Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-27
Is aRsGAADf "aARElo
Opinions Of Representative New
Workers. Upon His St. Louis
Rscspade.
Lueius APPIeby, SANDY Spencer,
q. A. Wells. Joseph Doyle, Ben
Wood and Other Shining
Lights, all willing 10 Back
New York Against 81. LOuts.


Of conversation smongthe loungers at
the leading hotels and club men. 1t
IS quite amusing to note the diversi
fed expressions of opinion in regard
to the personal qualities of the two
principals.
Mr.. Gebhardt is q young man not
over twenty Eve years of age, about
five feet eight inches in hight and
weighs about l45 pounds. He is dark
complexioned. with black hair, and
wears a young mustaehe He is very
wiry and muscular, having had a
thorough gymnastic training at
Woods Gymnasium. under the tut
ton of Mr.. James 0'Neil, of the
Racquet Club. He Is also proficient
10 the art of fencing, having taken
his lessons from the we'll known fenc
ing master, Professor Senac.
Colonel Cunningham is q cousidera
bly, larger man and weighs upward Of
one hundred and eighty pounds, Of
sandy complexion, with a dogged ex
preston of c%ountenance, while he is
not an adept at boxing or fstieufs, be
being an ex-army officer.
Mr.. G. A. Wells, an ex-member of
the Union Club, Of which Gebhardt
is member, yesterday told a journal
reporter at the Hoffman House. that
he thought all along that Fred would
lot into trouble if he persisted in play.
ing "toady" to Mrs. Langtry. He
considered him a coward, and, except
where he thought he could come out
best, he could Lever be induced 10
participate in fair fist fight, say moths
ing Of using firearms.
Another prominent member Of the
same club, who requested his name
withheld, said: mr.. Gebhardt is 4
gentleman of whom we may Justly feel
proud in not accepting the challenge
Of the hot headed Cunningham. he
acted nobly, ard if there had been
any pluck In Cunningham, he would
1aye resented on the spot the insult he
claimed Gebhardt offered him when
he threw the lie in his teeth. Gun,
ningham may talk Southern chiyalry.
but he certainly did not exhibit much
OF it from the time OF Mrs. LanPtry's
first arrival in Louis to the present
day. The most satisfactory way fol
Gebhardt to act 10 the premises will
be 10 ignore all communications from
that bully (Cunnineham) aud to treat
him with cold indifference il he should
cnance 70 meet him"
Mr.. s. G. Woodbury., Of st. Louis.
stopping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
declared that it was his impression
that Gebhardt would not be permitted
to leave st. Louis without accordinl
Cunningham some satisfaction. MOI
that he thought Mr.. Gebhardt was in
the wrong-On the contrary be thought
him the most iDjured-but because oil
be p%ugnacious disposition of his an
tagonist and Of the circle in which b,
moves. He fears that the Colone'
glll resort to foul means to satisfy hi,
friends, who are undoubtedly urein.
him on. On the whole, he thought
Cunningham a coward, and that !,
certainly would have weakened haC
Mr.. Gebhardt accepted his challenge
promptly, but, like many dogs. b,
barks louder when he sees his sup
posed enemy pass by without noticin,
him.
Mr.. DAILY, Of the Union League club
said: 1T is my opinion that if tn,
two should meet by chance, and Gun
ningham offers Gebhardt the slightep
iHdigaity, the latter will forego al
scIuples he may cherish against pugil
istic encounters and give him a soupt
thrashiRg, and should Cunningham
make show of any arms, he will no
ind the New Yorker unprepared."
A gentleman at Delmonico's, who il
an intimate friend of Fred s. said
That is all bosh about Fred being
coward. He may not show any ipeli
nation to fight, in which | sympathiz
with him, on the ground that a gen
tleman should not fight, but | tell 70,
when 1t comes to settling a matter q
honor, | don't think he would han
fire. Why, be would not back dow,
from a mas weighing fifty pound
more than he at a fair and square 6s
fight, but as be is not a shot, lie natur
ally declines TO stand up and be Der
fOrated, and don't blame him"
A member Of the Racquet Club. 0
which Mr.. Gebhardt is also a mem
Der, said: ut is a difficult thing 4
say what Mr.. Gebhardt should bav,
done OF do, under the Circumstance
III had been in his place | probabl,
should have attacked Cunningham a
the Southern Hotel immediately O,
meeting him, instead Of using tn,
language imputed to Gebhardt. Mr.
Gebhardt is a gentleman Of good fam
lily, and probably acted as most gentle
men would by declining to feht
which. at all times, is vulgar anC
brutal"
Mr.. Woodruff, Of Chicago. at tn,
Hoffman House, said: Colonel Gun.
ningham be hanged. He is no more
Colonel than that boy [pointing to
bell boy He is not v e a man. SAY
nothing Of a gentleman. | have me
him, but he don't want to see me an,
more. He is a coward of the loves
order. Even though Mr.. Gebhard
weighs fly pounds less than he.
would not be afraid to bet that b.
could whip him, by fist, sword o
shooter, within FIVE minutes. But h,
is too much of a gentleman to fight
and L glory in him for the manly stan,
he has taken"
Another gentleman 81 the Hoffma,
House said: 81 know Gebhardt well
but not Cunningham. What [ hsv,
heard Of the latter inclines me to be
lieve that he a and will make Geb
hardt eat his words, and / hope h,
will. A man who will follow an act
ress, if that is what you can call her
all around the country, making a foo
OF himself aud bringing disgrace upor
his family and friends, deserves pun
ishment Of some kind, and capita
punishment at that. II he docs no
meet with some catastrophe before h,
returns to New York, he may get
laying out here"
You must not take Fred Gebhard
for a fool" said a well known sporting
man TO a Journal reporter last night
Il deal IN fire arms, and the pistol b.
carries | picked out for him 10 Lon
don. 1t is an English Tranter, sci
cooking. IL he ever meets Cunning
ham he will put daylight through him