New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-05-26
A uPurring', Match.

IOrEInS M3Vcns
A CORNISH miner named David T.
Davis boasted in Shenandoah bar
room that he could OUT. any
man in America. "Purring' is an En-
glish sport, and means kicking an oppo-
nent on the legs. Davis boasts were
taken up by another English miner
named Thomas Proudfit, and each man
made deposit of ten dollars as for
felt in case either should not come to
time. The match was made for twenty
five dollars side, and was to come Of
in the bar-room of q mutual friend.
Davis has some reputation as q "purr-
or" wrestler and boxer, but until this
affair Proudfit was unknown among the
fancy" The original amount Of the
bet was raised to fifty dollars q side.
At nine o'clock at night the
principals and about thirty friends
went to bar-room, and, for
trihing consideration paid to the pro-
prietor, the doors were closed, and
preparations for the match began. The
room in which the affair took place is
of ordinary size, but in order to econO-
mize space about half the spectators
were told to take seats on the bar, and
the others screwed themselves into cor.
ners and out-of-the-way places. The
men removed all their clothing except
their trousers. The referee then gave
to each man pair of bran new bro.
gans, into which their feet were thrust.
PrOudfit wore wooden. and Davis cotton
stOckinps
The men then shook hands, and
Proudfit cheerfully inquired, "Be ye
ready. ladr' 'Aye, man." answered
Davis, and the " purring'' began. Al
though not described by Hoylc, there
are regular rules for "purring," but
they are simple and easily understood.
The rules in this match were that no
"purr'' or kick should be made at an
opponent while he was down, that a
kick above the knees was foul. and en-
titled its recipient to the stakes, with
out further ''purring''; that nothing
was to cover the legs but trousers, and
that the hands should not be used to
grapple or punch an opponent. The
man who first cried, "Hold, enough -
was, of course, defeated. Davis wa
much the larger man, but he was not
nearly so agile as his opponent. For q
few minutes both were extremely wary,
and the time was passed in dancing
about the room and feinting. Al
length Davis made a vicious kick al
Proudft, but it fell short, and before
Davis got out of reach Proudfit admin
istered two kicks or "purrs" just be-
low one of his opponent knee-caps
which, by the way, is considered par
ticularly vulnerable point, as serie:
of kicks there soon lanes a man
Davis retaliated by kicking Proudfit OF
the shin. Then followed a rapid ex
change of kicks, lasting about a min
ute, until Proudfit lodged out of reach
Both men were allowed breathing
spell of five minutes, and during i
they examined their shins, which wer,
bruised and bleeding. When time wa!
called each man took drink o
whisky, and then the "purring' be
gan again. Twelve rounds wer'
''purrcd,' but they did no
differ much from the one de
scribcd, and ut the end of tn,
twelfth round Davis refused to toe tn
mark, and Proudtit was declared tn,
winner. Davis wanted to retire afte
the tenth round, but the spectator
hootcd at and called him ''duilcr.'
and he came up twice more; but he re
ceived all Tie punishment without be
ing able to give amy in return. Thu
last 1--WE rounds were brutal to the ex
trcmc. rs both men were bleeding pro
fuscly, and the way they limpcd aroun.
to escape punishment was painful t,
witness. The legs Of both men from
their knees down were covered will
cuts and bruises. and the heavy cordu
roy pants they wore were kicked to rib
bonS:
When the match was decided Davi
sank into Il chair, thoroughly exhausted
Proudli, was so c!:..ed by his victor,
that he pleased the admiring spectator
by dancing Il jig with tumbler 0
water on his head. The seconds thel
washed the legs of the "purrcrs'' ane
covered Tie wounds with poulticcs O
rotten apples to prevent inflammation
and allay pain. The prize money wa!
handed over to Proudlit, who "sct up
a kcg of beer for the crowd. Davis wa.
carried to his home, and Prou,lGt wa!
OF in much better condition. This i.
said to be the first "purring' mattel
that has taken place in the ncighbor
hood of Shenandoah since Davis beat .
noted "purrer' named Tom Boslcy, i,
1864 or 1865. Davis defeat on Thurs
day night was unexpected, as he wa
known to be agile, game and expert
cnccd.-Rea1limg (Pu.) Ea, lie.