The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-08-16
Who Struck Billy patte!sst.

| Maiiy OF our readers of the Turf,
| field and Farm, says that journal
| positively knows Of the identity
OF the parsonage who. struck Billy
Patterson thereby giving that bruise,
n notoriety he meyer would have OBJ.
tained otherwise. THE hero III This
memorable feat, as many now living
can TESTIFY. Is no other taan the geni-
al Nicholas Spierr," whose charming
contributions 10 the columns OF this
journal have gained for him wide ce-
lebrity and hosts OF admirers.
!. Several versions of the fauous odd
query,"Wlo struck BILLY Patterson n
have recently appeared in the news.
papers, but as all are erroneous, II is
timc that the mystery should be
cleared M, when the public will give
honor 10 whom honor IA due.
The circumstances attending this
adventure may be briefly narrated
thus: atp,ii,,s',,..f.,ie
Nicholaa Spicgrs ,Iien q resident: Of
old Gotham, where he had gone from
tho Sunny South 10 complete his ed
ncalion in his chosen professieii at b
leading medical college, was rapidly
gaining golden opinions from all
sorts of people, for his genial man.
ner and spirited anecdotes both OF
tongue aud pen were everywhere
welcome. He was then known, if
the writer be not-greatly at fault, i'm.
der tho nom de plume OF "Young
America" AT that time ho excelled
rs an amateur athlete, and his skill in
the nIaiIly art of self-dcfcnse gave
him All enviable position in athletic
circlcs. After graduating he joined
the American medical associalion,and
bis sparkling wit soon made him n
bright star In the galaxy OF NJ. D.'s.
meetings being held annually al some
city convenient 10 ia members. = 4
In l8iS-tlicre or thcreabouls--ihe
association held its annual meeting in
Richmond, Va. Nicholas Spiccr was
there in full! force. After an evening
session which had lasted until the
"wee sma' hours" tho medical trater.
nifty, in said column, had reached
capitol hill, when the door ofa we'll
known restaurant flew open and oui
bounded Billy Patterson, a ndteh
bruiser--quiet enough when sober.
but reckless bravado when in his
cups, Billy had been drinking hcav-
lily, as was evident al glance, and
his huge form barred the course OF
the disciples Of Esculapius, whom he
mistook, doubtless, for posscl of p0.
lice bent on his capture. lie al once
assumed bclligerent attitude. and
dashed at the head of the column,
which was thrown into sudden con.
fusion.
Tho streets of Richmond wcro al
most anfathomable. and several of
the physicians were thrown from the
pavement into the mud by the force
OF Billy Patterson sichargc. Nicholas
Spicer bringing up the rear of the
procession, saw The commoiion in
front, and perceiving the cause, quick
ly prepared for action. Tho others
made way right and leftfor the infu-
rated reycler, leaving Spicer alonc to
face the llugc Patterson. Assuming
Il defensive positiyn ani coolly pre-
pairing for action, our hero received
his antagonist. ala. Yankec Sullivan,
with q heavy blow under the eye.
followed instantly by another meath
the chin, which sent the beligerent
backward sif thrown from caia-
pull. Nothing more was required I;
Billy Patterson did not rise again 10
the attack, and the column resumed
its way, leaving the fallen pugilist
IN tho care of his associates. who
found no little difficulty in bringing
him TO consciousness. Examination
proved that Billy had one eye deeply
draped in mourning nni badly con-
fused juw, which, in the words OF all
eve witness, laid him IN for repairs.
The next morning Two policemen
were seen about the hotel where
Nicholas Spicer and anumber OF his
colleagues had secured lodgings. In
dustriously inquiring for the man
WIZ etluch Dltiy lHieTeOn. OHe OF
Spiccr's friends quietly engaged two
street gamins to-parade the principal
thoroughfares, asking every man
woman and child 'Who struck Billy
Patterson p. In less than half All
hour ihe query was, caught up and
echoed by every one throughout the
town. Tho policemen. cllagrined had
retired. The Richmond papers pub
lished The all important question, and
Il soon spread like wildfrc through
out the country. The query has not
lost iis interest yet, and II anyone
should ask in the future "Who struck
Billy Patterson p yon can answer
with all assurance kind reader, Mich
olas Spicer did it--not with his little
hatchet, but with the arms that na-
turc gavc him. for this is true ver.
sion Of tho hitherto unsettled prob
lenl, and can be, amply proved II need
be. g
tNaf 1t 5lQQ ltuHg tuH