The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-09

Fierce Midnight Battle, with q Pretty
Waitress for the Stake.
From the San Francisco E-ran''"er.

waitress IOr sIc oSHI@
From the San Francisco Examiner.
The Pickering rays of light from the tall
electric mast on Telegraph hill were pene-
Urating the fog and mist that had settled
upon the rocky apex of the bald eminence
at 1870 o'clock yesterday morning, when
out of the surrounding darkness human
forms seemed 10 rise simultaneously from
alr-points of the compass. Men and women
came quietly and from oil directions, until
In a few moments over lO0 persons were
stealthlly gathered about the base OF the
mast.
The cause of the strange meeting was ex-
planned when two men, about - years OF
age, stepped from the crowd and COM
menced stripping for bare-knuekle hight.
They proved TO be Johnnie Buckner and
Luther England, drivers or rival milk
wagons, and they had selected this time
and occasion TO settle an old grudge and de-
eide which of the two should claim the I'M
moested affection of Addie Whitney, a
waitress in a Kearney street coffee saloo \,
whore the men regularly called IN disposing
of their wares.
Several spor,s were on hand, and the pre-
liminarieS were hastily concluded, referee
was chosen, timers and seconds appointed,
and time was about TO be called when the
fair Atdie moved to the center OF the circle,
and, Jlding aloft gold ring, pathetlcally
said:
This goes to the winner, and goes with
itn
The declaration was received with
snothered murmur of approval by outsid-
erS and principals, and the men went saw
agely to work i'll their fight for the posses
sion of ring aud girl.
Buckuer was the taller of the two, and
scaled about 40 pounds, while England
Gfa far a. I'm,
for lack OF size in ceverness aud ferocity.
Buckner was the first to lead, and made a
wild drive with his right. England daclIed,
and sent in fierce upper cut that landed
under the chin, causing Buckner'S teeth to
rattle. Both men then rushed and 1t was
give and take, smash, bang on body and
lace until the call of time.
Both were winded, and blood was flowing
in copious streams. AS soon as the men
we're in their corners the human stake Law
isled encouragement on Buckner, and as he
was returning to the scratch cheered him
with the remark:
Don't give up, Johnnie; I'm pulling for
you"
The second round was fought more care
| fully by Buckner, who spared for an open
| ing, but England had measured his man.
and in q final rally sent in right-handel
smash that cut tho lid of his opponents
right eye and raised a huge mouse on the
cheek bone.
Addie ST ii had hopes of Buckner's sue
cess, and again solaced him. She rubbed
him down, and just as time was called,
shrIeked:
You've got to win, Johnnie If you
don't Phi die"
Round three opened by Buckner jumping
| from his corner and rushing tiercsly. Eng-
land was waiting confidently, and as he
came, jumped aside, and stopped him with
a straight left-nander that landed on the
| nose, knocking Buckner of his feet.
The PROSTATE man was lifted TO his feet
before the call of time by his seconds, but
quickly went down to numerous blows in
the face.
Addie did not lavish her attentions on the
fallen Buckner before the final round, but
SHE'D III the direction of E gland, and be-
slowed upon him smile. Buckner could
hardly come to the scratch, but he wai
hustled along by his seconds. vino ordered
him to fight He was helpes s, however,
and. after getting several blood-drawing
smashes in the face, was put to sleep by a
crack on the chin.
Time was called, but he could not re-
spond, and the battle, girl and ring were
awarded to England by the referee.
just as the decision was rendered Addie
stood over her unconscious but defeated
lover. and with q smile deserted him with
the remark: 'Won, Johnnie you have
lost"
She then went to England, gave him the
ring, and twenty minutes after the crowd
had arrived upon the crest she was ambing
down the rocky side of the hill with her
arm fondly clasped by her bleeding but
| successful Luther.
Both men were severely punished, and a
hack had to be sent to the hill to remove
the suffering aud broken-hearted Buckner
to his lodgings.
The date of the wedding has not yet been
fixed.