Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-09-15
WEEKLY CHRONICLE
.xALLow FEVER" AND THE .spAwGr
The Fighting Capacity.of an Allegheny
'Coon---How the Natives Were Aston
ished.

The Fighting Capacity.of an Allegheny
'Coon---How the Natives Were Aston
ished.
~ Baltimore American. "a
He had just run up to town from Ale
ghany County to spend day or two with
his cousin while the family" were away.
He was somewhat taller than hitching post j;
was built in the ground, had a back Like a
mahogany writing desk, limbs like hickory
sapGngs, and, having gotten his trunk on a
| wagon to go up to cousin Sans, he dropped
into Pratt street bar-room, not many miles
| from Marsh Market, to rinse the accumula.
| ton of cinders from his throat He carried
in his hand a small carpet-bag, and unde,
the other arm he had pet raccoon. As he
| called for his drink some of the ''b'hoysr
in the saloon seemed to pipe him off TO,
their own delectation, but he took less notice
of them than the coon, who regarded then
sideways from under his hair with an almos
human suppression of contempt Finally
one of the boys, winking at his delighted
comrades, said:
~ say Gully, what kind of brute is that
you're luggin' around in yer fst?"
sit arn't hyena," replied he, immova-
bly,, as he turned around with cracker in
his mouth, f'nor it arn't g catymount. =
"Well, should remark, chimed in an
other, who was dab in politeness, 81
guess it must be one of his mountain con-
stituents. I'm told that the beasts up there
are better posted than the inhabitants"
Wal. reckon we're both on us posted
up well enough to be able to see through a
milestone with hole in it. Corns too
plenty to swallow chaff where hail from, -
and he commenced to finger his sleeves
belligerently.
mo offence, no offence" chorused the
boys. Don't get your back up, old man.
What your beast good for ?" -
"Weu," answered the countryman, some
what Modified, 81 cot him to clean the
I've kinder made pet of him-used him
see, till he got most too much for 'em he
could lick the whole five on 'em an never
change his ground. He's an emery. creetur
on fight, but he's gentle, you see, longs
you don't rile him." And he deposited the
coon, which was regular old plantigrade,
with high bristle and knowing muzzle,
on the bar and gave him lump of sugar.
Hes some on a fight, you say?" asked
one of the fly ones with twinkle of iinter-
rogatiye mirth in his eyes.
va as, drawled the countryman, "he's
something on the order. There arn't many
varmints he's Altered on"
well, said the boys, becoming inter
ested, g Jacks got bull terrier pup in the
cellar that wen bet ten open on against
him."
Done, bring on your dawg. I guess
III hev to tell ye goodbye, Yaliow Fever"
said Alleghanian, as he dipped his finger in
the drege of a whisky glass and rubbed the
coon behind the ears with it; but there was
twinkle in bis eye that belied bis words.
The dog was brought, and all hands re-
paired to the back yard. He was good
looking pup, about as big as piece of
chalk and of the height Of keg of white
lead, and an under jaw like a nailpuller,
and kind of business fEe-never-let- go-till-
it-thuuders- air about him. They put him
down and he looked up at the coon in it's
masters arms, and a smile played around
his expansive lip. The coon didn't seem to
be at all interested in the proceedings. In
fact, there was d sort of bored and dis
piece of sugar from back tooth and in
spected it. He hadn't time for such fool
ishness. 80 ..
titS - ES.AAS " w bSunip uCuiy hAiu
Allegheny, preparing to deposit his animal
in Ae pit. sNo : interfering business.
They'se got to fight it out. and if Yaller
Fever gifts killed l'll bide by itn
Certainly, certainly" was the echo, as q
lalf dozen youths dug each other in the
ribs and roared The idea of that "purp"
having any parleying with such beast as
that-when he could whip any dog, cat,
ferret, or rat Baltimore-was too much for
their risibles. 1t was too absurd.
The coon was put down, and the dog,
after being choked back for about minute,
until his tongue was out, slipped his collar
and went straight in for business. The
coon about that time didn't seem to be
looking even in his direction, and was ap-
parently very much more interested over an
old half dead cockroach that was kicking up
its legs despondingly on the ground At 6
little distance !; bnt when the puTp went TO
take hold there was a flash, a spit, a little
cloud of dust, a sort of comninglng Of
rough fur and sleek hide, and then the scoop
was seen little way off, GittIng down and
eamplacently scratching his left ear. Az
soon as the dust cleared away the dog was
discovered reposing on its launches looking
| around in dazed sort of wey, as il he had
tackled streak of lightning by the wrong
end He had two pieces of steak
missing from his launches, and WAS
without any skin on his ngse 70
speak of. SSH he was not the kind Of ami
NAL to give in, and as soon as he caught
sight Of the coon, who had just lit on bis
old friend, the cockroach and was inspect,
ing him obviously, he went for him again.
Then there WAS another cloud of dust, a
steam saw-miu sort of sound, aeoompan-
led by prolonged and sutfoeated sort of q
snort, glimpse Of a ringed and rigid tail
protruding for an instant from the cloud,
and once more the coon emerged and won't
after biz cnckrnach. The view Of the deg
after the second round was anything but
encouraging, and his hackers examined
him with amazement as he Licked the dilap-
idated remnant Of his right paw.
bout as well we stopped this business /;
that is, if you want any dawg left" :,
| i" Never mind,n cried they, She's all
right. Just wait till he gets the grab hold
on that varmint of yours; he'll settle him
in three minutes. The id brute is SO
quick that the pup hasn't got the hang OF
him yet She's sorter different from dogs
Or rats, you know"
:, 4a-as,H draWled the cpuntfyman apd
again they were pitted, and this time thu
coon thought he'd had about enough Of
this kind Of dog-goned foolishness. HI
hadn't had time to eat that cockroach yet
and he waltzed around over the carcass o
that unhappy bull-pup like buzz saw. Th'
dog, whose strong suit was all undertook
! eouldd't catch bio grip. He might as vel
have tried to catch hold of o flyWheel. TIL,