Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-07-11
The Battle Of Belle Isle.

The chieftainship was first held by
Keys, but when he went outside he ap-
pointed Sergt. A. r. Hill, of the One
Hundredth o. V. l.-noW a resident of
Wauseon, O.-his successor. Hill was
one of the notables of thas immense
throng. A great broad-shouldered
giant, in the prime of his manhood
the beginning of his thirtieth year-he
was as good-natured as big, and as
mild-mannered as brave. He spoke
slowly, softly, and with a slightly rus
tic tWang, that was very tempting to a
class of sharps 10 take him up for
''lubberly greeny." The man who did
so usually repented his error in sack
cloth and ashes.
Hill first came into prominence as
the victor In the most stubbornly-con-
tested fight in the prison history Of
Belle Isle. When the squad of the
One Hundredth Ohio Captured at
Limestone Station, East Tennessee, in
September, 1862 arrived on Belle
Isle, q certain Jack Oliver, of the
Nineteenth Indiana, was the undis-
puted fstic monarch of the island.
He did not bear his blushing honOrs
modestly fewjiings of muscle can or
do. The possession of q right arm
capable of knocking an ordinary man
into the indefinite locality known as
" the middle of next week" is some
thing the possessor can as little resist
showing as can girl her first solitaire
ring. To know that one can certainly
strike a disagreeable fellow out Of time
is pretty sure to breed a desire to do
that thing whenever occasion serves.
Jack Oliver was one who did not let
his biceps rust in inactiOn, but thrashed
everybody on the island whom he
thought needed it, and his ideas as to
those who should be included in this
class Widened daily, until it began TO
appear that he would soon feel it his
duty to let no unwhipped man escape,
but pound everybody on the island.
One day his evil genius led him to
abuse a rather elderly man belonging
to Hills mess. As he fired off his
TRADE of contumely, Hill said, with
more than the usual " soft " rusticity:
Mister-L- don't-think- -it-iust
-right-for -a-young man-to-
call = an - old -One = such : bad
Names"
Jack Oliver turned on him savagely.
"Wen! maybe you want to take it
upP"
The grin on Hills face looked still
more verdant, as he answered with
gentle deliberation:
"Wen, ster,-I- don't go -
around-a-hunting things butt
-ginerally = take = care of-an-
s-sent-me r'
Jack foamed but his fiercest bluster
could not drive that infantile smile
from Hills face, nor provoke a change
in the calm slowness of his speech.
1t was evident that nothing would
do but q battle-royal, and Jack had
sense enough to see that the imper-
turbable rustic was likely to give him
a job of some difficulty. He went of
and came back with his clan, while
Hills comrades of the One Hundredth
gathered around to insure him fair
play. Jack pulled off his coat and
vest, rolled up his sleeves, and made
other elaborate preparations for the
afray. Hill, without removing gar
ment, said, as he surveyed him with
mocking smile:
s'Mister-you-seem
of-them partick-e-Ier-fellers."
Jack roared out with an oath:
I'm make you pGrtickeIeT before l
get through with you. Now, how
shall we settle this? Regular stand,
up-and-knock, or rough and tumblePh
If anything, Hills face was more va
cantly serene, and his tones blander
than ever, as he answered.:
Strike = any-gait that suits
you,- mister; -I-guess 4 will-be
-able-to-keep-up-with-yOu."
They closed. Hill feinted with his
left, and, as Jack uncovered to guard,
he caught him fairly on the lower left
ribs, by blow from his mighty right
fist, that sounded-as one of the by
ISLANDERS expressed it" like striking a
hollow log with maui"
The color in Jacks face paled. He
did not seem to understood how he had
laid himself open to such blow, and
repeated the same mistake, receiving
again a sounding blow in the short
ribs. This taught him nothing either,
for again he opened his guard in re-
spOnse to a feint, and again caught a
blow on his luckless left ribs that drove
the blood from his face and the breath
from his body. He reeled back
among his supporters for an instant to
breathe. Recovering his wind, he
dashed at Hill, feinted strongly with
his right, but delivered a terrible kick
in the latter's abdomen. Both closed
and fought savagely at half-arms' /
length for an instant, during which 4
Hill struck Jack so fairly in the mouth /
as to break out three front teeth, which /
the latter swallowed Then they !
elenched and struggled to throw each |
other. Hills superior strength and /
skill crushed his opponent to the |
ground, and he fell upon him. As they |
grappled there one Of Jacks followers |
sought to aid his leader by catching |
Hill by the hair, intending to kick him /
in the face. In an instant he was |
knocked down by a stalwart member of |
the One Hundredth, and then literally |
lifted out of the ring by kicks.
Jack was soon so badly beaten as to |
be unable to cry "enough.." One Of |
his friends did that service for him,
the fight ceased, and thenceforth Mr.
Oliver resigned his pugiistie crown
and retired to the shades Of private life.
He died of seurvy and diarrhea some
months afterward in 4Andersonyille.-
Toledo Blade.