The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-28

hands OF a stakeholder. AS there was only
one lamp i'll the room-a large, old-fashioned
affair, with tin reflector behind it, and that
so fixed as to cast the light all one way,
there was some dispute as to position. This
was decided by the toss of a penny, and
| Grabby was placed with his back to the light.
Eddie James was unanimously chosen ref
cree.
At o'clock, the men having submitted
their feet for inspection to show that there
were no protruding nails, James gave the
word to "purr." Grabby advanced cautiously
and appeared to forget about the shoulder
straps until his second reminded him of it.
He took hold with apparent unwillingness,
and then began the most brutal and savage
contest that two men could engage in. For
fully five minutes they spared with their
feet in manner that was
simply wonderful Blows were countered
and returned with the same skill and
rapidty as shown by men fighting with
their fists. Not once in that time did either
man more than touch his opponents skin.
Then McTevish taking a firmer hold on his
opponents collar, lifted his left foot, and,
after keeping it poised for moment, made
straight ''toe kick" for his opponents right
knee Grabby deity avoided the blow by
spraddling his legs far apart, with almost in
conceivable QuiCkness, brought his left foot
around and caught McTevish on the right
calf. The flesh was laid open almost to the
bone, and the blood spurIed out in streams.
McIevlsh never uttered a word. AT the
same instant that his own leg was cut he
gave Grabby what is known as a sole
scrape." Beginning at the instep and end
ing just below the kneepan, Grabbys left
shin was scraped almost clear of skin. Both
men were evidently in pain and angry.
They kicked and countered dozen times
again without doing any damage. Then
Grabby, by some mishap, lost his hold
on his opponents shoulder-strap. In at
ho b1S
eyes for moment, and before he could re-
cover himself the calves of both his legs
were laid open by "double-foot' kick In
return for this he succeeded in delivering
terrific kick in McTevshS knee causing
him to drop to the ground like frog, pull
ing the other kicker on top of him. The
seconds rushed forward and separated the
men, and took them to their corners to bind
up their wounds. The first go" or round
occupied sixteen minutes
When the call of "purr came again the
''purrers" hobbed to the center and took an
other hold. They were indeed a pitiable
looking pair. McTevish's legs, although
bound up in plaster were bleeding freely,
and the exposed places looked like beefsteak,
His opponents shins had been both scraped
clean of the flesh and the blood was oozing
out from between the strips of plaster.
Without any preliminary sparring, Grabby
made vicious straight kick at his
opponents lame knee, bringing him
to grass again before he had time
to think. Just at that moment a commo-
ton was heard in the bar-room, and the out
side watcher came to the door to say that
young man had Just arrived in a carriage
who demanded admittance. Although the
late visitor presented ticket, the sentinel
was afraid to admit him. The spectators,
having been worked into high state of ex-
citement, were anxious for the horrible
sport to go on, and yelled in unison to let
the man in if he had ticket The young
man entered. He forced his way through
the crowd just as McTevsh had fallen. In
another instant he had pushed his way to the
side of the two men, and made a savage
scratch at Grabby's face and then spat at
him. The whole thing was done so quickly
that the spectators were spellbound with as
constituent The referee rushed for
ward and seized the young man
by the throat. The action caused
the visitors hat to fall off and down over
his shoulders streamed a womans long hair.
MY God!'' exclaimed Grabby, giving one
look, ''its my wife" Yes" replied the
little woman pluckily, so well disguised,
taken in charge i couldn't find the place,
or I'd been ere in time to stop you" Grabby
almost went to his knees to beg that his
friends should not be arrested. The rest of
the men pleaded that they might not be ex-
posed, and after ten minutes Argument, find
ing that she had arrived too late, Airs. Grabby
reluctantly consented to go home with her
husband and not interfere. MlcTevish was
taken care OF by his friends, and had his
wounds dressed. Although no bones are
broken, neither of the men will be able to
work for at least week. The stakes were
evenly divided.