The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-14
SPORTING SWORDSMEN.
COL. ROSS, MAGUIRE, LEE AND voSs
AT THE BALL PARK.
The Combat Might Have Been Very
Earnest On the Part Of the Actors.
But the Audience Pronounced 1t
Hippodrome.
Hippodrome.

The people of Memphis love genuine
sport and will 60 to see it every day in the
week, Sunday. included. They are not in
favor of being hippodromcd out of their
money, and when they are they make
vigorous kick. But they were caught yes.
tcrday afternoon at the baseball park, at
least several hundred Of them were. The
occasion was the much-advertiscd sword
tournament between the celebrated swords
men Col. Duncan G. Ross Maj. Mcguire,
Lieuts. Voss and Lee, all Of whom have
been regular army officers, Ross and Ma
guire of the British army, Voss Of the Ger
man and Lee of the United States. The
opening event did not begin until after
O'Clock, and the crowd grew nervously inn
patient, screamed and yelled for the fight
to begin At last Mcguire, Ross, Lee, and
young fellow unknown TO fame, and
most probably will ever be, named Hardin
mounted their horses, and after some few
minutes spent in selecting n referee Ma.
guire rode up TO the stand and announced
that the first event would consist OF fitting
at the three big rings that the audience
could sec suspended from foot
wire attached to a slat which protruded
from an upright slender scantling which
represented post. These posts were
about twenty feet apart and stood Just in
. front OF the grand stand. The rules OF
the contest were: One ring counted two
points, two rings six points and three
rings twelve points. Col Ross rode a
fiery bay horse, which possessed the rare
quality OF striking every gait known
10 quadruped in the short distance Of
forty yards. lie was dressed in boots,
blue trousers, sleeveless, low-neck, skin
tight shirt, and bareheaded. The horse
that Mcguire rode was long, lank gray,
and almost reached from post 10 post.
lie made good time, however The horse
ridden by young Hardin was evidently
hired from the car stables. Ii could not
have run around the park in an hour and
hall. but with all It's slownoss the rider
never took ring Lee rode good bay
mare. There were six tilts each. John
son, as stated, took no rings. Ross made
twelve points, and Mcguire and Ross
twenty-sfx each. Being a tie, they de-
cided it in one tilt each, Ice making
twelve points and Mcguire two. So Lee
was the winner.
The next event, which Is evidently a
dangerous exercise, was tent pegging. A
broad peg is driven in the ground, the
men are on horses and armed with n long,
steel-pointed lance. The horses are TO run
at fun speed. The feature Is to stick the
steel-poinled lance in the peg, which nee
esslrily compels the rider 10 hold the
lance downward, but full I'm front OF him.
To knock the peg down is two points, 30
stick the spear in it and lift it aloit is
twelve points. In this contest Col. Ross
Won easily.
Then came what was expected 10 be the
most exciting and bloodcurdling event
ever witnessed on the park grounds. II
was the sword and bayonet contest be-
tween Lee and Mcguire the former en-
cascd in armor and helmet, mounted upon
his horse, armed with n flashing broad
sword, was TO fight Mcguire, who also
wa, protected by mail and helmet,
~ with 18th, -, eayo 'nsS On Nile Me.
Ec,. LLad I,,,,lmet counted a point for him,
while Mcguire could strike him anywhere
on his armor for an advantage. Seven
rounds were fought. in which Mcguire was
declared the victor. lie showed consider
able skill, and at one time came very near
unhorsing his adversary.
Then followed similar contest between
RoS, and Noss, the former being on horse
back. OF course IL was all circus, but once
or twice the excited spectators thought
that Noss had been killed. He stood in.
trepidly as Ross would rush upon him,
and il seemed the horse would crush the
plucky little German, but he used his
weapon dexierously and got in the iirsl
point. which tore the skin from his an.
iagonists bare arm. In the second round
Ross rushed upon, and rs Voss lodged for
an advantage Ross struck him a murder
ous blow on the back OF the helmet, which
sent him whirling around like a chicken
with his head of. As Noss wa'
in the act Of falling lac Wal
caught by Mcguire. lie rcgained himsel
in few minutes and the contest was N
sumed; he gaining the point In thu
fourth encounter Ross dashed upon hin
with terrible force; Noss gave him q good
slraight thrust and fairly won the point
but rs he turned 10 get out OF the wal
Ross struck him q stunning blow on tn
back Of the head, which settled the com
bat. The blow would have killed an or
binary mule. Voss staggered and fell. III,
was picked up and everybody screamed
"He's killed. but Nos walked away 3
the drcssing.room. lie was given thrc'
minutes In which 20 return. but he ncve
did so. lie was only slightly stunned, a
Il was aiterward learned.
The closing contest WIS With broa'
swords between Ross and Mcguire
mounted. The horses reared, cayorte'
and dashed around over the field at a live
ly rate. while the two lyanhocs slashc,
and damned each other across their maj
and helmets.
-Four or 1--we rounds were fought, an
were exciting In TACT. Ross won, but no
easily. Tho crowd, with long shrek
'Rais. rats" hustled over the har
benches pell-mell and left, thoroughly AL
isted that Il was the greatest ~ swor
combat they ever expected 10 see.
LET THEN FIeHT.