St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-05
TOM OCHILTREE'S BET.
The Man Who Hit Jem Mace in

the Eye and How He Did 1t.
New York Letter to Philadelphia Times.
Most stories told of the fiery, untamed
Texan are emaDatiOns of the untruthful,
and the stock is supposed to be exhaust
ed. Mine, however, is of the genuine
George Washington brand. and is sup
ported by plenty of cOrrObOrative testi-
mOny. Ochiltree was present at the
famous fight between Jem Mace and
Tom Allen at Kenner. ten miles west of
New Orleans. There was gathered to
!. witness the famous bout probably the
most distinguished asSemblage of men
ever congregated in this country to look
upon struggle between two men. The
governor of Louisiana, the mayor and
the chief of police of New Orleans, the
entire supreme court OF the state,
congressman, men prominent in
all walks of life formed
ring that rose above the ropes.
After Mace had been declared the vic
tor the entire party returned to New
Orleans and drank many sparkling
bumpers to the continued success of the
champion. In one group in famous
resort were Col. Jack Wharton, United
States marshal for Louisiana; the late
Sam Hatch, who now has brother in
congress from Missouri: Col. George
Sheridan, who was one of Gov. War
mouths court, and who is now lectur-
ing through the country, and Col.
Thomas PhantasmagOria Ochiltree. In
warmly vOicing the praises OF Mace Col.
Jack Wharton said: 81 never saw
man use his hands more gracefully nor
with better effect. His defense is some
thing phenomenal. Do you know, gen.
tlemen, no man has ever struck Jem
Mace in the eye, and no man ever will.
1t is an impossible feat"
Nonsense" said the Hon. Mr..
Ochiltree.
what do you mean, sir?" said Col.
Jack Wharton, crimsonly.
Just what L say, SIR" replied the
red-headed warrior from the Rio
Grande. II can hit Mace in the eye
myself"
bet you 800 and a dinner you
can't" answered Col. Jack Wharton,
.'Taken," said the Hon. Mr. chiltree.
Jem Mace was in the room. He had
not heard the conversation. The Hon.
Mr.. Ochiltree, who was well ac-
quainted with the boxer, approached
him with that urbanity of demeanOr
that constitutes his chief charm, and
requested him to take a glass of wine.
slightest trace of his encounter with AL
len, graciOuSly consented. He and the
Hon. Mr.. Ochiltree clinked glasses, the
latter holding his in his left hand. Just
as the wine touched Mace'S lips the
Hon. Mr.. Ochiltree hauled off with his
good right arm and dealt the fighter
savage blow i'll the left eye that made
the blood fly.
These are not the stsrs that Mace
saw. Nor are they the stars that Hon.
Mr.. Ochiltee saw. He had not time to
see anything. They are simply put
scene that ensued. -Four days after,
when Hon. Mr.. Ochiltree regained con-
seriousness, he was in bed in the st.
Charles hotel. One leg, which was in
splints. was suspended from pulley in
the ceiling. One arm was between
boards and bpndaged. His head was
swathed in linen. BY his side sat Col.
Jack Wharton and Sam Hatch with con-
Germ and cOmmiseratiOn written upon
their faces. The first words that Hon.
Mr.. Ochiltree uttered were: Ibid L
win the bet?"
Eyes. you won the bet," said Col.
Jack Wharton, sadly, but you are a
sight to see"
..Ten me about it," family whispered
the Hon. Mr.. Ochiltree.
"Well," said Col. Jack Wharton.
''there isn't much to tell. You struck
Mace squarely in one eye and then all
of sudden something seemed to hap
pen. | couldn't make out exactly what
it was, but the air seemed filed with
red hair and boot heels When the cy-
clone had subsidized we picked you UP
and brought you here, and here you
have been for four days"
Col. Ochiltree tells me that when he
runs for congress in this city next fall
his platform will be that he "never
voted for tax nor against an appropri-
atiOn.' l would also advise him to in
scribe OH his banners: 1.-The only man
who hit Jem Mace in the eye"
That shibbOleth might win in New
York.