Evening journal., 1890-06-17
BLOODY FIGHT ON A ROOF.
HOWARD FEASTER KNOCKED OUT
IN FIFTEEN MINUTES,

A Telegraph Operator worsts Him In n
Brutal Fight ON the Roof of the Grand
stand at the WILMINGTON Base Bali
Grounds-The Root sways.
One Of the most disgraseful fights that
has ever occurred in this city took place
on the Wilmington base ball grounds
yesterday afternoon, about 5.45 o'clock,
and came very near ending in a general
riot. The result was that one man was
nearly killed, another beaten almost into
insensibility, and several others received
cuts and bruises. All the time during
the bloody affair not an officer was on
the scene, and they were looked and
called for in vain by people who were
compelled to witness the affair, and who
became deathly sick at its bloody result.
The difficulty was started during the
seventh inning of the Merritt Middle
town game, and happened in the follow
ing manner: A local telegraph operator
had been throwing pebbles from the roof
OF the grand stand, close by the scorer
stand, to some young men whom he
knew, sitting on the players bench be-
low. A handful Of these happened to
light on the head of Howard Feaster
man who had been very noisy during the
game, and he Immediately took offense.
After few words had been exchanged,
during which the man on the roof at.
tempted to explain, Feaster exclaimed
you --- - -, Ill come up there
and throw you off that roof" ''Well.
now, advise you not to try such thing
as that, replied the other. That was all
Feaster wanted, and he sprung over the
railing into the grand stand in an in
stant. The other pulled eff his collar and
coat and handed them to friend.
Feaster sprung up the ladder leading to
the roof in three steps, scatter ng his
hat, coat and vest in every direction.
The ball field was instantly cleared of
spectators and players, who hurried up
the frail ladder to the roof Feaster is y
large man and much heavier and taller
than the operator. and it was concluded
that Feaster would throw him from the
roof, which is about 40 feet from the
ground at the lowest part and 90 feet at
the highest. The lighter mans friends.
who were few and far between, scattered
about the roof and put themselves in
readiness to resist any effort that might
be made TO do So
AS soon as Feaster reached the roof he
darted straight for his man and struck
him in the face with his right hand The
latter did not receive the full force of
the bow, and stepped back. only to run
towards his antagonist, whom he struck
on the neck. Blows then rained thick
and fast on the shoulders, faces and
heads of both men. The crowd, which
was still increasing, swayed to and fro
over the roof. which shook liked a
wrecked vessel. The struggling men
had, by this time. torn nearly every
stitch of the upper clothing from each
others body, and were still pounding
and beating at each other.
The plucky telegraph operator managed
to get in stunning blow on Feaster's
temple, which felled him to the roof, and
he fell on top and began to chew Feaster's
thumb. He was then struck in the face
by half dozen angry friends of Feaster.
The others friends then succeeded in
pulling him away and the two men again
faced each other, this time weak and
painting for breath. Both men struck as
though they we're but playing, and
Feaster's face and body showed that he
had been severely punished.
No effort was made to part the men
@ANAeAhA lucy OOlu fldEKtIluE
from weakness and loss of blood. The
lighter man kept pounding away, as best
he could at Feaster's face, while the lat
ter could not see where to strike.
Another blow in the head knocked him
to the roof again, and this time he had
so be helped to his feet. He darted for
his antagonist Immediately, and was
thrice knocked into the arms of his
friends.
The last blow caused him to moan with
pain, as his antagonist had regained his
breath and strength He fell over limp
and bleeding, and his friends dragged
him to the ladder, where he was care
fully handed down to men below. He
was carried TO a barn adjoining the
grounds, and there laid on some straw.
Friends worked with him until after the
close of the game.
The telegraph operator walked over TO
ths scorers stand, whera his face was
bathed, and several admiring friends
offered to stake 800 that he could whip
any man on the grounds He was finally
accompanied to his home by a friend. and
the people admitted that Feaster had at
last received what he deserved. AS the
people who witnessed the encounter came
down Market street at least twenty
policemen were noticed standing around
the corners.