The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-02-05
THE PUGILLsTIC TEAlsTER OF
-s-l- 1885,
An Incident OF the French and In
dian War.

! L 1I6Ss
An Incident OF the French and In
dian War.
GFrom c. W. Buttsr6eld'ssnew work. entitled
l7s2"l
Bat the time had now come for another
attempt st the reduction of Fort du
Quespe. The command of the expedition
to effect this was given to Brieadigr-
General Forbes; his arnay TO consist of
regulars and colonial troops. Washin,o-
ten was now commander-in-chiefo Of the
Virgins troops, which were to make a
part Of the army of General Forbes. His
force consisted of two regiments of one
thousand men each-one led by himself.
the other by Col. Byrd Upon the author
lty Of the Governor Of Vireinia. Washfnq
ttn. now promoted Crawford obtafninzfo
hRm the eonmissfoR OF Captain Ihere-
upon Captain Crawford recruited q full
company of hardy stalwart farmers and
hunters, from his own neigbborhood, to
augment the regiment Of Washington, his
friend and beneiactor.
The erendezvousing of Crawford's compa-
ny, preparatory to marching his men 10
joan the force under Washington, disclos-
ed the fact that there was q want of
a
fortunately, however, there happened to
be At the place whsre the company was
encamped, a teamster who had stoppOd to
rest and feed his horses. In such an
emergency, Crawford felt no hesitancy in
pressing the wagner into his service. and
accordingly announced to the stranger his
determination.
The owner Of the team was In no humor
to submit patiently to what he considered
an oppressive act He was alone, in the
midst of q company of men who were rea-
dy and strong enough, at word, to en-
foFce their Captains orders. Remaining
a short time silent, looking sHllenly at the
armed men, as If measuring their strength,
with his own weakness, he finally observ-
ed to Crawford, that it was hard to be
forced into the service against his will ::
that every man ought TO have a fair
chance, and that he was taken at great
disadvantage, inasmuch as the odds against
him we're 90 great as TO deprive him of the
power of selfprotection
-- he thought the Captain was taking ad-
vantage of circumstances, and he would
now make q proposition, which the com
mander certainly was bound IN honor to
aceede to 81 will fight you,S@ said he, cor
any man IN the company. II am whip
ped, 1 will go with you eheerfully. 1fI
conquer, you must let me off," From
what has been Aaid of Captain Crawford's
personal activity and strength, it will not
be q matter ofWonder to learn that the
challenge Of the doughty teamster was at
once accepted. Both began to strip; the
men prepared to form ring, determined
to show falr play, and to see the fun.
- At this molnent, tall young man, who
had lately joined the company, but a
stranger to most of them, and who had
besT leaning carelessly against tree, eve
ing the seeneoWith apparent unconcern.
nov stepped forward and drew Crawford
aside, Captain" said the stranger, "you
must let me fight that fellow, he will whip
yoai : 70 aOiH HeVer DO 10 hare The compcysv
l0htPpeG n A few additional words Of like
import overheard by the men-with, the
cool, collected, and confident manner of
elspeaker-induced them to suggest to
Crawford, that perhaps it G0oilld be pru-
dent to let the atranger try his hand.
The Captain, having done all that policy
required, IN accepting the challenge, suf-
fersa himself to be perbnad6d by his mem
and It Waa agreed that the youth should
be substitutes in Misplace.
BY thls timR the WAGNER was stripped
to the buff and ready Ter the fight. He
was big, muscular, wen filed out. harden
ed by exposure, and an adept in pugilistic
eneoanteTs, His air was cool and profes-
sionkls has mien defiant and oonfdent.-
When the yoHthful-looking stranger.
therefore, walked into the ring, clad in
his loose hunting shirt, and locking slen-
der and little pale, the men had net the
ptmbSt confidence IN his success. How
ever there was fire in his eye; and, as he
threF aside his garments. a astalWart frame
was disclosed Of enormous bones and mus
eles. The spirits Of the company imms-
diatSly revived.
= Preparations being finished the word
was gwen. The youth sPFsng upon his
Antakonist with the agility and ierOoity Of
q tIgbTl The blood followed at every blow
Of his Tremendous fists The contest was
short an decisive The teAmstef was
completely yAnqnished The here Of this,
hls Jffst fight for his oonntTy, Was after
ward Major General Daniel Morgan, Of
Revolutionary fame -