Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-09
ssPurring''-A Brutal Exhibition.

Camden last March, has been persist
emily challenged ever since by George
Grabby, an English miner. who was
present at the conflict, and then ex-
pressed q determination to challenge the
winner twill be remembered by those
who read a description of the brutal
spectacle that the men used the regula-
ton metal-toed Lancashire clog, and
that McTevish's legs were cut and
slashed in a fearful manner, while one
of his opponents legs were broken.
McTevish, Welshman and compare
lively new arrival in the country, waited
long time before paying any attention
to the challenge. He was SO much dis
abled. in fact, that he could barely hob
BILE about for at least Il month after the
match. When he did get on his feet
again he expressed Discrimination to
run the risk of being crippled for life q
second time, but through the kindness
of Officious friends he was induced to
accept Grabby's challenge. This was
in the early part of June, and both men
went into training, with the understand
ing that they We're to meet inside of
twenty days.
Grabby's wife begged and pleaded
with her husband not to begin in Amer
lea what had so nearly cost him his life
in England. Partly to satisfy her, but
more to prevent her from carrying out
the threat of being present at the strug-
gle if it occurred, the man told her that
the match was '.off.' This interference
on the part of Mrs. Grabby resulted in
a rather unlooked-for sequel. Monday
evening last Eddie James and Bob
Johnson, two well-known sporting char
acters about town, who had been dele
gated to find suitable place for the
meeting. went to McTevishis house and
told him of the location, and that every
thing had been arranged for Thursday
night. Then they went to hunt up
Grabby. He was not at home, and after
a vain search through Mclean 5. Cleary's
and kindred places, the young men de-
cided to leave word in note. This
they did. and ten minutes after they left
Mrs. Grabby learned just where and
when her husband would risk his pre-
cious shinS. Thursday night about twelve
O lock,'a party of sixty or thereabouts,
who had secured tickets at two dollars
each, started for the rendezvous. The
principals and their seconds were driven
off in carriages, and it was mutually
agreed that the kicking should begin as
near two o'clock as possible.
The place selected by James and
johnson was well adapted for the pllr-
pose. 1t was Il large room in the rear
of Port Richmond saloon, whose pro-
prietor would let it out as willingly for
a place of execution as for Sunday
school, provided he was paid. One of
those interested was stationed in the
bar-room and another at the door lead
ing to the back room, to guard against
any surprise by Mayor Kings police
men. At 1:3O o'clock the men began
to get ready. Each was provided with
knee-breeches, undershirts,. and shout
der-straps and elbow-tugs similar to
those used in collar-and- elbow wrest-
ling. This, although not according to
the rules Of the purring ring, was an
idea of McTevish, and was accepted
without opposition by his opponent.
Mc'Tevish's clogs We're the same he had
used in the great match with Tiernev
in March-hob-nailed, with pointed
toes, and fastened with leathern thongs.
Grabby's footgear was almost similar,
excepting that the toes of his clogs
turned up a little more and were. if
anything, a little sharper. At McTev-
ish's request the money for which the
battle was to be fought was subscribed
then and there by the hackers and
placed in the hands of a stakeholder.
As there was only one lamp in the
room-a large, old-fashioned affair,
with a tin reflector behind it, and that
SO fixed rs to cast the iget 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 unani-
mously chosen referee.
Al two o'clock, the men having SUBJ
mitted their feet for inspection TO show
that there was no protruding nails,
James gave the word to ''purr.n Grab
by 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 en-
gage in. For fully five minutes they
SPARED with their feet IN q manner that
was simply wonderful. Blows We're
countered and returned with the same
skill and rapidity as shown by men
fighting with their fists. Net once in
that time did either man more than
touch his opponents skin. Then Nc
1eN1Sn, taking Il HIIllcE HOlu Oh HIS OPP
ponent's collar, lifted his left foot and,
after keeping it poised for a, moment.
made a straight ''toe kick for his OPP
ponent's right knee. Grabby deity
avoided the blow by spraddling his legs
far apart, and with almost inconceiva-
bic quickness brought his left foot
around and caught McTevish on the
outside of the right calf The flesh was
laid open almost to the bone, and the
blood spurted out in streams. McTev-
ish never uttered word. AT the same
instant that his own leg was cut he
gave Grabby what is known as Il ''sole
scrape." Beginning at the instep and
ending just below the knee-pan, Grab
by's left shin was scraped almost clear
of skin. Both men were evidently in
pain and angry. They kicked and
countercd dozen times again without
doing any damage. Then Grabby, by
some mishap, lost his hold on his oppo-
nent's shoulder-strap. In attempting
to grasp it again he lifted his eyes for {;
moment. and before he could recover