San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-21

deserved thrashlng ne did There is
scarcely business man in New York who
would have submitted to what did without
resenting it. l. simply got up and walked
away. No better answer to the questions my
friend had been asking me could possibly
have been made
The fact is that before he will be drawn
into free fight a professional pugilist will
take about everything in the way Of an in
suit save a slap in the face. When he strikes
q person, even under the greatest provoca-
ton, he is viewed as a bully and coward, pre-
Stunning on his strength and superior skill to
abuseSis physical interiors. When refer
to pugilists l mean those of reputation and
admitted ability, and not to the Bowery
toughs, who make,it part Of their business
to swagger around, insulting inofensve
people and generally making themselves as
disagreeable us they know how. In what is
known as free fight a pugilist has nothing
to gain and everything to lose. Apart from
every other consideration. the question Of
policy alone is enough to make him peace
lover. If pugilist were to kill man not
professional fighter, even under strong pro-
vocation or in self defense, there Is not jury
that could be got together that wouldn't be
strongly prejudiced against him. even after
the facts were brought out.
WHAT BILLY EDWARDS TELLS.
One day several years ago was crossing
from Booflyn to New York, by the Hamil-
ton ferry, and as I disiiked smoking, had
gone, as was my custom, into the ladies
cabin on the boat. A buriy Irishman, who
evidently had been drinking, came up to me
and said: Amt you Billy Edwardsr
quietly told him that he was mistaken and
that my name was Williams add walked for
ward On the deck to avoid him. He followed,
grew abusive and finally started in with his
fists So attacked, responded witt, "a blow
that nearly knocked the fellow overheard.
He got up as meek as lamb, looked at me
for moment and said with am air Of pro-
found conviction, 81 knew you were Billy
Edwards" and walked off.
One day not long ago was about crossing
Broadway aud Chambers street when a burly
truckman who was driving down, seeing a
lady crossing Immediately in front of me,
deliberately whipped up his horses, with tho
obvious intention Of running over her. There
was no other reasonable explanation for the
vicious demonstration he made. Without
exaggeration she made what the novelists
call hairbreadth escape. l shouted at him
to look out, and after he had passed be re-
sponded to my protest by turning round and
seeing that was about half his size he gave
vent to string of oaths enough TO make tho
blood of any man curdle in his veins. When
hads seen the lady safely across the street,
and she was frightened and trembling in
every limb, walked back to the opposite
corner and told him that if he meant what he
had said he had better get down off his
truck. He sized me up again, and my sizo
reassuring him he jumped down and came
at me. bit him just twice and won first
blood and knock out in the first and only
round. 1t was worth an admission fee to
see the fellow pull himself together, make
home run to his truck and drive off.
shouldn't wonder if he has been less eager
since then to run down inofensive women
and bully small men. At all events be had
an object lesson in politeness he is not likely
tn forget New York World