The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-24
somebody 70 Knock Down.

Somebody to KnookDown.
The ragc for the art defensive has
taken possession of Il number OF young
men in this city, and one of its worst
victims is young man employed in the
Office of certain mining company. lie
bought pair of boxing gloves and
practced on the Office boy and telegraph
messenger boys with such success that
he felt certain he had mastered the
manly art. and began TO express him
self as wondering how much Sullivan
would give him to stand up to him
eight or len rounds. So confident was
no that he could "knock out any man
of his inches, and 50 persistent was he
in obtruding invitations to sparring
bout on every small boy that entered
the Office, that his fellow clerks deter
mined to put up little Job on him. A
professional bruiser--known Is one OF
the best light weights in tho country
was interviewed and the arrangements
perfected
In order to make the thing work
smoothly, it was necessary to have u
| SuCIIllCt, anu QUO Va Jt' Nouit-bC iva
er's fellow clcrks--a young man Of about
biz own size and age, whom he had fire.
Iuently knocked about with the gloves
consented to assume the somewhat
disagreeable role At the time appoint
ed the professional appeared at the Of
flee and inquired for the secretary.
mot in; anything ] can DO for youo"
asked the boxer
The professional had his neck swathed
in handkerchief, spoke with great Of
fort. as if suffering from severe cold.
and looked so meek and innocent gen
orally that he was about she last man "A
novice would have taken tor y prizs
tighter.
No" he said, in answer to the qies-
ton, Il jest come down from Firginny.
and rve got letter 10 Mr.. -.
and if he wou't be long, | guess I'll
wait"
"Oh, hell be in in few moments.
SIT down ard make yourself ut home"
In y few moments the secretary re-
turned and was soon followed by a
select few who had been invited. who
dropped in to chat for half an hour, it
being after business hours. OF course
the conversation was soon tuHned on
the subject OF boxing, and the boxer inn
mediately brought ont his gloves and
challenged any man in the room to a
bout.
Keep quiet about Your boxing" said
the secretary. There's that little fell
low over there, only n Comstock miner,
and suppose lac never had the gloves
on in his life, and I'd gamble that he
could get away with you"
He could, could he? Here, young
fellow, just take these gloves, and put
up your props"
No" said the professional; Pm
afraid OF you, but III tackle that other
young fellow" pointing to tho gentle
man who had been selected as the sscr-
flee.
II don't care il do go you around"
said the sacrifice, and at it they went.
and the professional went to tho floor
every round, and allowed himself to DO
knocked around like % football; but oc-
casionally he would get in ali apparently
accidental sidewipcr on the ribs that
W Oulu uidhC VIZ NdCilHtS uht -
porpoisc and wish he had not accepted
the job of being II sacrifice. The round
being finished, the professional dropped
into chair apparently completely ex-
hausted, coughing rs if in the last stages
of consumption, and declared that the
doctor up at Virginia City had pro-
nounccd his ailmtnt desperate case of
pneumonia. The woud-bc boxer, how
ever, had no computations about knock
ING out Il dying man. All he wanted
was somebody TO knock ont; so he said
TO the professional: Young Teller,
when you get your wind, I'll go YOU
some myself
.'Oh. I'm afraid you'd make Il corpse
of me-" was tho reply.
sob, come on" said the boxer. II
won't hurt you; I'll just tap you light"
At last, and with much seeming re-
iactancc, the professional consented,
and the boxing proceeded, Every little
while the professional would send in on
the boxers ribs n whacking blow. which,
to the inexperienced eve and 20 the box
or himself, was the result of sheer awk-
wardness. The boxer confined his
spGrrlng To attempts to hit his antagon-
lists face, and he was occasionally Al
lowed to get in n light tap, just
to give him condolences; but the whacks
on his ribs soon began to tell. aud sore
and painting he sank into chair and
declared that there was no usc in put
ting science against nero strength.
The pugilist then gave few illustra-
tons of his art. and showed how he
worked it to get in those side-winding
body blows. He had not proceeded far,
however, before the would.be boxer
''tumblcd," so to speak.
81 see how it is boys" he ccclaimed.
''you played cold deck on me--all
right, please imbibc at my expense"
The boxing gloves are now locked up
in the office safe. -Sap Francisco CaR
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