The daily gazette., 1883-03-17
A PARLoR FIGHT.
NOW Two Men Fought on Brussels ear4
pet for FIFTY Dollars.

PITTsBURG, March 10. "A prize fight, one
of the most novel on record, occurred this
morning In the parlor of private residence
three miles from Altoona. The place where
the fight came of is owned by Colonel
Rohme, gentleman who is very wealthy.
The parlor had Brussels carpet on the floor
and the walls we're hung with pictures. In
the centre of the room, very large one, q
ring was marked out with chalk on the
carpet, and on the top Of this chalk-mark
silver-sand was spread. In room adjoin-
ing this all kinds Of liquors could be
had, as could also q small lunch These
things we're all furnished by the Colonel.
Probably 80 persons were in attendance. At
1.15 the principals In the tight, 0'Neal of
Pittsburg and Kohne Of Philadelphia came
into the parlor. They were clothed with
trunks and long stockings. When they
came into tine room Colonel Rohme shook
hands with them and said
"Gentlemen, 1t is not often such a nice
place can be selected for a fight, so now /
want you to do the best you can, and the
man who comes out winner will present
him with $50 Ia gold.
The men then went to the scratch and
O'Neal reached out his hand to shake with
Kohne, but the latter party refused to do
so. O'Neai then said: "That settles It; now
If can knock daylight out of you / will do
1t and will have no mercy" Kohne laughed
and said "You are at liberty to do so, pro
viding you can" The fight then began,
Colonel Rohme acting as referee Thirty
three rounds were fought, first blood being
drawn by 0'Neal In the first round. At the
close of the thirty-third round O'Neal
was decided the winner. Both
neither was seriously hurt. Kohne ap-
naarad m baUa rnnafuad fha uOruf of tho
fight, but O'Neal had more cuts on his face
than his opponent. After the fight was over
the stakes were turned over to O'Neal.
Colonel Rohme, the referee, came up and
shook hands with the fighters. He gave the
winner the $50 in gold which he had
promised. The fight was arranged by two
Philadelphians named Crum and Charles
aud two PittsbHrgers named Fisher and Nc
Cree. At first the men were to fight for
$500, but when they arrived at Altoona they
decided to fight for 81 900 side. The bal
ance of the purse was put up then and there
and John Coyne was chosen stakeholder.
During the 27th round quarrel started
among the Pittsburg and Philadelphia sports
about some money which had been bet on
that round and also about the Philadelphia
sports trying TO call foul. A man named
Rush, who, the men claimed, resided In
Pittsburg, strnck one of the Eastern men in
the mouth. A fight ensued, which was
quelled by Colonel Rohme.
The causes which led to the fight are said
to be as follows: In 1876 O'Neal went to
Philadelphia to visit the Centennial. He
renamed in the city for about one month.
While there he became acquainted with a
young lady and the two fell desperately in
love with each other. 0'Neal made several
trips to Philadelphia after this, and while on
his last trip there he married the young lady
and brought her home to Pittsburg. 1t ap-
pears that Kohne was also in love with the
young lady and that he proposed to her
several times, but she refused to have any
thing to do with him after she met O'Neal.
This made Kohne very angry. SO a couple
of months after they we're married 0'Ncal
received challenge from Kohne to fight
him. Neither OF the men have any repnta
tion as pugiists.