The Van Buren press., 1873-04-01
A REMARKABLE DOG FIGHT.
Uncle Johns Defeats and Final Revenge

A Nashville correspondent OF the Lou
isville Couricr-JournsI is Responsible for
the following account Of dog fight,
which he is pleased to call the most re.
narkablc that ever occurred in Tcnnes
see: There is at the present writing a
mcmber Of the House whose father was
rs renowned in his day and way, as the
far famed Davy Crockett, Of pleasant
memory. We will call him Uncle
John Uncle John lived and moved
in these parts forty years ago. Cards,
and rAce horses, and dog fights were his
chief delight. Few men could beat him
at a game OF old sledge His horses
had lightning in their heels; while his
dogs (bull dogs and fighting dogs were
fashionable in thOs' days-thsy were the
genuine "dog days carried tho swift
arrows of death in their bristling fang'
But it is seldom given unto one man to
excel in three pursuits at one tiior and in
all Places However, in respect OF cards,
horses and dogs, Uuca John had never
met his match until the fatss took him TO
Sparta, then as now, hourishing little
village in White county. Even there he
beat everything in sight as far as his
cards and horses were concerned, but his
dogs were badly worstsd. The spartan
inn keeper had the king dog of all his
tribe-a feroeious "bull that "chawsd
up and spit out" every thing that came
along Uncle John put up fifty dollars
in specie on bis own "Tige." but If rige
had gone through Cincinnati sausage
grinder he could scarcely have looked
more ragged than he did when he came
cut As went the first. 80 followed the
second, faster and faster, till it seemed
unmercfu disaster had ovsrtaksn Uncle
John in the dog line at last. He travel
ed many weary miles in search Of q log
that could whip that tavern keepers dog,
but all to no purpose. Ha was losing
his money fast, and, worse than all. ho
was losing his temper and his patience.
Faith in the motto "try, try again y had
almost deserted him. He went out on
what he avowed was his last hunt, and
was nearing Sparta on his return late one
afternoon, gloomy and detected, for he
hadn found tha right animal yet, when.
as good luck would have it, just rs no
got within few miles of that inn which
had besn the scene of so many disgrace
ful defeats, he met a absckwoodsman driv.
ing an OK team with n great. vicious
looking wolf chained behind the wa-on.
lie was not long asccrtaning that the
wolf was no wild and as savage n a hye-
ma that he had but Nh hour before been
caught in trap, aud that his owner could
be induced to part with him for q valua
ble consideration.
"Ill give y0n two dollars and half
in hard money for tho crittcr," propss.
cd Uncle John
mot enough yet, said backwoeds.
"Wcll. said Uncle John finally, iii
you'll just help me strap him l'rhiDd my
saddle and'll take five dollars, ms a
trade. "
And they traded. "If don't whip
that Id tavern keepers dog this time."
mut,ered Uncle John to himself as he
drew toward Sparta, "he may take my
hat for n corn basket "
As it was quite dark when our hero
reached the inn. ne cautiously unstrap
ped the terrible beast, and pitching him
into a deserted out house which. fortun.
atsly. stood hard by, and fastening him
in securely, entered the hotel " 81
think I've found = dog that can chaw
your'u up this time" remarked Uncle
John to the major domo, after passing
through the usual situations.
"Ysu really think you've found him at
last, do you?" ehuekled the master Of
the king Of dogs, and tipping a sly wink
at the crowd "Wcll. what do you say
to lettn' 'em together in the morning3'
"All right, said Uncle John. I'm
bound to be off home mighty airly in the
motnin', but II you'l be ready directly
after breakfast, | won't mind givin you
enc more turn. anyhow.
The rumor soon spread through the
village Of Sparta 'hst great dog fight
was to come of next day by sunrise, and
tn. whole vicinity was on the qui uire.
Our hero explained that his dog was 50
r,grus that be was compelled 10 keep him
closely confined. Blamed" said hs,