American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-21
Great Baggage-Smashing Contest for
the Championship of the
United States.

Fourth street, near Pine, was yesterday
the scene of an exciting contest which
has for some time past caused much spec
ulatiOn and anticipation in railroad cir
cles. This was the match for 5000 side
and the champions check, between Ed.
Barclay (the champion) of the Chicago Il
Alton Railroad, and John C McFall, bet
ter known as Mac" of the Nandalia line,
ten single rises, each man to furnish for
the other, American rules to govern.
The championship commended for yes
terday was established at indianapolis in
August, 1872, when Pete Hargrave, of the
Kankakee line, won, defeating Doc. Mer-
rill CTerre Haute), Herb. Hayes c'Bee''
line, and several minor aspirants. Poor
Pete was one of the mildestmannered
baggagemen that ever burst trunk or
swung "a lamp, and is immortalized in
the poem beginning:
= Pete was tip-top baggage man and ran on
Ability and ambition were in his case,
Joined, alas with too great sensitiveness,
frequently found in artistic temperaments,
which is at once their characteristic and
their curse In an unfortunate hour he,
as It were, rushed upon the bosses of
omnipotenCe' and grappled with two
story high-stoop Saratoga, which required
the services of at least two or
binary men satisfactorily to
smash. His comparative failure-for
he only STAYED in one side and hardly
started any of the screws more than an
inch-was witnessed by some Jealous
rivals and reported throughout the fra
terniiy with undue eXaggerations. Pete
laid the untoward circumstances unduy
to heart, and sickened visibly, refused
food, even at retreshment rooms where
fifteen minutes were allowed and his face
Of
his former self While thus enfeebled he
fell "A victim to misplaced confidence in
small, solid sole leather travelling bag
Through check, 10 917 AZ, which, rs he
aiterward remarked, "a baby could have
burst easy enough" He endeavorcd to
pull it asunder as usual, while standing
before the door, but the bag had been
carclessly locked, and yielded with uneX-
pectcd facility, and Pete lost his balance,
and passed head over heels from No. four
into II blissful eternity. Though he struck
upon his head, he was instantly killed.
His loss was the travelling public's eternal
gain. The championship check, by Petcs
death, descended to Ed. Barclay, whose
challenge was pending at the time, and
has remained in his possession ever
since, til Johnny McFall, II smasher of
some local reputc, put up a forfeit, winch
was promptly covered This led 20 yes
terday's match.
Barclay is about thirty two years of age,
stands five feet six and quarter inches,
and weighs, with his coat off and the
peak of his cap turned up, 19l pounds.
He measures ioriy-three and IA halt inches
round the shoulders and siXty-two inches
about two feet nearer the floor of the car.
He Is not graceful in his work. but is re
markably effective, and when he runs
on the day express going north, can leave
on every platform from Venice To Bridge
port than any other man of his weight.
He receives "A pension of $3.50 yearly from
the 81. Louis Trunkmakers' Protective
aud Benevolent Association, and never
yet was known TO see trunk which he