Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-02-12


From the N. 7. Sun.
There was match in the Twenty.
second ward to shoot one thousand
mar rbles for $500. The competitors
were the well-known butcher John Nc.
Kewen, and Fritz, the barber. Nc
Kewen weighs $50. He is about five
feet eleven, and before he grew so fat
was one of the best made men ever
seen. He has been an athelete of note
in his day. Fritz is famous German
barber in Seventh avenue, near Flf.
tieth street. They call him Dutch
Fritz. He weighs $50 pounds, is five
feet ten, we'll made, and fine looking.
They are both brunettes, but McKewen
is rosy, while Fritz is pale and sallow.
In spite of his size, McKewen is deci-
dedly the handsomer man.
The match was made in Fritz's shop
early on Monday morning. while Nc
Kewen was being shaved. Fritz's little
ooys were shooting marbles in the
shop, and McKewen, eyeing the sport
while enjoying bis shave. said, Il was
the best marble shot in my day in this
ward.
"I1l bet you weren't any better at
that than l." said Fritz. "No boy
could plump out the taws by the side
of mt"
'sIll bet I could have beat you, ~
said McKewen.
"I'n bet you could not do it now,'
" Whatll you bet Z" said McKewen
Two hundred and fifty dollars -
said Fritz.
Done" said McKewen, and the
details of the match were quickly ar
ranged. It was agreed by their friends
that the two should shoot at 1000 mar
bles, and the man who pumped out
600 marbles first should be declared
the winner.
The news tlew around the neighbcr-
hood, and crowd gathered so rapidly
that 1t was necessary to shut the doors
Of the barbel's shop and admit only q
limited number of spectators. Mr..
Bogert, mutual friend, was referee.
A ring was chalked on the floor, and
the rules of the game were settled.
They tossed penny to decide whether
they should shoot Is marbles at each
inning or 100. Fritz was in favor of
100 marbles. But McKewen's friends
would not agree on account of his size.
So great il his obesity he was obliged
to shoot in peculiar position. Every
time Le stopped to shoot it was nec-
essary for another man to be really
with . chair, (which he placed in front
OF Mckewen to support him, as
he knelt on one knee and sent
his alley spinning over five yards at
the taws in the ring. The penny came
down for Is shots to the inning, and
McKewen's hackers began to book their
bets. Another toss decided that he
should have the first shot, and the
betting on him was 100 to 80. Nc
Kewen led of, shooting at his Is mar
bles, hitting 10 and missing Is, which
were scored to him. Fritz followed,
hitting 6 and missing II. Bets on Nc
Kewen rose, 125 to Is. The next round
McKewen was not 30 skillful. perhaps
too much elated, striking 13 marbles
out OF the ring. Fritz was more care
full, aud plumned out "a. This sent the
betting up 2 to in the Dutchman's q
favor. The game continued with varied
success, sometimes one being the ia
vOrite, and sometimes the other, until
the expiration of half the score, with
Fritz ahead 10 marbles. Time, 8 hours
and 40 minutes, and both men exhaust
ed. They took an hour for rest and
refreshments.
When the men appeared in the room
for the second inning, much to the sur
prise of all, McKewen looked as fresh
as q rose and calm and cool as q May
morning. Fritz looked little too ex.
cited for the knowing ones. McKewen
led of, hitting IL, missing 16. The
sturdy German followed, reducing his
score by hitting Z and missing 1S. The
scores varied, tut the advantage was
clearly on the fat mans side as the
game progressed. The butcher won
by bis greater power of endurance.
Fritz became so thoroughly exhausted
by the seventh hour that 1t was neces-
sary to give him strong stimulants.
McKewen took pure water. Both men
suffered, but were game to the last.
When nine hours had elapsed NcKewen
was 100 marbles ahead, and in 81 min
utes and 35 seconds more the referee
decided that the game was finished by
the fat mans having scored 600. Fritz's
score stood 469, making McKewen the
winner by 131 marbles, amid the tu-
multuous applause of all, even the
DutChmAn'S hackers.