The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-12-01
The Jolly Old Sport.

packed arm-cnalr before a cheertul CRATE
in his chop-bouse. On table by his
side was pewter mug filled with beer
and within easy reach. On the walls
of the cosy room were pictures of de-
funct heroes OF the prize ring, prints oi
horses, bulldogs and English mail
coaching scenes.
The old man was in a communicative
mood. "The fighters that's goin' now.
adays amt like the fighters as l used tc
know when l was a young feller, said
he. "Ihere's too much OF writin' Of
challenges now. an too much of Q
foolin' with soft gloves. Why don't
they use the bare dukes as they used to
dor"
The solitary listener frankly admit.
ted that he could not answer the ques
ton.
"Then I'll tell you, said the jolly OLD
fellow, with an unctuous chuckle. "It's
because they're afraid of their mugs.
l was a talkin' to old Bill Clark the
other night, MN as they calls Perfesser,
and good 'un he is. There's thou.
sand fighters in this country as calls
themselves champions, Bill, says 1;
'how many of 'em has got broken
nosesr What do you think ne said2"
The listener ''gave it up" 30 tc
speak.
''Well, bless me soul, he couldn't
name more than H'arthur Chambers,
Mike Donovan. Bill Jordan, and two ol
three others. There aint no broken
noses among the champions because
they amt fighters. Morrissey, Heenan,
Bill Davis, Deaf Burke, Tom Sayers,
Bob Brettle, Harry Broome, Tom Oh
yer, in fact nearly all of the old timers
had their noses broke becoz they fought,
l tell you, some of the old 'llns car
down the young 'uns yet"
"Tel me ii you saw an old man de
feat a young one2" SAID the listener.
The old sport drained his mug and il
was promptly filled upon his conpan-
ions order. A pleasant glow over.
spread the veterans rugged features and
he chuckled as he remarked;
Perhaps ye think 1 can't. Some
years ago, it don't matter how long,
was one of gang that went down tc
Fort Hamilton TO see old Turner anc
young Jack Gallagher fight. 1t wa,
comm on TDanksglvln' and the ole
man wanted to make a stake bad, so ht
agreed to fight one of the cleveres
young sparrers Harry Hill had then
Well, the fight came off in a quee
place" and here the old sport paused.
"Where2"
"In the celler OF hotel that JOIN
Leary owned, him as you hear calleC
Red he wasn't there though. Thl
men stripped to the buff, Boo Murra,
took an interest in the old man because
he was old. Charley johnson, MIX
Kennedy, and lot OF Brooklyn chap
were there on the other si6e."
"But the fight, Iell me of tn
fight"
The old man chuckled again, 'Y
wouldn't be half as anxshus to tight a
hear the story. The two men banged
away at the start. Gallagher landed o.
the old 'un's kisser, got away crosse,
him, ducked and planted a red hot 'ul
on the old fellers left lamp, then on
ON the nose, and got fust blood. I,
make long story short the yonng 'ul
made a choppin' block OF the old felloy
and cut hlm up bad. But every tim
that time was called the old 'un kel
up GRIMM through the blood a
streamed down his mug. You'd
pitled the old man, but he wouldn'
give In becoz he was hghtin' for hi
Thanksgivin' turkey. Finally the OLE
'un smashed Gallagher heavy on tn
ribs and made him grunt. Then he go
there agin. Murray yells:
al bet hundred TO ninety the OLE
man wins yet.
"Ihat give the old fellow heart an,
he slammed away. If Gallagher ma,
stuck he'd won the battle, but tn
old boys nerve licked The lad. He CIV
up wlGhout hayin' scratch OH him
When the sponge went up the old ma
says, Il guess l won that turkey"
"DId he get it2"
you bet he did" and the jolly oil
fellow chuckled.