The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-05-17
Arist0cratic Sluggina in New
York:
New York Special.

New York Special.
The New York Athletic Club has
over thousand members, a magnifi-
cent new house a famous President
in the suffering joker, William R.
Travers, and is altogether powerful
and fashionable organization. The
fighting at the Athletic Club is usually
in gloves, but often in a regular ring,
under professional rules, with the
most exciting results in bloodshed
and bruises. In the public exhibitions
the savage battles are between pro-
fessional prize fighters hired for the
purpose; but equally desperate and
damaging encounters are held private.
ly by members. Here is an instance
that has not before been reported:
Willie Ellingsworth has achieved dis
tinction in amateur athletics. He
has a tremendous physique, with
notably long arms, and shoulders
fairly bumped by muscular develop
ment. His fist is like ham, and his
soul is swollen by the one boundless
ambition of knocking out any man,
who presumes to stand in sparring
attitude before him. His tactics be-
fore he strikes blow are enough to
frighten four men in five. He runs at
his antagonist with a snort, stops
suddenly when close to him, and then
stamps wildly ON the stage, while his
face goes through a series of grimaces,
before he begins to get in his fine work..
He is the pride of the New YorE:
Athletic Club, and yet the spectacle OF
seeing him licked is fondly anticipated.
as one to be memorable. An intima.
ton that some one has been engaged
to fight Willie will bring 900 men to
the house any night. The volunteer
this time was an outsider, Patrick
Farley, and the spectators were
earthly restricted to members, while
especial care was taken to keep the
press and police uniformed. A week
prior Willie had thumped a sturdy
young giant from a butchering estab-
lishment, leaving him insensible for
twelve minutes after the conclusive
blow under the jaw. 1t was thought,
therefore, that Mr.. Farley was taking
u large risk. The gathering around
the ring, waiting to see Willie lay an
other victim at his feet, regarded Far
ley with the same contemplative air
that they might have bestowed on a
slckly boy who sets out to blow back
cyclone. A careful survey of him,
however, disclosed the fact that he
had what is known as fighting mug.
His face was square, heavy iawed,
low-browed and thoughtful, as he
stood a veritab]e resurrection of Tom
Hyer. His sluggish eyes rested stolid-
ly on the enormous biceps and gnarlcd
shoulders which Willie barred as he
awaited his adversary's rush. It
came. Farley was knocked endwise
against the ropes. But he recovered,
and took position again in the middle
OF the stage. Williestamped, snorted,
and made another OF his headlong
rushes. But something unusual oc-
CURED. 1t was connected with Far
ley's right duke, which struck like p
trip-hammer on the club champions
neck and sent him spinning around
like q top. Farley followed up his adj
vantage, and slugged Willie with such
continuity and accuracy that he was
for a minute flustered. But the blood
OF the fig hting Ellingsworths was hot
in his veins, and his three gladiatorial
brothers in the corner howled at him
in one voice to stand still. He braced
himself, stood Farley's blows as they
came until he could get his own arms
into position again, and for the next
twenty minutes there was one of the
finest exhibitions of hard and fast
fighting that the ring has seen in New
York for many a day. Willie won,
but both men dripped with blood as
they STAGGERED from the ring