The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-01
A NIGHT FOR SUCKERS.

Some of the local sports and admirers OF
fistiC performances tramped the streets a
little nervous yesterday. They were act
ing just little more concerned than in
common, every day life, the result of ex-
pectations. 1t proved to be another case
of expectation being more interesting than
the reality. A fight was on hand. 1t was,
of course, going to be good one. There
was no doubt abont it. The sluggers were
in trim. While neither one was John L.,
yet it was quite likely one or both were
relatives of the famous pugilist. Shortly
after the evidences of daylight had disap-
peared few hack loads and carriages
were seen going north and after wandering
around through alleys, suntlowers, frog
ponds, encountering irate property owners
and bull dogs together with few slices of
Chisholm creek to allay thirst, owing on
the part of some, to a lack
of elaboration, the alleged scene of
hOstilities for financial purposes was
reached. The word was gained there that
the affair was to occur IN another part of
the county. 1t was some more travelling
with attempts to conceal anything unus-
ual and shortly before midnight the
longed for spot was reached. The lights
adjusted and rope stretched, not around
any ones neck, but around posts, and
things commenced TO put on business
like appearance. Everything was booming
until the siuggers arrived. One looked
like he had been living on half rations for
the last ten years and his stomach was out
of order, and the other was suggestive of
having lop-sided liver 1t was quite GER
tain by this time that very little blood would
be seen, and to add to the embarrassment
Sheriff Cone and City Marshal Bur
rows arrived with assistants. They
seemed TO be as much disappointed as
the other spectators. The fighters were
introduced as Sidney Smith, of Memphis,
and Tom Fitzgerald, of Nashville, and
everybody believed the information was
correct. But the collection had been taken
by this time from the fellows behind the
ropes who were not eagerly crowding up
very close. The preliminary arrangements
were made, and in order TO prevent cruelty
to animals their upper points were orns-
mented with big, fat, well rounded gloves.
It seemed to be the general opinion that
the precaution was entirely unnecessary
even to prevent any violation of law. But
the E4oNCc were pun OiI "ActutE AOE pre-
caution or what not, and they went at each
other something on the graSshopper style
After disturbing the atmosphere to some
extent Smith made a mistake; Fitz-
gerald lost about two drops of
blood from the promontory on his
face. AT the end of the supposed
third or fourth round according to the
timers, Fitzgerald concluded that he had
worked enough for his part of the purse
and while his seconds had no sponge to
throw up they made the fact known that
their man had been done up. He soon
after retired and proceeded to exhibit a
full line Of boarding house groceries. This
was the closing scene Of the midnight en-
tertainment and the spectators com
menced TO figure on getting back into
Kansas As they proceeded on their trip
they reached the rain bells or where it had
recently rained. No one would take unto
himself the censure OF having induced
himself TO so but the blame was with the
other fellow.