The morning call., 1891-06-20
THEY HAD IT OUT.
A Battle Fought on the Roof of
the Palace Hotel.

The old story of pretty damsel and
two rival lovers was the cause of brief
but exciting fstic contest on the roof of the
Palace Hotel yesterday morning.
Among the employees of the firm which
has the contract of redecorating the big cara
vansary are two painters named McAvoy
and Walsh, both of whose hearts are in the
possession of south of Market. street belle.
For some time each has striven for the sole
possession of the maiden's heart, but the
damsel is practiced coquette, and neither
painter seemed to acquire permanent adj
vantage over the other.
On Sunday McAvoy, as per previous en-
gagement, anticipated a delightful day in
the sole company of the artistic inamorata
and had planned an outing at the Cliff. His
rival heard of the arrangement, however,
and determined not to be outgeneraled by
his fell0w-craftsman, so when McAvOy and
the young woman boarded an Oaks treet
car the former was much annoyed and the
latter much gratitied to perceive, on the OPP
p0Slte side OF the dummy the persistent
Walsh, who resolutely logged his rivals
footsteps throughout the entire day.
THE UNGENERoUs WALSH.
This rather ungenerOuS proceeding on the
part Oh tile dTllSb, WHO was supposed TO nave
remained at horne, discounted and creStfal-
fen, rather dmmed the glory of .McAvoy's
Sabbath victory, and when the two painters
met at work in The Palace on Monday morning
some decidedly unfrie dly talk was INDUCED
in and blows were only averted by the inter-
yentiOn of the foreman.
On each succeeding day taunts gibes and
threats were interchanged. and the relations
between the rivals became mOmentarily
more strained, until finally each was con-
sumed with an OyermaStering idea, the in
fiction OF severe corporal puni shment upon
the other. The climax was reached yeSter-
das morning and at $3.50 o'clock the word
spread like wid-fire, over the hotel that tile
parties whose love affair had been common
talk were about to settle their rivalry with
their fists.
All employees who could leave their posts,
a number OF men in the Hobbies and bar
and several men about town including
Hiram Smith and Fred Davis, repaired to
the roof oil the Palace a spot selected not
only because it insured freedom from inter-
TuptiOn, but also because the contestants at
that altitude could discern the home of their
mutual inamOrata and so could derive addi-
tiOual inspiration and courage.
RING ON THE ROOF.
A 16-foot ring was formed, and the battle
was fought according to Marquis of Queens
berry rules, except that no gloves were used,
bare kBuckleS and the degree of hatred
which can only derive its source from the
rivalry for a woman's love being consid-
cred much more satisfactory as a means Of
deciding the question of supremacy. The
rivals removed their outer garments under
the direction of the seconds, Clerk Stanton
and Steward Young, both OF the Palace.
The other officers of the ring were also
employees of the hotel, Clerk Buckingham
being referee, and Captain Guernpy, late of
the British army. and at present Waterman
Of the Palace, acting as time keeper. No
press tickets for the fight were issued. and
so an account by rounds is impossible; but
eight holly contested rounds, in which both
pugiists were damaged, were sufficient TO
proclaim Walsh the victor, the fayOrite Of
Sunday being badly wOrSted.
McAvoy was completely knocked out, his.
nose broken and his right eye so BACKED
and swollen that its usefulness as a vision
airy organ was temporarily gone. He was
quite unable to continue his work and was
removed to his lodgings to dream of the OBJ
jet of his alteration and to reflect upon the
Inconvenience of rivalry in affairs of the