The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-10-31
A TOUGH STORY.
How a Pig Whipped Fighting Dog.
From the New York Start

Il Aoiu tllS N6W 1Ork OIdr.I
In lo49 Mr.. Pape Carter startled the
world by Offering to match porcine
against any dog in America, of reason
able size, then in existence. AS mat
ter OF course, so startling challenge ex-
cited amazement among the owners of /
bulldogs, who naturally laughed to scorn |
the idea of their canine favorites being
vanquished by pig.
The two most prominent sporting
men in those days were the Popes, and
they succeeded in securing match be-
tween Carriers pig and an imported bull
dog, Imp, weighing thirty pounds.
After the match was made hundreds of
dollars were invested on the result.
Imp was a fighting animal of distinc-
ton, and a decided favorite with all the
leading sporting-men and turfmen, who
laughed at the idea of pig defeating
him in struggle. To imagine that a
bulldog of such celebrity as Imp could
be vanquished by an under-weight of
pork was declared by members of the
volunteer fire department, who were
consulted by sporting men on the mooted
question, to be an absurdity, and they
believed their opinion to be based on
correct Judgment. The match created
nearly as much excitement as the liver
and Sullivan fight, and for weeks before
the day fixed for the novel battle large
sums We're wagered.
The fight took place in the old Ger
man Assembly rooms, located on the
second floor of long, low brick build
ing on Elizabeth street, near Grand
IN order to accomm odate the fighting
pig with proper arena for the unmo-
Tested display of his prowess before
the admiration of a distinguished audi
ence, a small stage had been erected in
the center of the hall--a rough plat
form some four feet above the floor
upon which was placed a bin of stout
rails, running longitudinally, making
species of hemlock crate about six feet
square, its side sufficiently open to allow
a view Of the fighting pig and the bull
dog. Long before the hour announced
for the combat large groups of sporting
men and quite crowd of celebrities
were present
Shortly after o'clock, amid the
earnest attention Of the audience, Carter
made his appearance. He was accom-
panied by two brawny pugilists, bearing
a bOX-a burden for which thew exhib-
tied no immense affection, Judging from
the cautious manner in which it was
handled. The box was placed in the
arena and opened, when, to the surprise
OF the crowd, and more especially of
the betting men who were out of the
ring, and who had laid heavy odds on
the bulldog, out jumped peccary.
The animal was not pig in the usual
Specification of the word, but dimin-
ut1ve wild beast to be met with in South
America, and which cannot generally be
domesticated. It's head was large and
thick, garnished with long snout and
a pair of formidable tusks protruding
from each side of the mouth.
AS soon as the bulldog arrived the OK
c1tement among the spectators ran high
The betting men who had backed the
dog and supposed he was to meet
common pig thought their chances of
winning were slim. Some desired the
bets to be declared off, but Carter
claimed, as did the referee, that the pee
cary was pig, and that the bets would
follow the stakes. At half past the
dog Imp, which had been trained into
the pink of condition, was placed in
the pit. He evidently did not fancy his
antagonist, and quickly left the pit.
After referee, timekeeper, and judges
were selected, the dog was placed into
the pit and the fight began. At first
the so-called pig took refuge in one of
the corners of the cage, giving vent to
a series of grunts. On time being called |
Imp flew at the pig and endeavored to
grasp him by the neck. ... ...
Pape instantly turned, and, amid the |
yells of the crowd, threw the dog down. |
Before the latter could regain his legs,
the pig seized him and fastened his
long murderous tusks into his back. !
Sporting men, fremen, merchants, and
turfmen, who had offered long odds on
Imp, now looked on with amazement,
and offered to lay three to one that the |
pig would win. On went the struggle;
the pig had firm grip on Imp's spine,
and he crushed it with brutal ferocity
The dog was mangled terribly, and |
when the pig saw his enemy was con-
quered he let go his hold, having broken
the bulldogs back. The dog was quick
ly removed from the pit, and Pape was
declared the winner. The pig won the
fight in / :371. .t
The fight created great sensation,
and Garter, the Popes, and the fighting
pig were the reigning sensation in
Gotham for weeks after the contest.