The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-28

ties, and not because the present genera
tion has lost any Of its better nature.
Men in those days had their difficult
ves az we'll as now, and they had their
peculiar way Of settling them; but upon
the whole they had less backbiting and
striking in the dark. As have before
mentioned, there we're stated times for
difficulties TO be settled, and they were
usually settled by fsticuf upon some
public occasion. Brute force was the
law that was to determine the Justice or
injustice Of Misunderstanding, and he
who was able to give his antagonist the
blackest eye, or the worst bruised nose,
or could peal more epidermis from his
face, was considered in the right, and
the vanquishsd generally SO construed
the result, unless he or his friends were
impressed that some "foup had been
praciiced in the contest. When man
felt himself'wbipped," that was usually |
the end Of the strife, and it was seldom |
known that an individual world seek
private revenge or act the part Of the
midnight assassin TO get even with the
victor.
The times usually selected as "the
court Of settlement were "big muster"
and the "4th Of July" All the quarrels
that sprang up in the county were de-
fsrred for adjudication on those eventful
days. / have seen dozen fights upon
the Public Square in quick succession.
Often secondary fights would spring up
from the excitement Of the moment be-
cause the seconds" or friends attempted
to give some advantage to the "princi-
pals" in the contest. The plan Of ar
rnngement was for the friends TO form
ring. the contestants choosing seconds"
TO see that fair play was given. The
principals would strip of their redun-
dant clothing. and at given signal pitch
into each other with all the ardor and
courage Of Roman soldier. Itwas:pre-
sumed on all those occasions when
man was whipped he would have sense
to cry "snoughp But very often when
the vanquished felt disposed to show his
pluck he would continue the unequal
contest till his second" or friends found
IL necessary TO cry "enough" for him.
This foolish practice, barbarous and in.
human as il was, afforded much OF the
polite gossip Of those days, and men
would recount the social wars, in their
daily tolls and evening conversations a.
boys now love to rehearse the bear stor-
les they have read Of
The last fight OF this nature can re-
member took place in the public Square.
between Thomas R. and John c..
They began the conflict few steps west
Of Col. Beckwiths store, and fought hall
way down to Peter Dittoe's store-now
Martin Scott's. 1t was u little dissimi-
lar to all other fights ever saw. They
both stood upright, had each other by
the collar, and gave lick about on the
head and face, without either ever reach.
ing the ground. IL was long and vi
cious contest; but J. c. finally yielded
to the more powerful blows of his an
tagonist. ] believe ! can remember nc
other contests that occurred on tn,
Square after this. There were a few
scratches, such as the Colonel and JohI
Manly Palmer (alias "Catfsh'') had il
later years, but they could not come il
under the head OF the old-fashioned, de
Lucrative "set-ups" which belonged Il
the pioneer customs.
/ remember an event which occurred
in the contest above detailed, that CAV
no little mirth to the boys, who wer
always greatly interested in the fights
though IL was not once in a score of in
stances riey could ever get glimpse O
the fgt ters-they generally being sur
rounded by from one TO FIVE hundre
meD who. in their eagerness TO see tn
"frn," usually ruled the boys to bacl
ssrs by virtue OF superior strength. j
tae midst Of the 6ght a boy about te
or twelve years old was standing on th
top Of n store box on the corner wher
Henry Dittoe had his store, and wa
believing at the top Of his voice. Th
boys all broke for him and wanted I
know what was the matter. This seen
ing sympathy only intensified his grie
but he managed TO blubber out, "Pt
afraid us dad that's Jfghtingi" This W,
Lewis Cain, who has ceased to be nun
bered with earth's inhabitants.
I find in looking over my printed con
municntions that have left 80 muc
unsaid that belongs to history, that a
annoyed at my failure 10 get 80 mar
facts on record. The names Of all Il
old pioneers should be rescued fro
oblivion. and TO this end your citize
should form q pioneer association, 81
make record Of names and events b
fore they become totally extinct. tn
could be done now to some extent, b
II cannot be done perhaps five yea
hence. il would afford much satisfs
tion not only to the present inhabitan
Of the village, but 10 those who are
follow. History becomes important o
lyas we receds from the times and ever
~ records. Az n link in the chain Of
former psper, ] would say that the Binc
leys formed an important element in I
society Of Somerset in an early ds
Old grandfather Binckley-the father
Johu and Samuel, and grandfather
Allen, p. H., and George-resided
the lot across the alley east Of the ORA
store house. He lived in a two-sto
log house weaiherboarded. When ere
cd IL was considered one Of the b,
houses in the village. The old gran
father died there, and the house has loI
long ago disappeared. The Binckls
were Marylanders. and emigrated in