Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-10-03
THE LEXINGTON TRAGEDY.
OF THE FATAL
FIGHT BETWEEN CADETS MO-
CONNICO AND TALIAFERRO.

FIGHT BETWEEN CADETS MO-
CONNICO AND TALIAFERRO.
LEXINGTON, VA, Sept. 26.-An
inquest was held this morning
over the remains of Cadet Warren
T. Taliaferro, who died yesterday
from the effects of injuries sustain.
ed in fight with Cadet Frank w.
McConnlco. A few days since the
two cadets had to report to the
commandant. A dispute arose as
to which should take precedence.
Taliaferro pushed by McCOnnico
and went in first to report, When
he came out McCOnnico cursed him.
This, of course, was resented, and
out of the quarrel thus started grew
a fight, which has since caused the
death of TaliaferrO. 1t is the cls.
tom at many colleges in this coun
try, and very bad custom 1t is,
whenever a dispute has arisen be
tween two students, which cannot
be amicably settled, for tha aggrlev-
ed parties to have recourse to
fight. This custom, as is often re-
sorted to at a military school, has
been especially in vogue at the in.
stitute. Consequently when Talia-
ferro and McConnlcO could not
come to a peaceable conclusion of
this difficulty they determined upon
a fight. A referee, time-keeper
and two seconds for each combat
ant were chosen, and yesterday,
Immediately after dinner, this
party of six met in the Cadet So
ciety. Hall. TaIiaferrO was stripped
to his waist and ID his stocking
feet. McConnico wore tennis
shirt and tennis shoes. The agree
ment was that the men were to
fight one minute and rest two min.
utes. Time being called they set
to, and for about thirteen rounds,
occupying forty minutes, they
pounded each other furiously. The
men we g evenly matched. They
were equally muscular. McCon-
nico was a year and half the
older and the more skillful boxer,
but Taliaferro had better staying
qualities. Excepting in one or two
rounds, McConnico got rather the
better of the fight, but towards the
end became entirely wlnded, and
it was thought If the fight cOntinu
ed TaliaferrO would eventually win.
However, in the next to the last
round McCOnnico threw TaliaferrO
roughly against a carpet-covered
bench which runs around the room,
and then, while the latter was
down, McConnico held him with
his left hand and pounded him
with his right. This was resented
by TaliaferrO, and foul was claim
ed. In the next round McConnieO
again threw Taliaferro, but the
referee pulled him off and decided
the fight in favor of McCOnnlco.
The men then shook hands, con.
graduating each other on his pluck,
and were taken off, spOnged and
rubbed down and put to bed. Tai.
iaferIo was left alone for some time
after beng made comfortable IN
bed, and after awhile when his
friends tried to rouse him it was
found impossible to do so. The
doctor was hastily summoned and
found that he had been dead some
time.
At the post mortem examination
made this morning it was found
that death resulted from apOplexy,
superinduced by the violence of
the fight, and the jury brought in
a verdict accordingly. McCOnnlco
was brought before Judge Houston
this evening and admitted to bail
in the sum of $1,000 to appear be
fore court on October 9th to an
swer tor bis part in the sad affair.
He was severely punished during
tho fight, and since the death of
Taliaferro has been completely
prostrated. His father, A. ID. Nc
Connico, of Bryan, Texas, has been
telegIspbed, and Is row on his
way to Lexington. Young TaIla-
ferro was an orphan. His mother
and father are buried In Norfolk,
Va, and bis body was sent there
this evening for iDterment. The
remains we're accompanied by Cap
tam I. II. TaIIaferro, a brother OF
the deceast d and a tutor in the
institute.
Triplets at Thirteen.
AT Cincinnati on Saturday Nal