The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-05-26
BILLY PATTERSON.
Ihe Story Of the Party who Struck
Him Told In q New Way.
From the Turf, Field and Farm

From the Turf, Field and Farm
Many of the readers of the Iu1.f.
Field and Farm know the identity Of
the parsonage who struck Billy Patter-
son, thereby giving that bruiser no.
toriety he would never have obtained
otherwise. The hero of that memorar
BILE feat, as many now living can testify.
is no other than the genial ssNicholas
Spicer," whose charming contributions
to the columns Of this journal have
gained for him wide celebrity and hosts
Of admirers.
Several versions of the famous old
query, Who struck Billy Patterson y
have appeared in the newspapers, but,
as all are erroneous, it is time that the
mystery should be cleared up, when the
public will give 'honor to whom honor
is due. The circumstances attending
this adventure may be briefly narrated
thus:
"Nicholas Spicer," then a resi-
dent of Gotham, where he had gone
from the ''Sunny South " to complete
his education in his chosen profession at
leading medical college, was rapidly
gaining "golden opinions from all sorts Of
people, for his genial manner and spir-
tied anecdotes, both Of tongue and pen.
were everywhere welcome. He was we'll
known, If the writer be not greatly at
fault, under the nom de plume Of Young
America" At that time he excelled as
an amateur athlete, and his skill in the
'tmanly art of self-defense gave him
an enviable reputation in athletic circles.
After graduating, he joined the Ameri-
can Medical Association, and his spark
ling wit soon made him a bright star in
the galaxy of M. D. 's-meetings being
held annually at some city convenient to
its members.
In l848-"there or thereabOuts
the association held it's annual meeting
at Richmond, Va. "Nicholas Spicer'
was there in full force. After an evening
session, which had lasted until the
wee sma' hours, the medical frater-
nifty, in solid column, had reached Cap
itol hill, when door of well-known
restaurant flew open and out bounded
Billy Patterson, a noted bruiser-quiet
enough when sober, but reckless bra
vado when in his cups. Billy had been
drinking heavily, as was evident at a
glance, and his huge form barred the
course of the disciples of Esculapius.
whom he mistook, doubtless, for posse
of police bent on his capture. He at
once assumed belligerent attitude, and
dashed at the head of the column.
which was thrown into sudden confu-
sion.
The streets of Richmond were almost
unfathomable, and several of the physi.
clans were thrown from the pavement
into the mud by the force of Billy Pat
terson's charge. "Nicholas spicer"
bringing up the rear of the procession.
saw the commotion in front, and, per-
ceiving the cause, quickly prepared for
action. The others made way right and
left for the Infatuated reveler, leaving
"Spicer" alone to face the huge Patter-
son. Assuming q defensive position,
and coolly preparing for action, our
hero received his antagonist, la Yam
kee Sullivan, with heavy blow under
the eye, followed instantly by another
beneath the chin, which sent the bel
Egerent backward as though thrown
from catapult. Nothing more was re-
quired; Billy Patterson did not rise
again to the attack, and the column re-
sumed its way, leaving the fallenpugilist
in the 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 and a badly-contused jaw,
which, in the words OF an eyewitness,
"laid him up for REPAIRS
The next morning two policemen were
seen about the hotel where ''Nicholas
Spicer" and number of his colleagues
had secured lodgings, industriously in
quiring for "the man who struck Billy
Patterson" One Of "Spicer's :" friends
quietly engaged two street gamins to
parade the principal thoroughfares, ask
ing every man, woman and clcld who
struck Billy Patterson In less than
an hour the query was caught up and
echoed by every one throughout the
town. The policemen, chagrined, had
retired. The Richmond papers numer-
ously published the all-important ques-
ton, and it soon spread like wild-fre
through the country. The query has
not lost its interest yat, and if any per-
son should ask in the future ''Who
struck Billy Patterson?" you can an
swer with all assurance, kind reader,
go Nicholas Spicer did it-not with his
little Ratchet, but with the arms that
nature gave, for this is true version of
the hitherto unsettled problem, and can
be amply proved if need be.