The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-25
AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.
Two Cofroo-Coiored Gentlomen Fight
Baltic on tho Sands.


Baltic on tho Sands.
7 Tho other day ne of the walters at
our hotel made sudden move in tho
serving room which brought his elbow
against tho worries of another waiter,
and tho face of tho moon was at once
covered with blood. Some of US noticed
their belligorcnt dcmoanor, and now
and then wo caught such expressions as:
"Yo' ar no gem'lan, sah!'
"An yo' is only nigger!"
81 soon yo', Sah-sco'n yo' fur low
trash"
'Ilu! I'd like to DO shot up in q room
wild yo' bout TWO minutes!'
Wo were not, therefore, greatly sur
prised when we wcro waited on by q
third party, who was q mutual friend,
who asked US to arrange meeting be-
tween the hostilos and see the affair
through, according to ship-shapo rules.
1t wasn't to be n duel, but sct-to, with
gloves, and as we were tired of fishing,
grabbing, sailing, and shooting por
poises, we hailed tho new departure
with glad relief.
"Yo' white folks dun knows all bout
it, an yo' go right ahead an fix it up"
said tho mutual friend.
We borrowed gloves, bought ropo
enough for ring, made stakes, and the
sito selected was in the sand behind tho
scrub. Tho tip was given. and when
the hour came about scventy-five
spectators had assembled. Tho rivals
were on hand in good time, but it was
noticeable that both were trying hard to
look pale, and there was movement of
the chin which betrayed much mental
anxiety. They were known only as
jim and Tom" and while we were
putting tho gloves on Jim he arose and
called across the sands:
Does you 'pologizc to me, sah?"
81 dun 'pologizo if you. 'pologizc, too
was the reply.
Den dun"
but we stepped him and braced him
up ana .'7c or three minutes later they
r-ceu each other in the center OF the
ring. Each mans teeth were chatter
ing, each ones eyes wore all white, and
thero was wabbling of the knees.
Look out, now, yo' nigger I'zo
gwine to bust yo' head OFF,
Look out, now, yo'self! If I hits yo'
in dc lung yo' won't git over it in two
weeks"
WY QOdu w HlI.
why doan' yo' hit?"
"Yo's skeert O. mel"
''So's yo' skeert!"
They were walking around each other,
pushing at arms length, and it would
have stopped there but for the time
keeper, who shouted to them to go in.
"If hit yo' in de eye look OUT"
eff hit dat nose you'll be dead!"
"1ze comm fur yo' purity quick'
I'll be right around darl"
The referee shouted again. and, moved
to sudden resolution, Jim flung off tho
gloves and grabbed Tom by tho ankles
and lifted him of his feet and dumped
him on tho sand. Toms gloves fell off
as he rolled over, and he had scarcely
struck when Jim made break through
tho ring, running like q rabbit Tom
| scrambled up with 'IIu" and broke
through tho other side. and while one
legged it for tho hotel tho other sought
safety behind tho sand dunes, and the
great match for blood ended in wator.
AS had acted as Jim's bottle holder,
felt called upon to rcproach him that
evening at tho kitchen door, and he
camo out into the moonlight and OK
planned:
Deed, sab. but didn't dun mean to
do it. meant to stan right ND dar an
fight dat nigger one millyon rounds
'cordin to Miss Queo'sbcrry rules, but
whom got do gloves on my sand wont
right away. sah-went right off down do
coast flynn, an aforo l knowed it
was back heah in dc hotel wipin'
spoons an sayin dat if eber caught
dat mig ger out in de dark I'd smash him,
sah--l'd smash him till his own muddcr
wouldn't dun remember his sad re-
, mains"-N. Y. Sun.