The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-23

was the small pig, which the sailors
named Murphy" During the rest of the
| journey the little porker of the mid
shipman's had become great favorite.
and now that its ownership was in dis
pute the American, as well as the En-
gish. seauen crowded around the two
contestants.
The English sailors were fair minded
and ready for any kind of sport. They
enjoyed the scene hugely, and saw in it
the germs of an exciting fight. One or
two OF them shouted out words of en-
couragement to the disputers. Then
one of the English sailors cried out:
go it, my little Yankee: if you can
thrash Shorty you shall have the pig"
This decided the matter. The young
midshipman let go of his hold and said:
agreed. I'm ready TO fight for
Murphy"
A shout of approval greeted this brave
remark The sailors, ready for a lark,
fell back and formed ring. On one
side stood the American sailors, who, for
the time being, forgot the sting of their
! recent defeat and shouted and cheered
their young champion On the other
side were the English, equally excited
over the contest, and though prejudiced
in favor of shorty" their own man,
they could not help admiring the youth
full gladiator.
The midshipman was slight in build,
but his muscles were hard and well knit
for one of his age. His quick, agile
movements indicated an athletic train
ing that would now stand him in good
stead.
His opponent was an older man, thick,
strong and stOcky. Long service in the
English navy had hardened his muscles
and made him somewhat callous to pain.
/ The battle really seemed all one sided at
the beginning; but the American sailors
still had confidence in their champion.
They had witnessed some of his bravery
in the recent naval conflict.
The ring was finally formed, and GER
tain simple rules regulating the fist fight
were agreed upon. The two men then
threw off their coats and began the en-
counter. For the first two or three
rounds there was no evident advantage
on either side. Shorty was the heavier
of the two, and his blows powerful
enough to knock his young antagonist
| down, but the willy midshipman avoided
them well, and succeeded III getting in
a stroke now and then that fairly stupe-
fed the Enghshman. The fight con-
tinued for five or ten minutes with IN
abated fury.
Then the English sailor began to puff
and blow. His efforts to knock his
enemy down were all abortive. and his
blows were parried so we'll that he had
really punished the boy but very little.
The spectators cheered and shouted.
"Go it, my little YankeeI Gro it,
Shorty! I'll bet on the man that gets
the pig. Give it to me-"
The fight was renewed, but the mid
shipman's pugilistic education now be-
gan to come to the front He parried
every blow of his antagonist with ease.
and sent in his own blows with unerring
| accuracy. Several times the English
man was nearly knocked off his feet.
but each time his comrades braced him
up and sent him at it again.
Don't give in yet. Remember the
pig. Give it to the young Yankee"
The shouts of the sailors were confus-
ing, but they served to encourage the
fighters Finally well directed blow
followed up by two or three others from
the midshipman, settled the question.
The EngIshman acknowledged that he
was whipped and surrendered the pig
to its rightful owner.
The American sailors. prisoners though
they were, felt that the second battle of
Valparaiso had been fought, and with
cheer that was deafening they joined in
a hearty hurra for their champion. The
young champion, taking the pig under
his arm, acknowledged the cheer and
walked away to his place among the
prisoners.
Thus did Admiral Farragut, the hero
of Mobile and New Orleans and the first
American upon whom the title of ad-
miral was conferred. win his first fist
fight and partially wipe out the disgrace
of the naval defeat at Valparaiso
George Athelbert Walsh in Yankee
Blade.