Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-14
FOUGHT WITH BARE FISTS
RIVALS FOR FAIR HANDS MEET
IN THE PRIZE RING.

Notoriety and the Hand of the Same
Maiden-The Police Interfere with the
Fight, and Principals, Seconds and
Spectators Take to the WOOds-Ru-
mors that the Fight VIII be Renewed.
Sporting circles were all agog Yester-
day over a fercely contested prize fight
on the outskirts Of the city. John Nor
rls and young man named James New
combe were the principals. Both are
middle weights and both are aspirants
for pugilistic notoriety, and the favor of
the same fair maiden. Their rivalry in
love brought about a challenge. The
Helen of their war is said TO be a divinity
who has something to do with the spin
dies in the cotton factory.
Norris is TALL six feet, not counting odd
| inches, rather WiTy, 81 years old and
weighs about 100 pounds. In weight and
age NewcOmbe is about the same, but in
build he is short and thiok. He is en-
ployed in the blacksmith shops of the Sa-
| Vannah, Florida and Western railway,
While Norris is fireman or emplOye Of
some kind on the Central railroad.
The arrangements for the fight were
made fortnight or more ago. At first
only few friends were let into the Sc
! cret. Seconds were chosen and Bakers
! pasture west of Battery Park was Sc
/ lected as the spot where the mill was to
! come of. The day being set so far ahead,
the proposed meet leaked out, and finally
there was little pretence at keeping the
/ affair secret, except from the police.
! FLOCKING TO SIZE THE FIGHT.
! Between 2 and O'Clock Yesterday
afternoon the conductors on the Liberty
and West Broad street cars were sur
! prised at the number of passengers they
/ rsr,sr rt,sI
| going west on Liberty street was packed
| with men and large boys from the eastern
section OF the city. The West Broad
street cars were crowded from the swingle-
! trees to the back dashboard.
Patr0lman Floyd was riding along West
Broad street, and he too wondered what
was going on. Squads Of men ten to
! twenty together were walking out toward
! the southwestern section of the city.
! Following them, he rode out through Bat
! terry Park and on until he saw q large
! crowd OF perhaps 500 in Bakers pasture.
The principals were just preparing for
| the fight. Their coats were off and every
thing was nearly ready. The moment the
officer was seen, however, there was
! great commoti0n. The crowd scattered,
| and the men in s1irt sleeves, with the
! sleeves cut very short, gathered up coats
and caps, and the seconds seized the
spOnges and made off.
THE POLICE ON THE SCENT.
! No doubt was left in the officers mind
as to what was about to occur. Turning
his horse, he rode rapidly back toward
the city for assistance. On the way he
met Sergeant Lingg and PatrOlmen Nc
Quade and Hall gallOping rapidly in the
direction of the place he had Just left.
All four then started back to look for the
fighters. They had disappeared and it
| was time bafOrn fha pOlf0amop uOf
on their trail. Emerging suddenly in an
open space back Of the colored cemetery,
the mounted men spied q great crowd
standing on a bank watching Norris and
NewcOmb pummel each other. The two
had been fighting upwards of an hour,
| and fifteen more minutes would have de-
cided the match.
FIGHTING WITH BARE FISTS.
Neither fought scientifically, and the
Marquis OF Queensbury would have been
! Disguised had be seen the set-to. Both
fought pretty sharply, but Norris had the
advantage from the first. His arms being
longer ne was able to Overreach his oppo-
nent. Besides, be seemed cooler. New
cOmbe, Notwithstanding he was handi-
capped by his build, made it exceedingly
lively tor his tall antagonist.
The betting was even at the start, but
as the fight wore on and Norris showed the
]
cluded he would win. Each man had his
own friends in the crowd. Both had been
training for two weeks under "Slasher''
Kelly and were in fair trim. AS time was
called after each round the two went at IL
again with business like manner. Both
men were severely punished but New
cOmbe appeared to be getting the worst,
He was cut under both eyes and they
were going into deeper mourning every
minute.
THE GIRL IN THE CASH.
Norris kept up running conversation
all the time and every few minutes would
say:
'Mind, Jim, i'll lick you am going to
have her"
The spectators cheered them on, and
seemed to be enjoying themselves hugely
when the officers bore down upon them.
''lhe cOppers are comm" some one
yelled. The referee forgot TO call ''time,"
and the principals did not wait for him t.
call it. Stripped TO their undershirts and
perspiring though they were, the pugilists
broke out of the ring and leaped into the
swamp. Before the patrolmen got TO the
ring all who had been directly interested
in the fight were soramblIng through the
water and mud up to their knees to d
place of safety. The policemen did moi
attempt to follow, for the fight was evil
IDENTIFY broken up.
! TOOK TO THE WOODS.
The crowd was a mixed one and not al
all pleased at the arrival of the mounted
men. After a good bit of grumbling and
conjecture as to what would have beer
the result 1t dispersed. Newcombe's
friends insisted that he was not anything
: like whipped and would have won had
.. the fight not been interrupted.
Neither OF the principals was satisfied
and il was understood that the two would
meet again and have it out. Last night 4
> report was circulated that the fight was
In progress, but where was not learned
nor was the report verified.
Both OF the principals have records in
the police courts.
Travellers for at points in Florida, south
Of jacksonville, will find the Jacksonville
Tampa and Key West railway the short
est, best, and most desirable route in all
respects. Trains leave from Savannah
Florida and Western railway station IN
. ! ,IaokgOnVille. avoiding all trauefpr tbnro