Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-21
FIsT-FIGHTING.
Once the Peculiar Diversion OF the
Russian Peasantry.
Bsrbarous Custom Which ia Years Gon<
~ Wa Very Popular tn Russia, but
Whieh Is Now Almost Entirely
Suppressed.



the question; 50 that, IN consequences, these
little encounters did not serve 10 bring TO-
gether criminals II both sexes. They diff
fered, moreover, ia this-that, in major
ity Of eases. these contests were not be-
tween individuals, but the people Of one
village fought against those OF another; OF
the saturts against the central part Of the
city; oS ward against ward; sometimes
thousands participated ia H.
Now this barbaroUs custom is almost en-
tireIy suppressed, and only in very remote
corners OF the great Empire, far from au-
thOsity, do they ever occur, and then only
By stealth and on a small scale.
remember as boy | was once, during
the Easter holidays, on visit 10 a small
town OF Great Russia, and witnessed such
a battle 1t was a most exciting and
startling sight A large public place in the
center of the town was occupied by great
mass OF pleasure seekers. The appearance
was very harmless. Men, women and
children, most OF them belonging TO the
lower classes, in National costume, strolled
along forming small groups, eating pump
kins and sunfOwer- seeds, or st. Johns
bread and cakes; volunteer singers amused
the public unpaid; everywhere were laugh
ter and me riment l stood with my tutor
little aside on the steps of store, looking
curiOusly on the picturesque scene. Sud
denly sounded all over the bazaar
the cry: "Away, women! Away! Give
/ place." The women thus named fled in all
directions with their children, taking ref
uge on the raised sidewalks and beneath
empty market halls. On the opposite side
of the bazaar two groups were forming;
shouting, teasing, challenging one another,
/ remaining, however, in their position.
/ Only the small boys passed from word to
action. On the free space between the two
armies the first skirmsh began; it was
/ nothing serious, though, there being more
noise than fight. The fathers and older
brothers IN the regular army encouraged
/ the little champions, approving or scolding
them. Gradually bigger boys joined the
fiehters right and left. II grew warmer.
The bulk of both armies were forming in
line and slowly approaching each other
I All must be bare-fsted and empty hand
ed: even to hold a few copper coins in the
fist to make it heavier was prohibited. 1t
was looked upon a disgrace and dishon-
or to the party if any one employed unfair
means. In case of detection the victim
received so fearful beating that it gen.
orally ended in death or a long illness. The
boldest before the line opened the fight: q
| terrible crash followed, the links of the
| line OF suburbans-whO were fighting
| against those of the central part of the
town-were broken in a moment by the
first attack, and fought now singiy and in
groups. retreating TO their quarters. /
thought they were lost, when saw emerg-
ing from a narrow by-street a young fell
low on the side of the suburbans, who was
greeted with immense enth siasm
''The blacksmith, The blacksmith Hur-
rah, Ivan. Don't make "a backward step
now. Forward, blacksmith. Forward !
Help US beat these miserable tailors and
shoema<ersl Hurrah, comrades For
ward!
And, forward they went. Ivan, the
blacksmith, paused for moment. He was
a short-bult, broad -shouldered man, clad
in black velvet trousers, red cotton shirt,
high-top boots. blue -borilered fur caftan
and beaver cap. Throwing his caftan on
the snow, he gave smart toss to his cap.
A 81 ght pallor overspread his cheeks, and
be dashed into the midst of the crowd. His
friends gave way before him, so that he
/ oOpn ItuIutU but tiltillI w uub du III
huence he must have had over all this peo-
pie. His friends, confident of victory now
stood their ground bravely, though, as yet,
advancing very slowly.
His antagonists lost their boastfulness,
calling for their chief and most renowned
fighter, a huge, heavy-built driver, who
was smotheriug the suburbans on another
wing. AS soon as he heard the cry 'Black-
smith" >" be tried TO meet him, but being
surrounded on every side by human
wall was forced 10 fight for every
step; however, he could not ar
rive in time. The blacksmith, dashing
heaGlong into the living mass, made a
large break: his comrades, following,
broke the center, dividing the enemy in
two. 1t was terrible to see Ivan making
his wav. He was regarded as the strong
est man in his community, and how much
this reputation had to do with his success,
was difficult 20 decide. Nobody faced him
In the right manner; right and left the men
fell as If killed. The excitement of the by
standers was 80 great that many could not
2 restrain themselves. saw rich, respected
{ merchants throwing Their costly fur cloaks
ON the snow, 70 join the combatants. Every
i order had now ceased. Wounded and
2 sw0oning men were brought out every five
. minutes, badly disfigured and covered with
E blood. The burghers lost ground more and
more Their chief fighter having aband-
oned his position on the left wing. gave the
suburbans time TO recover. and press their
antagonists with more force. At last the
r dr. yer succeeded in freeing himself. and
4 now challenged his rival, the blacksmith
As soon as the news spread among the
colnbatants. the fight in general abated
! and A wide ircle was formed around tn,
: two chiefs. We'll" said ne driver
shall We fcht for all an,
I finish it between us twO2r
: was the first time they had met, although
they knew each other bv fame. and they
!, hesirated 20 begin. "An right" answered
z Ivan. that viii be the shortest way {.