Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-24


: fecting his purpose. He could no
| "call him out" 1t was generally con.
coded that my grandfather had fairl,
7 Won his bride, and deserved to enjoy
; his happiness without molestation OF
, that account. A cartel, therefore,
, would have evoked universal reproba
| ton against the sender, and was not Il
be thought of. Mr.. Gregg determined
, then, to bide his time. He felt that hi.
J vengeful purpose would lose nothing
by little keeping and he was conf
dent that the usages of the day would
soon provide him with a fair opportuni
} ly of meeting his foe sword to sword
as became man of honor. Nor was ht
disappointed.
In that old time fair was the chosen
scene of Irish revelry and riot. About
three months after the elopement came
the fair of M. 1t was the resort Of
all classes for miles round, and never
had it been known to close without one
or more murderous ARRAYS, some OF
which occasionally attained the dimen.
sions of a serious combat. My grand.
father determined to attend the fair,
and so did his foe. There was no COM
munication between them on this point.
Each was assured of meeting the other
there, longed indeed to do so, and
made his arrangements accordingly.
No secret was made OF the purpose on
either side; for weeks before it was
generally anticipated that this particu-
lar fair would be enlivened by a
drawn battle between the Grants and
the Greggs.
The day came and the fair was
crowded, many attracted thither by the
hope of "seeing the fun" About
noon the rivals, each with formidable
band at his back, met in the middle of
the High street, and instantly assailed
one another. Their partisans initiated
their example with equal good will :;
the gentlemen among them drawing
their swords, and the plebeians handling
their cudgels. Nor was the fray con-
fined to the factions. The very few
peace-lovers present in tie crowded
town vanished on the first indication of
riot. Of the multitude that remained.
every one loved row for its own sake.
and most of them nourished
private grievances, for the graf
fered irresistible temptations. Those
who had weapons at hand plunged at
once into the fray, and those who had
not these indispensables fastened to
improvise them. Some did so by
smashing the chairs In the tap-rooms
appropriating their legs. Others fitted
themselves for combat by breaking the
poles of tent and stall into handy
lengths. Both proceedings CT course
begot a series of by-quarrels, which
added much to the uproar. The last
was tremendous. 1t was a scene of
widest confusion. The air vibrated
with one incessant, ear-piercing veil.
There were solid masses of men surg
ing to and fro. A sea of heads and
forest of sticks, with here and there a
flashing blade, was all that could be
seen from the windows. Sometimes
vigorous charge of the Grants rolled
the conflict to the southern extremity
OF the long High street, while the foe
went down before them by dozens, to
be trampled upon by the roaring tide of |
combatants. Here the Grants would |
scatter some rushing eagerly forward |
In pursuit and others spent, pausing to-
take breath. Then the Greggs would |
rally, close their ranks, and, charging |
again In one dense mass, sweep the |
town in precisely similar fashion.
At times the main conflict would |
subslde In order that ample space and
verge enough" might be given to the
struggle between two redoubtable
champions. This being decided, the
mobs would close again with redoubled
fury, and so the fight rolled on.
My grandfather and his antagonist
had exchanged but a few passes ere
they were hurled asunder by the tor
rent of their partisans. Nor was it
until near An hour had passed that they
encountered again. By this time the
majority of the rioters was nearly worn
put, and the chiefs, therefore, were
allowed to fight out their particular
quarrel to the end. Their adherents
gathered round them in a ring, en-
,ouraging them by their cheers of APP
prevail at every dexterous parry, home
thrust, or skiilful cut. have already
described my grandfather. His anita
yonist was much taller, over six feet.
md large, heavy man to boot. Both
we're sklllful swordsmen, and both as
,rave as men could be. The contest
vas an obstinate one; but Gregg was
'vermatched from the first. He carried
more flesh than a man should do who
las to battle for his life, while constant
xercise had rendered my grandfather
s tough as steel in every muscle. The
after, too, was renowned for immense
ength of arm. The fight, however.
lid not 60 altogether in his favor. By I
ONE means slash reached the little ,
niger of his sword-hand and divided {
be bone. 1t hung not only useless, i
nut seriously impeded the management i
+ his weapon. Taking advantage of a
ush that interrupted the struggle for G
moment, he wrung the finger off and {
nrned again on his foe The latter q
TODD up TO his man with determined q
ardihood, until he was literally slash 9
q to pieces. He fell at last through
heer exhaustion. r
The general fight was then resumed. G
ut the Greggs were dispirited by the Il
all OF their chief, and, after a short b
truggle, we're driven from the town.
hen took place tolerable amount of
hat he natives of the Green Island
sed to term "rim-wrackin'." That is g
say, the victors assailed such dwell a
lgs OF their OppOnanfc 90 happonod 70 I