himself in the corner Op-
pOsite Mace Barney Aaron then produced
copper and Johnny Dwyer proceeded to
toss up for choice Of corners The penny
was tipped into the air and fell to the
earth. Barney cried heads, and stopping
down shouted in a gleeful voice, Heads it
is, by the holy pOlkeF.' Dwver assented.
(Which corner will you have, old man 2"
Mace answered, 'Well, this suits as well as
any" AS DOOney Harris banded Mace his
shoes, he laid them on his lap and then
shouted to O'Baldwin, Il want to see your
shoes; hold them up" O'Baldwin raised
one OF his big feet, replying, There they
are; look at them" Mace answered, Il
want to see the bottoms of them: here are
mine; I'll send them to YOU Mace's shoes
were then handed to O'BaIdwin, who look
ed at them and held his own brOgaus uD for
inspection. The nails were found TO be too
long and too sharp. ThereupOn Barney
Aaron shouted, who's got file :" A queer
looking genius responded in the atfiIna-
tive. O'Baldwin's shoes were handed to
him, with the orders to shorten the
nails to the size of the nails in Mace's shoes.
The queer-lOOking genius produced PEN
knife with tnger-ftting blade and went
to work upon the nails with tie air of d
machinist Shouts Of laughter greeted his
efforts. Barney Aaron then handed him
long, flat stone and told him to 20 to work
with that. The sandstone was found to be
ltl5U ILlG lulugs Al Ten minutes - DdluWll
tabs were reduced to the regulation size and
returned to their owner. Meanwhile the
crowd gathered about the ropes. There were
not over $50 present, and of these not one in
twenty-five ever saw a pTiZe-tght. The
shades of night were already falling and
the last rays Of the sun were gliding the
tops Of the naples and poplars OvershOw-
ing the ring Carriages by the score began
to pour in from the country. The men had
hon Flvra y,F Il l. I'll,
fight, when the interminable Ginning about
the referee again began. 1t brokeout as fol
lows:
Kelly to Barney Aaron-Don't you
know somebody who will act right
A voice-Gamble. OF Raltimorc.is another,
but l went and asked him as a special favor
to act, but he will not.
A vOice-GO and ask him again.
Kelly-Yes, ask him. There won't be
any fight unless he does act.
Aaron-There is enough here that Will do
it.
Kelly-But we want to have somebody
that understands it.
Well, hurry up, for there may be some
interference. The police may be down.
We want TO see fight: that's what we
came for
James Coburn and James Lewis pro-
posed Pick a referee out yourself, if YOU
proposed; Mr.. Tracy proposed; Kelly Oh
jected to Tracy; Jim Williams proposed;
Mr.. Gordon proposed, also johnny O'Neal
as good as any one. Mr.. Walker also
said: I'VE want good man, who knows
the rules. The Alderman proposed said
Excuse me gents, / can not act. Take
John Oveit; he is an old sport, and under
stands everything" " VIII you take John
LeaTy! ~ No, we won't have him"
" Them I'm done" said Aaron. " He calls
for all kinds of men, and they don't know
anything about prize fighting
Kelly said he was anxious to see fight
but would not accept one who knows moth
ing about fighting. Let both Hughes and
O'LeaTy act This was received with APP
plause from the crowd. Harry HiII pro
posed Kelly, but they wont accept him.
Mace stepped forward and said: Gen
tlemen, you know me well. l have been
fighting for twenty-five years, and when |
60 to fight l want a square tight. / want to
fight now with Mr.. 'Baldwin-have mat
ters settled between him and me. This is
my last fight, and | want 20 have good,
square, honest man as referee
O'Baldwin answered: Il expect yOu all
know me and Mace, and ! know what his
fighting prOpensities are. l fought him
twice. l told Tom Kelly and Jim Dwyer
that we would come in alive, and we came.
All / want is what is fair"
O'Baldwin said he wanted to fight any
way. He did not want to place himself in
an equiy0cal position. Then followed more
discussion in regard to a referee. amid the |
curses and wrangling Of the crowd. Mace !
accused O'Baldwin of wanting to 90 of |
with the money without fighting for it.
The men continued to dispute until dark |
ness fell, and then Mace and OBaldwin re- |
sumed their ordinary dress and the party |
betDOk themselves to the train.
john Cleary, of Philadelphia, is response |