The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-27
LIQUORIHG UP FOR THE OCCASION,
A Midnight Ride Over Sandy Roads,
with Mosquitoes and Dust.
FOREsTALLED BY THE BROOKLYN POLICE.
seddons. His Backer, II liner and Second, Hooked
and Crooked and he Great Clambaks
Of the Season Postponed to
More Convenient Time.

Ministers, doctors, newspaper men and other
professional persons are compelled by their calling
to make strange acquaintance and to mingle IN
every form and phase OF society. The disreputabie
as well as the reputable must be met and treated
courteously or otherwise by EACH None but the
news gatherers. however. mingle 80 frequently
with the extremes of society. Their business
brings them in contact with the most brutal and
bestlal OF the race, well as the most refined and
cultured. They bring their news from far and
near, and the reader scarcely ever kens the pain
or pleasure experienced In the harvesting or the
news which his daily morning paper brings to his
breakfast table.
was the writer's fortune for good or ILL., to fol-
low party which ON Friday night left this city
stealthily and unnoticed to engage In o violation
of the laws OF the State of New York. Arthur
Chambers and George Seddons we're, according to
previous agreement. to meet in some retired spot
OF Far Rockaway and to pummel away at each
others head, face and body until one or the other
should cry "Hold, enougnl" Then the victor was
to receive the applause OF his friends and be by
them dubbed the champion light weight boxer OF
America-an honor, or course greatly to be coveted
and longed for, but which lew men would dare to
attempt to wrest from the successful pugilist.
THE FIGHT FIzzLED,
however, and one of the principals became o
prisoner in the hands Of the Brooklyn police, no
doubt greatly to his own If not to others relief.
The business, being illegal, was kept profound
secret, 1t was supposed to be, 80 that only few
OF the very knowing ones had any conception at
nine O'Clock on Friday night where the tight or dz
zle was to take place. At halfpast nine O'Clock,
however, note was left In the HERALD police bu-
reau, in Mulberry street, advising the interested
kO hocfo hu noNhh n a
drinking shop in Canal street, corner Of Hudson
street, where the mystery was to be unravelled.
Thither we wendell our way, and, with the aid of q
sprightly pair OF horses and carriage and an oblg-
ing Jehu, we arrived at the rendezvous in brief
time. But there were half dozen other rendez-
vouses beside Tom Smiths and each one had its own
party to attend to. Carriages were coming and
going for two hours, some stopping north or south
Of the place indeaed hating the opposite side
Of the street. Square-headed short-haired, heavy
mustached or clean-shaven men stepped out OF
the coaches and into the rum shop, and for two
hours alcohol was allowed tree scope to develop
the beastliness which lurked within these human
beings.
A LONG NIaHT AND DARK tEsD
were before them, and good supply 81 this po-
tent agent OF crime was absolutely necessary for
the journey. At ten minutes to midnight the nnys-
Canal and Hudson street, In coaches and headed
for Broadway, down which we cantered by way Of
Fulton street to Fulton ferry. A brief stay was
made at the corner OF Fulton and South streets to
liquor up again and to make sure Of q bottle or
two for the night. While waiting there and on the
ferryboat after ascertaining the route to be trav
eled and the distance by the same (twenty -one
miles), we composed ourselves for little nap dur
ing our silent ride OF four or more hours. But
''natures sweet restorer" was evidently ill-pleased
with our mission and refused to restore, and our
eyes had to gaze nthe darkness and the waving
trees and heritage by which we passed until day
light, bright and beautiful. broke on our vision.
1t was half-past twelve O'Clock midnight as we
slowly along o n
our carriages drew up at liquor shop, yclept hotel
at East New York. There our ardor received
damper which might have caused hearts less
strong and weaker nerves than ours to quake and
and refresh mine host informed US that fourteen
carriages had passed that way since midnight, and
that at least six OF them were filled with policemen
from Brooklyn. Cool calculations were then made
as to the number Of blue coats that might have
passed along in those six carriages Our arithme-
ana one on the boz with the driver, multiplied by
me number Of carriages would ,1 make Thirty. thirty.
that handful" But the sequel tod the s mistake
Another OF the wise ones did not believe any po-
too profoundly secret to set to the ears Of the pc.
lice; while still another could not conceive by
what authority the police force Of one county
could 60 into another county to make arrests and
ne did not believe they would. "And YET" added
another speaker, "they do such things. and there's
the rub." However darkening the prospect might
appear, we determined to continue our journey.
We mad gone too far now and the expedition had
cost too much alresdy to think Of IT,, t.rning back:
York behind US and still there was ride OF four
teen and half miles before us, according to our
place our party took the precaution to pick up
guide who was supposed TO, be thoroughly CONVEX
with az sss sS ri and BY
THE PUaILIsrS PICKET GUARD.
The original intention Of our party was to follow
that route. But after we had gone some distance
toward that point We met picket guard stationed
By our pugilistc general to warn al midnight trav
and order had gone thither and we had better take
another route, along which we weve directed. Our
dence OF this move for the poce had also picSeted
the entire road from the junction OF the Jamaica
Ransroad With the other nshw clear TO the y
therefore an absolute necessity unless we were
willing to turn back when the goal, not the prize
tnghtl, seemed almost within our reach. we were
all utter strangers to the new route save the guide
whom We had picked up at East New York II was
@ % ae ocse
to these. we turned and twisted and doubled and
rounded capes nnumerable, and dozen different
titueS ~ iOoSs We IHOukub We SVu.u uASooAh sAo
white-crested waves and the glittering sands upon
the beach. But ever and anon we were as distant
from the desired spot and near our place OF start
ing apparently as when we set out two or three
hours before. At length
THE DAY DAMNED
and we began to take Q reckoning. Only one man
OF our company of fifteen or twenty had a watch
with him. The rest OF US who had ever had watches
had conveniently forgotten them and, In orr haste
to get on had also neglected TO insert our diamond
shirtstuds and emerald sleeve buttons. The atten-
ton OF our whilom friends would not be likely.
therefore, to be diverted BY our glittering gew-
gaws from the great business In hand The tedious
hours OF the lonely night were enlivened by tales
OF battles fought and victories won In the prize
ring IN days and years gone BY. The ludicrous
plight IN which some members OF our party lound
themselves on memorable occasion not long ago,
when Mace ana Coburn's friends, numbering three
or four hundred, were arrested In Milford and
taken to New Haven, where, to
THE MUSIC OF ''rHB ROGUR's MARCH,
or some other appropriate air. they paraded the
streets OF that city. and ere they LEFT It's classic
shades gave q liberal. though compulsory, dona-
ton toward liquidating the debt OF the city, was
told, with q relish OF sarcastic humor IN IT. And
n tadiuun nj night me09ur8Dlv