New-York tribune., 1882-03-12
BLOWS IN THE STOCK ROOM.
TWO ANGRY BROKERS HAVE A FIST FIGHT
NJ. c. BOWER AND W. L. BREEsE SETTLE DIS
PUTE IN Summary MANNER = WHAT THE

PUTE N SUMMARY MANNER - WHAT THE
PENALTY or THEIR INDIsCRETI0N WILL BIZ.
qnick, sharp battle fought by two brokers
on the floor of the Stock Exchange shortly before
the close of business yesterday. Some witnesses of
the affray said afterward that II would have done
honor to the prize-ring and one, more classical
than the rest, declared that il was worthy
the wreath of olive, which crowned the victor in
the Olympic games The contestants Were NJ. {.
Bouver, of Bouvier & Wallace. OF No. Is Newest,
and William L. Breese of Brccse & Smith, of No.
20 Broad-st They pretty evenly matched.
Both stand scarcely more than an inch under six
feet, but the weight was rather in favor Of Breese
who weighs close on to 200 pounds while
his adversary hardly tips the beam at 40. Bouvier
carries his head bent forward slightly and looks
pale and delicate, but Breese shows flesh firm and
ruddy.
The men were standing. at - minutes before
o'clock, on the outskirts of the Wabash group;
they between that and the Lake
Shore, the Northwest and the Reading
groups. They were talking together
quietly, and those who observed them talking had
no thought of what was TO follow. Suddenly both
struck out fcrcely at each other so nearly at tho
same moment that it was difficult to tell which
struck the first blow. Each caught blow on the
nose bringing the blood, but each put in two or
about the face and head of his opponent The
resounding whacks were heard above the noise Of
the room and attracted instant attention to the
combat. Several m mbers of the Board rushed In
between the men, who with bleeding and disigured
faces were taken by friends to their offices. As soon
the stains of battle were removed, the Two
brokers left the street.
1t was the general opinion of members of the Board
who saw the tight that after all it was drawn bat,
tie Bouyier'S cheek was cut where Breese had
planted his left, and his face and nose were puffed
Slightly Breeses nose bore token of the force OF
his opponents blow. Careful nursing was success
full in keeping down the swelling last night,
The outbreak was so sudden that brokers standing
within two feet of the fighters hardly knew what
was going on until the round was nearly finished.
The first person who attempted 10 qucu the hght
Harman II. Hart familiary known as " tho
midget" At least he said so afterward He is
something four feet tall and Is reputed TO
weigh about seventy-fve pounds: Among the 9th
ers who rushed in between the men was J. ..
Stephens who afterward described the scene thus:
81 was walking across the room when saw right
in front of me two men sparring. The sound OF
their blows was ugly. made arush and was be-
tween them; blow whizzed past my so DC close tss
and and concluded - / woald , @ sst out
and left The funniest thing about it, you know, 1.
that Breese could just eat me up; but somehow
got away with him.
Ths precise origin of the quarrel is not fully
known. 1t is understood that Breese made a some-
what disparagng remark about well-kn9wn
member of the Board, stlgmatizing him
resented IN remark which brought
blow instead of a reply. This was the general ex-
planation of the matter among the members OF the
Exchange Mr.. Breese said last night TO a TRIBUNE
reporter that this version was not altogether cor
rect " BOuvier accused me-" he said of beng
instrumental in withdrawing certain large ac-
count from his house. | had nothing what
ever to do with it, and told him so
hut he wouldn't believe me. ! don't allow
any man to call me liar in the Board or ont OF Il
TI,oa ntr,,+7 Wnl II n nla
was pool account, aud the members OF the pool
were not satisfied with the management Of BouyieI
q Wallace, and they took it away. BouyieI
thought | had something to do with il, and eyt
IDENTIFY has smarted under the loss. lt was some
weeks ago that this appened." 80
The penalty that will follow this nfraction of the
decorum of the Exchange will be imposed by the
Governing Committee. 1t will be suspension from
the pr ieges of the Board for from thirty days te
six months. Formal complaint was lodged yester.
day with the president of the Exchange, Donald
Mackav, and the officers began at once
olecting evidence against the onending Orokers
They experienced great difficulty In finding any ont
who wi messed the affair. Nearly every member OF
the Board expressed profound Ignorance OF the oc
currence. A member OF the Governing Committee
speaking of the probable punishment, said: " Those
fellows will find that their sport Will cost
them something handsome, Such dis
graceful sceIe cannot be allowed to pass wlthouta
severe penalty. What sort of 6ear-garden would
the Board he, if this thing should be overlookedf'
young member of the Exchange SAID afterwardI
Il tell you the punishment cannot be too severe ]
am in the Board all day and don't care about hav.
ing knock k-dOwn fights there every time there is
difference of opinion. There are too many hard
htters in the Board to make such state of aiialu
agreeable. There's Bingham for Instance; why
when he comes into group, you don't hardly know
whether the world has come to end
or not. Then there is Jack Bouvieri
a brother of this BOuvier; there is not
man in the Exchange who could stand up against
him No. no; there are too many straight, hard
hltters. BY the way. when Jack Bowler heard
of the row. ne was at the other end of the roOm lie
was white as a ghost when he ran across to ths
Lake Shore group. The men had been separated
then, but he attempted to follow. 1t is
ten feet, | suppose, to the door; but it wac
fifteen minutes before Jack reached il. You see
everybody happened just then To speak TO him.
hen he got to the door he had cooled down, but he
went Breese and inquired ii he had al the salts.
faction lie wanted"
A veteran member of the Exchange, who has
been sls ended for two months three different times
for similar offences gave his opinion tersey as fol-
lows: suspend for year any. man who calls an