Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-29
A RAFTING FIGHT
Which Wheeling Barely Ecaped.
A Pair Of Pittsburgh Pugs Leave Wheeling
and Fight a Seventeen ROurdsr at
Rochester, Pa.

Last Friday evening, a person we'll up in
the WAYS oil the Fancy. might have noticed
something unusual was in the air. There
was a suppressed excitement manifest, and
an I-know-a-little secret look on the faces
of leading members Of Wheeling's sport
ing fraternity. So quiet was the matter
kept, however, that not a word of it leaked
out, and now the Fancy is smiling IN its
sleeve at the neat manner in which it
hoodwinked the police and the reporters.
On the evening named a large gang OF
tough looking customers, some OF whom
were Wheeling men, took the All
train for Pittsburgh. Among them were
about five of those sleeSly dressed
and neatly gloyed gentry, OF this
small manufacturing community, who
make a rich, though precarious, living
at the card table. 1t afterwafd transplred
this crowd contained two men, matched
TO FIGHT FOR 81, 900 A SIDE,
and who regarded the soil of West Vir-
ginia as suitable territory. They were
John Mcintosh and Fred McFerron, OF
Pittsburg. They had had a quarrel over a
a $50 bet, of which McFerron was the stake
holder. Mcintosh had o the bet ana
delayed in handing over the money, which
led to the fight. The men had been in
training for three weeks and all was ready
for the fight. Wheeling vicinity had been
selected as the battle ground, but after
they got here, they concluded it would be
dangerous work and so returned to Pitts.
burg. They then concluded to go to
Wheatland on the Erie railroad,
but this also failed them; it was
arranged to fight at Rochester, "a.
Friday night about ten o'clock, and
made arrangements with a freight train
conductor whereby the whole crowd could
ride to the place in the caboose attached to
the freight train. They reached there
about three o'clock A. NJ, and procured q
shanty which was formerly used as a COW
shed but the proprietor OF the place had
decided TO make a store house out OF 1t and
he tore the stall down and had Just put in
a new floor. 1t made an excellent battle
ground and the men quickly got down TO
work. o
The men came into the ring atabout 400
A.. NJ. and then
ii FIGHT BEGAN.
The first round was a knock down for
Mcintosh after fighting about four minutes.
Both men displayed a great deal OF science
and for about four minutes neither one
could hit the other. Finally Mcintosh got
in a good lick, which took McFerron right
under the chin and lifted him off his feet.
The second round was a good one.
Neither one could hit the other for a long
time, but finally Mcintosh again got a good
chance and fioored McFerron.
In tue third round neither one was
Encnkad dnun The men retired tn their
respective corners and were rubbed down
by their seconds.
The fourth round was a knock-down tor
McFerron. Then a cheer went up, but 1t
was not very voceiferous.
The fifth round was also a knock-down
for McFerron. Then the betting com.
menced between the sports, who numbered
about forty. These spectators were princip-
ally from Wheeling and B~raddock. only
about five being present from Pittsburgh,
besides the referee and two seconds. Nc
Ferron was the favorite, and $50 to $50 was
freely offered on him
BY THE WHEELING MEN,
and the bets were Immediately taken by the
Braddock men.
The sixth round was declared a draw by
the referee after the men had slugged at
each other for five minutes. In this round
a great amount OF science was shown by
both men. Neither one could hit the
other, and all the tricks known to both
were displayed, but it was of no use, for it
appeared that both OF them had been well
trained.
Seventh round was a knock.down for
Mcintosh, as was also the eighth and ninth
rounds. When The pugs put in an ap:.
pearance in the ring for the tenth round
one of McFcrron's hackers said, Hit him
hard this time, Freddy" and Freddy did.
lie let off with a right handler, and it took
Mcintosh right under the left ear, and
flCored him.
The eleventh round was also a knock down
for McFerron. Twelfth, thirteenth and four
tenth rounds were all declared draws by
the referee as no blows were exchanged.
Fifteenth round was a knock down for
McFcrron. After this round McFerron
appeared to give out. When he came into
the ring for the sixteenth round he turned
to his hacker and said: Jimmy,
THINK AN WHIPPED,
as my old disease has come back on me-"
This round was a knock.down for Nc
Intosh, as was also the seventeenth and
last round. At the enc of this round Nc
Ferron stepped up shook hands with Nc
Intosh and said: You have whipped me
fair. | cannot stand in front OF you Tor
another round because l am played out.
My old disease has come back on me, but
we may meet again."
The men were not very badly used up.
McFerron received a cut under the chin
about two inches in length and a few
bruises on his chest. After the battle the
sports all said it was the fairest fight they
had ever seen. One of them said: | don't
think Sullivan can do much better. II he
can ! would bet he could whip any man in
the world, but | am sure he is not much
better than either one of these men, for
they are the most scienced men | ever saw
in q ring, and l have seen a few prize
fights in my time" The battle over the
''pugs'' and their hackers left for home.
The fighters are employed in a steel works
not many miles from Pittsburgh. Mcintosh
is a man who is five feet in height, weighs
1870 pounds, and is 81 years old. McFerrOn
is 5 feet 10 inches in height, weighs 1877
pounds, ana Is 3S years OF age.
Everything passed off quietly. The referee,
after the encounter, made a remark in ref
erence to the fight. He said: II have seen
a good many fights, but
SAW A BETTER "
than this, nor did l ever see one pass off
so quietly, and you can bet that McFerron
will never fight again, as he is afraid OF
heart disease, which he has Thus ended
ono of the most interesting priZe fights