Middletown transcript., 1883-02-16
1T WAS oLEvERLY DONE.
The Washington correspondent of

Al6 w WdSulISGOIl correspondence "
: the Baltimore Day says The presence
{ ofJohn /. Sullivan, the champion pugi
list, in the city last week revives tht
, memory of probably the only joke thai
was ever successfully played on Roscoe
, COnkling. During the senatorial term
Of the late Zach Chandler he occupied
, a handsome and commodious residence
on H-street. One of the rooms was
fitted up for gymnasium, and here
after dinner Zach usually spent an houI
swinging the clubs and dumb-bells.
Frequently his senatorial friends would
drop in upon him. There were masks
and foils for those who found pleasure
in fencing while for those inclined to
spar there was an excellent assortment
of boxing-gloves. Chandler was a big,
burly man, with a hand on him like a
hired man. He delighted in rough
sports, and was never so happy as when
pounding some one, OF being pounded
in return, with the gloves. Conkling
was almost nightly visitor. He was
clever sparrer, and in the exciting
bouts between himself and Chandler
usually came off victorious. On one
occasion he punished Zach so badly in
the presence of a dozen spectators that
the giant Michigander foamed inwardly
with rage, and swore by all the gods on
high Olympus he would be revenged if
it cost him his fortune. The oppor-
tunity came sooner than he expected.
Lawrence Barrett was travelling that
season with company of his own Sc
lection; impersonating a round of
ShakSpearean characters. In order to
invest the play with as much realism as
possible Barrett engaged Jem Mace,
the pugilist, for one of the characters.
When the company visited Washington
Chandler invited Mace to call at his
house, where he unfolded to him the
details of plot to ''put up job'' on
Lulu 4GOoCOC' IL SUCCESSFULLY OdI1lCu
out Mace would receive a substantial
reward. Mace consented. That even
ing Conkling dropped in, as was his
wont. Chandler introduced the pugilist
as one of his constituents, lumber
man from Michigan. Conkling muir
INJURED his pleasure at meeting any
friend of Zach's and then the pugilist
was gravely presented to Senators Beck,
Bayard, Morton, and several other gen.
tlemen, among them a well-known
newspaper man. They were all in the
secret, and were there by Zach's express
desire. Zach had planned the affair
with diabolical GOODNESS. Not only did
he intend that Mace should "dust the
Aoor'' with "Conk," but he had in
vited his senatorial friends to witnes
the operation which through the jQ
nalist would be read the next day WIZ
loud outlaws by an already prejudiced I
public. 1t required but little maneuvr-
ing to arrange a set-to between the
New York senator and the lumber
man." The latter with blunt candor
disclaimed any knowlege of science,
but added that he was "used to rough
and tumble fights, and could give and
take some powerful blows" Conkling
smiled serenely. Here was foeman
worthy of his steel, a veritable pugilis-
tic diamond in the rough. He would
show the assembled spectators how
science could conquer brute strength.
He removed his coat and vest and tied
his suspenders around his waist. They
took their places, Chandler acting as
referee. Mace's position was one of
studied awkwardness. He held both
hands in front of him, and instead of
bracing himself with one leg behind
the other, both feet we're wide apart
and nearly on a parallel line. Conkling's
movements were the perfection of
grace. He flourished his fists rapidly
for moment before Mace's face, and
then with 'Look out for yourself p
he struck q blow straight from the
shoulder. But somehow it fell short.
The lumberman in his heavy, awkward
fashion had, by good luck, it seemed,
just moved back far enough to escape
it. Conkling laughed and said, in
patronizing tone: " You did that very
cleverly." Conkling saw good open
ing and made for it, but the lumberman
clumsily avoided it and countered so
heavily that Conkling measured his
length on the floor. He came up smil-
ing, however, and complimented the
lumberman on his extraordinary luck.
Not a suspicion entered his mind. In
the next round Conkling succeeded in
planting few light blows on his OPP
pOnent's chest, but was knocked down
at the conclusion with so much force
that he was unable to rise for an instant.
When he rose to his feet it was plain to
be seen he was very angry, but he
hard to CONTROL his emotions.
He was badlyused up. His hyperion
curl'' had lost its curve and hung limp
and soggy on his forehead. His clothes
were torn, while great beads Of sweat
rolled down his face. The spectators
were ready TO shrek with laughter, but
were held in check by old Zack, who
promised them still further sport. He
then signaled to Mace to ego in" !
Mace did go in. He pushed Roscoe.
He crowded him, he pounded him. He ,
worried him so that at last Conkling !,
dropped into chair so weak and ex-
hausted that he could no longer retain
his legs. Then the pent-up merriment ,
Of the spectators broke forth, led by
old Zach himself. They howled and
yelled. You could have heard them
block. Slowly the truth dawned upon
that he had heen made the VIC