The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-09
A "puRRlNG" MATCH.
The Peculiar Sport that has been Introduced
into Pennsylvania from England,
VT 1andIng Eagle.


Cornish miner named David 7. Davis
boosted In Shenandoah harroom that he
could out "purr' any man in America. 'Purr-
ing" is an English sport, aud means Kicking
All opponent ON the legs DAWES boasts were
taken IN hy another English miner uamed
Thomas Proudlit and each man made da-
pnait nf &ln WA N forfeit lib Case either should
mt come M time. Tho match was made fot
S2a il side and was To como OIL N Inc bar
room az d mutual friend. Davis has some
local reputation as n "purrer." wrestler, aud
htNr7f ttttt ttntit tits affair HfeHattt was HI.
known among the fancy The original
amount of tho hot WAS raised To $50 side.
AZ o o'clock at night the principals and about
thirty friends went III harroom, and, Tor
trifling consideration paid w the proprietor.
the doors wore closed and preparations for
tho match began. Tho room ~ which fhn
affair took place Ia nf ordinary sl2h put IL
order 10 cconomize space about halt tho spec
tators wore told to take seats on the bar. aud
the others screwed themselves into corners
and outof-tho way places. Tue men re-
| moved all their clothing except their trousers:
bran now hrogans, into which their feet Were
thrust. Froudtit Wore Woollen ana Davis
cotton stockings,
The men then shook hands, and Prouifit
checrfully inquired We ye rNahy. iad
| Ing began Although not described by tioyte,
there are regular rules for "purrlng, but they
are simple aud easily understood. The rules
| In this match were that no puIf or KICK
should hc made nj al opponent while he was
down. that q kick above the knee was foul.
and entitled its recipient ~ thc stakes with
out further .'purrinE,' that nothing Whs ~
cover the Leg but trousers. nnd that va hands
should not hn used To grappln Or punch IN OBJ
nuueut, The man who first cried Hold,
! enough was OF course. defeated. Davis was
| much the larger man. but he was not nearly
so agile as his opponent. For u few minutes
| both were extremely wary, and the time was
| uasse,i In dancing about the room and teint-
/ prnudt. but Ii fell short, and before Davis
| gut ont of reach Proudlt administered two
/! Kicks III .purrs. just below one of Ills oppo-
| nent's knee-capa, which, BY the way. Is con-
sdered particularly Vulnerable point, as a
| series of kicks there soon lanes man. DAVIS
retaliated by kicking Proudht on the shin.
Then followed rapid exchange OF KICKS, last
Ing about minute. until Proudtit lodged out
of reach. ,,,.,, :
i fiye minutes. and during 1t they examined
their shins, which were bruised and bleeulnE.
| When time was called each man took drink
Of whisky, and then the "purrln1 began
| again, Thirteen rounds were "purrea,
hut they did not differ much from the one
| described, and at the end OF the twelfth round
Davis refused to toe the mark. and Proudilt
was declared the winner. Davis wanted 70 re.
tire after the tenth round, but the spectators
hnoted at and called him "dutfer,' and ne
came up twice more; but he received all tne
punishment without being able 70 give any
III return The last five rounds were bruta
in the extreme as both men were bleeding
nrofusely, and the way they limped aroune
to escape punishment was painful to witness,
The legs OF both men from their knees GOVT
, were covered with cuts aud bruises, aao The