The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-04
AN ARTISTIC FIGHT.
unEe sharp in petrolt Free press.l

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solid masonry, and the curve of the river
allows it to take beautiful sweep that Is
most delightful to the eye. Beatrice park is |
opposite and Battersea itself is further up |
the river Another old timber bridge |
crosses the Thames at the upper end like a |
Chelsea veteran on clutches. Fur |
tier down there is spick and
span, star spangled gilt-edged Suspension
bridge of the latest fashion Near the old
bridge, appropriately enough, cluster the
ancient moss grown tile roofs of bygone
Chelsea. BY the new bridge are the tall new
mansions of the Norman Shaw fashion.
Alou t at the junction of ancient and mod
ern houses rises the square old tower Of Chel-
sea church, which stands ready to 'ring out
the old and ring in the new" styles of archi-
lecture.
Standing on Battersea bridge at night, the
sight down the embankment is most inter
esting one; the row of lights duplicated in
the water if tho tide is high seems like two
mile double string of pearls with here and
there ruby among them. The red light
shows where stone steps go down to the
river.
Sunday afternoons is a great time on the
embankment, as everybody and his wife
walks up and down, and they generally
bring the children. But during church time
in the forenoon the long eubankment is gen
orally deserted, except by a few old repro
bates who do not have the g. ace to pretend
they are at church by staying in doors
Ono fine Sunday morning | walked down
the embankment and saw number of big
hulking bargemen dressed in their coarse
moleskins, leaning over the granite wall
looking down at the river. They were evil
IDENTIFY idling away the time till the
public houses opened, which would
be at u or thereabouts. As
there was seemingly something down
there that amused them, and as
the chances were that it was man drown
ing for that is about their idea of real good
fun, looked over the embankmentwal my
self. The tide was far out and from the bot
tom of the granite wall reach of white,
round pebbles stretched to the muddy edge
of the receding water.
Close at the foot of the wall, where pre-
sumo he had thought himself free from OBJ
| servation, sat a young artist on a three
legged camp stool He had his thumb
| through little japaned tin box of water
colorS, and he was working away diligently
on sketch of old Battersea and the timber
| bridge He had the ancient Battersea church
tower as the center object OF the picture
He paid no attention to the remarks of the
bargemen above, and probably thought they
were not accomplished enough in art matters
| for their criticism to be of much value to
| him At last the center man, and the big
gest, toughest bully of the lot, hit on a way
| Of securing attention. The act was charac-
| teristic. The bargeman leaned far over the
stone parapet and getting his foul mouth di-
| rectly over the picture let fal quantity of
tobacco juice that descended square on the
| drawing, and as the picture formed a sort
of inclined plane it flowed in a brown, dis
gushing stream across the surface, blotting
out part of the water-colOr and destroying
the labor of forenoon. The success of this
effort was greeted with loud laughter by
the ruifian's comrades, who evidently looked
on it as one of the most refined pieces of gen.
uine humor they had seen for long time.
! expected the young man would swear
somewhat, but he didn't Taking the de-
filed sketch eingerly by the corner heiwalked
to the edge of the ebbing river and dropped
it in the river Returning he looked upor
the gang and said:
d. Ii Juc DEute WIZ uiu Iudb Will COlllS uOhi
here on the shingle l will be pleased to punch
his head for him, although don't usually
handle such carrion."
There was big laugh at this and tht
scene certainly was ludicrous. The slim
artist stood with his hands on his hips look
ing up at the bargemon, each OF whom wa
about as big as three Of him.
: Better goa whome to thy NANNY
yonker," said the gruff voice of the splitter
d thought it was you. You're not afrait
to como down are youl You look like
coward. Nobody but q cowardly houn,
would do such thing"
Now it isn't & safe thing to call an English
man a coward, no matter in what walk o
life he is. The harsomea at once moved 70
the steps, the big fellow muttering that h
would take the conceit out OF tie yonker
and the others telling him not to be ito
heavy on i'm. Bill"
was nearer the steps than they and wa
= speedily down on the smooth, round stone
/ and by the side. of the young painter. II
, had methodically folded his camp stool
{ closed up his drawing materials and place
his easel leaning against the granite wall
He was coolly unbuttoning his cuffs when
= reached him.
: You are not going to be so foolish as
l fight that giant" said.
IN have try at him"
"The chances are that he'll kill you. Be
s ter let bad enough alone. If you could d
anything with him, which you can't, th
n rest would turn in ami thrash you"
d u don't think 81. l have always foun
that il man makes fair stand-up fgt
for It, even among the lowest classes he wi
get fair play. Thanks" This. as l held OF
my hand for his cuffs and collar. "Ill ju
Il hang my coat over the easel That will d
u nicely, thank you"
> "Where will ! send your body when th
s. things OVER
n You'll find my card in the breast poke
:. l don't think you'll need to trouble, bl
/ you're very kind all the same"
s, "Don't mention it"
q "Bill was ready by this time, enc of b
J. friends holding his heavy jacket and the re
handkerchief that had been about his nee
4 "Now, men, of course you'll see fair pla,
But let us have no loud talk or some TO
viii get the police up above. Better get
7 near the wall as you can
70 Right you are" said one of the men, al
y they did as he suggested.
Maybe Tom cred better stay up atop Il
u give us the word if e sees any on 'em
he comm. Give Us a cough, Tom, and US CT
lay by bit"
"Thats good idea said the artist, ar
Tom clattered over the stones, climbed Il
II steps, and leaned over where he could S
III the fight. He nodded that the coast W
le clear.
re The big man struck out with tremendo
force, but, not hitting the agile artist, the f,
low slipped on the loose stones and came dov
on his knee, the artist standing with |
k, hands on his hips, seemingly a favorite at
h tude of his, till his enemy clunsily arose
nc an act of magnanimity that caused fai
or hurrah from the men who stood against Il
or granite.
wv "We're to be quiet about this" said t
90 young man warningly.
VT When the fellow got on his feet again
seemed enraged at his mishap, and hit o
:" wildly at tho artist, who contented himst
with lodging the blows. As the paint
re SPARED around he thrust his foot inside t
" leg of the bargeman, who seemed at sea
e' the slippery stones, and down he came