Morris tribune., 1883-03-31
DUCKED FOR A DUCKY.

is TIC CtutcI Vi BY stoHu-tLtt iAukoS up
the visible universe.
DUCKED FOR A DUCKY.
Singular and Dangerous Contest BE.
tween Rival Lovers of a Mullatto
Maiden.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Horace Gardell, a colored man. with a
smile like that of a four months old calf,
put his head in a bucket of water on
Saturday at Eighth and Lombard streets
and won charming little mulatto wife.
The peculiar way in which he gained her
was owing to the fact tat bitter con-
test had been going on for her hand for
several months between himself and
George Smith, colored gentleman OF
a peculiarly olive-white tint who lives
on Dugan street above Pine and hawks
bottles and rags for living. 1t was nee
essary to settle the matter somehow, rs
the maiden regarded both aspirants
with equal favor. Gardell lives in Bal
timore and Smith, therefore, had the adj
vantage of him to certain extent; but
the latter is not at all handsome and
says he can't help "snickering" in very
objectional way when he looks a girl in
the face. Smith was so anxious that he
should not appear to be jealous that he
gave Gardeli carte blanche to come to
Philadelphia any time he liked and stop
at his house. 1t can only be imagined
how he felt when his rival came up
every Saturday evening and stayed till
Monday, thus having almost as much
opportunity as himself to win the girls
affections. The maid herself is Nettie
Tack and she was until recently engaged
in the domestic profession on Spruce
street, above Twelfth.
On Sunday last the men came to the
conclusion that it would be as well to
have the matter fixed up, once for all.
Gardell was especially clamorous, as he
had just inherited $50 from the estate
of deceased aunt and wanted some
one to help spend it. On the other hand,
Smith tried to counterbalance this by rep.
resentlng that he was manipulating
for corner in the rag and bottle market,
and would soCn, no doubt, net several
dollars. Miss Tack, dressed in red and
green, with blue feathers "to match"
told the pair frankly that they were
equally ravishing to her eyes and that
she could not for the life of her decide
which to marry.
"Set up some task, exclaimed Smith
LET us prove to you in tangible
way that we love you. Then
the man who proves the tangible blest
tan be your. husband"
tfardell assented, but demanded
taat the task should have NJ
reference to bottles or rags, with
which, he said, he was by no means ia
miliar. Then Smith proposed that the
fishing profession predictions, with !.
which the other man is identified should
be excluded. Gardell, who once worked
for diver, suggested that the man who
few miles or so without breathing should
have the prize. Smith dissented, on the
ground thatithis had.somethingt to do with
fishing. Finally, the men got down to
bukets of water and the terms of the
contest, as it was held, were formally
put and carried by the following vote:
Ayes--Nettie Taci. and Gardell; no
Smith.
At ten o'clock on Saturday morning
the three interested persons, accompan-
led by the Rev. Josiah Irving of the At
rican M. E. Church, of Baltimore, repre-
senting Gardell, and the Rev. Thomas
Chain, of the same denomination, OF
Philadelphia, representing Smith, ar
rived at little house where colored paG-
.,H congregate, on Lombard street.,
above English. At least one hundred
colored persons ofevery shade and attire
yelled themselves hoarse with delight at
the prospect OF the tournament. A re-
port had been circulated that the rivals
were to fight with razors till one or the
other succumbed, and this drew larger
crowd than would have assembled had
the true conditions been generally
known. The party bowed their ac-
acknowledgements of the reception and
surged up stairs into spacious second
story room. Gardell had fierce look
of determination on his face, which
kept biting his lips savagely. Miss
Tack's eyes sparkled and she smiled be-
nignly. When they reached the arena
they ranged themselves round the buck
cts and the clergyman stood near, ready
to marry any one to ANYBODY.
"Time!o roared the Rev. Josiah Irv-
ing.
In a second two woolly heads were
ducked iuto the buckets. After fifty
seconds Smith began to squirm and wrig-
gle as if severely tried. At fifty-three
seconds Smith withdrew his skull from
the water and five seconds later Gardell
did the same.
"Bravo! You've got herl' shrieked
the crowd with one voice.
But it was not 80. There were to be
three rounds, with one minute interval,
and the man who kept his head under
longest was to be the winner.
down againw was beloved out this |
time by Rev. Thomas Chain, and the
heads popped under second time with |
two separate splashes. Smith pulled |
and blew horribly and kicked out lusti- |
ly, hurting she prospective bride con-
siderably. He made fifty seconds and |
Gardell forty-nine. Things were getting
exciting and very many ofthe spectators
could hardly contain themselves.
Time! Put 'em underl" once more
yelled the Rev. Josiah Irving, and down |
went the heads. Gardell seemed rather |
against forty to Smith, who came up al |
most dead. 1t was really "a walk over |
for the Baltimorean, and Smith felt 80 |
mis- ,rable that he said nothing The |
winner, however, was dried and patted |
on the back. Then his clerical seconds /
got up and solemnly pronounced the |
marriage ceremony, binding Miss Nettie |
Tack and Mr.. Horace Gardell together
for life.
The winning party took late train to
Baltimore, where the laurel and orange
blossom crowned victor is q stevedore
The unfortunate and defeated one skunk
off, Smith declaring that he never want
ed the brides hand; that he could have
won it If he had chosen, and that the /
whole thing was done for fun. "But it
win make talk in Lombard street."
said he.