The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-11-26
AFFAIRS OF HONOR!
How They Settled Disputes in the Olden
DAYS.

| Not fnfreqentIy hears expression of sorrow
the degeneracy of the times and the decline o
manhood. People do not act with the same honol
and fairness in the days when disputes were
settled by stepping out into the open field ant
knocking it out like men,
Several illustrating the good old style were
brought up, a evenings since. notable was
that of the battle between Mike Vance and CraynoI
McKnniss, which took place in front of the grocery
of Abe French the spot where the Hunter building
| now stands. The men met at that place, and, sur
rounded their friends decided to settle their diff
Guilty by fair fight. Careful preparation was made
each took off everything but pants and boots.
relative McKnniss went into the grocery and got
glass of whisky, which he handed to one of the
fighters, who bathed his temples and hands with it,
and handed it to the other who did likewise. Then
abe master of ceremonies called out stand back gen.
tlemen!' The circle widened and the two men went
at each other. They thumped, and clawed and scuf-
fed and pounded all over the street, until they fl
nally got clear the street, where the old
jail building stands, when they got down. After
scuffiing for time Vance seized McKinniss by the
eyebrow with his teeth, when McKinniss "hollered
and that ended the fight. 1t very close question
with the defeated whether he could afford to be
disfgured by further tussle he to be married
within a day or two.
1t was customary in those days, when two men had
a dispute to put off n settlement of their difficulty
until the day of general muster On that day. as soon
the military drill through with, there would
be general rush for the Public Square in jackson,
where there was certain to be several fights. Here
the would strip and at it in true prize-ring
style, that there no rounds 1t was
rough-and- tumble, fst-and-skull, ip-and-thigh,
tooth-and- toenail, the-Devil-and-Tom-W Walker.
Another fight, and one having some comic features
about the battle between Sam. Reed and Hugh
(''Bunk') Giland. This fight occurred just west of
wheresthe School House now stands. Bunk had de-
feated Sam in a former contest, and there was
rivalry between the two. Sam. collected number of
his friends and proceeded TO show on the spot desg
mated. Bunk standing in front of some exhibi-
tion outside of the tent when SAM approached, but
Bunk him. He then passed on, and as he
around again placed bar of lead in his hand to give
it weight. Approaching Bunk SAM threw all his
weight into terrific blow, and missed the man.
Bunk turned and they went at it. Reed would strike
hard that he would turn clear around every time
and he seemed to hit Bunk every time. At last he
struck Bunk between the eyes, terrific blow which
stunned him. After standing and shuddering for a
moment, Bunk seemed to recover himself sufficiently
to 'holer,' Sam. had previously made arrangements
with his friends that in Bunk getting away
with him, they to be parted, but as long as he
was laying onto Bunk, he must be let alone until
Bunk gave up.
Bunk was a man of con siderable strength, and was
victorious in many a hard-fought contest But Sam.
too much for him. These were fair types of the
style of settling affairs of honor in those days. A
who would not stand up and fight in those days,
was at all, and good sound thrashing, was
considered more honorable than refusal to fight
dog fight, even though man should be beaten and
chewed out of all semblance to humanity.