The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-07-25
EAGER FOR BLOOD.
THE STORY OF THE PRIZE RING.
Savage Instincts Aroused by the Sight
Of Tive Men Stripped to the Waist
and Ready to Battle with Each
Otlier-the Rules of the Ring and
How the Fights are Conducted.
New York Star.l

How the Fights are Conducted.
New York Star.l
When Bret Harte asked the fatal
question, els our civilization failure?"
he did not refer to prize fighting. To
the ethical philosopher the query might
seem fitting in such connection. Ger
tainly, Judging from the popular in
terest in the recent meeting between
Sullivan and Kilrain, the American
public IS as eager for blood as was the
grizzly old Zulu, Umpslopgas. When
the preachers have exausted themselves
in the incubation Of the turn-the other
! ckeek doctrine, when the prayers of
mothers and wives have risen like in
cense from gentle hearts to Heaven in
behalf of brutal man, still will that
:'onery Cuss look over his morning
paper to see who clicked >, still will
he want to know who brought s'hrst
blood" and hurled his antagonist to
the ground by the force Of his mighty
right or left arm.
The ordinary citizen who has never
seen prize fght-and his name is le-
gion-and who has had the advantage
of moral instruction, would be surprised
at the savage instincts aroused in him
at the sight of two partially naked
men in the prize ring. The term
s'blood" used above is used advisedly.
No matter what mans previous train
! ing has been, no matter how stepped
IN morality he may be, the onlooker
will unconsciously find the lurking
devil in him aroused which ''will not
down until the blood begins to flow.
This is attested usually by an articu-
late expression of relief when the Grim
son makes its appearance.
Without pretending to justify or ex-
tenuate these physical combats, the
fact remains that there is no more fas-
cinating or dramatic sport than that
of prize fighting. This fact is sufficient
ly attested by the large sums of money
spent by spectators to witness mill.
Every city of any size in the United
States has its istic heroes, and its
places, usually under roof, where dis
putes are settled with the fists. Nc
matter how carefully the laws are
framed and carried out, these meetings
are continually occurring, and scarcely
day passes but that some mistaken
athlete is :sput to Sleep temporarily
by his superior in skill and muscle.
The evolution of prize fighter IS a
subject of good deal Of interest. As
a rule he is of Irish parentage, and o
a pugnaCious position. OF late the
amateur athletic clubs have produced
some professionals of skill, and many
battles are fought in private rooms
and even upon Brussels carpet, the rec
ords of which never get into the news
papers. As rule, however, the prize
fighter is born, not made He is ;
graduate from a foundry or blacksmith
shop, or some other hardworking anc
muscle producing pursuit.
Prize fights are cotton up for th'
purpose of making money, and not te
satisfy personal feeling. The prepara
tory handshake in the ring is not al
ways perfunctory, and often indicate
that the most cordial relations exist be
tween the contestants, and that the
only intend to pummel each other II
: an amicable, professional way, whic
is none the less bad for the eyes.
The ordinary fee to witness fgh
under the Marquis Of Queensbury rule
is S., although if the fighters are me-
t of wide reputation, $40 is charged 70
. . ticket. As prize fighting is prohibi
ted by law, the utmost secrecy is en-
r joined uyon every purchaser of ticke
and he is charged upon his word c
; honor not to give way the "tip.
3 Sometimes the spot where the battle
to be fought is not made known to tn
purchaser of a ticket, and he is toll
to appear at rendezvous where
, number of other sports are collected
! and from which place he is taken by
guide to the scene of action.
Notwithstanding the precautior
taken, there are number of impecu
nious men who always turn up at th
y! places of meeting. These men shade
the party when it leaves the rende,
y vous, and all kinds of tricks are resorte
$ to to throw these hangers-on off tf
" track. Often a hundred men are sci
ten miles away from the battle groun
on wild goose chase. A commo
}. practice is to shadow single individ,
: al who has paid his money. For hou
he is watched and followed until tt
scent gets hot for men who are in tt
habit of attending prize fights can te
the location by seeing what line
cars man in possession of the seer
takes.
A large number of men who new
{ pay always witness fight, for the re-
son that by gong to station hou
and entering a complaint the mill ca