Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-16

And the Small Man Who Drank Ginger
AIe--A Scene on the Bowry.

A very noisy and offensive young rowdy
| leaned against bar in Broadway saloon
next door variety theatre, announcing,
between sips of whisky, that he had a
mind to ''clean out the place. " The room
was filled. with a motley crew of east-siders
and the two men behind the bar looked
| like towers of strength and pugilistic ex-
perience.
"Why don t you put him out?'' asked
small, narrow-shouldered man, with
pale hair, of one barkeeper, as he called
! for a glass of ginger ale. The barkeeper
! looked at toe questioner with contempt
Put him out?'' he growled aisdain-
fully. Where are you from, young fel-
! low? Why, that the champion middle
weight of the Cherry Athletic club. Put
MIN out! Not if he wants to stay
! The small man drank his ginger ale
and walked along the oar to where the
other bartender was polishing glasses.
why don't you put him out?' he
asked of this individual, indicating by a
nod OF the head the rowdy who was Great
ing the disturbance. The barkeeper
smiled in a superciiious way.
why don't you put him out?" he asked
the small man. And then, in / confident
ial tone Say don't you know him !?
He's the champion middleweight Of the
Cherry athletic club and the hardest hitter
on the east side. He ain t full enough yet
to tackle"
The small man than looked about the
room. "Why don t you put him out, he
called loudly.
Instantly there was a movement of APP
prehension- Both Of the barkeepers snarl-
ed at the small man to be silent, and the
CHAMPAIGN middle-weight fixed with his
wicked eyes.
Put me OUT" he snarled, and as he
spoke. advanced toward the diminutive
person who dared suggest such an absurd
ity.
why don't you go out yourself before
you're put out?'' asked the small man
cody; you annoy people in here. .
This aud acity was so tremendous that
the pugilist gasped for breath, while the
rest of the assembIage was dumb with
surprise.
Don't mind him, Jimmie" exclaimed
one of the bartenders. Hes off his head
Let him alone"
Don't hit him, Jimmie, - shouted some
one else; ''he's too little"
But Jimmie was not to be appeased 81
don t care if he is little, . he roared. I'll
smash him just one for his littleness.
Come here, you
The champion fighter reached out to
take the small man by his coat collar, but
failed to find him. Quicker than could be
seen by the on-Iookers the small man had
dropped to the floor, grasped the rowdy by
one of his ankles, upset him as though he
had been a ten-pin, and was pinching his
head in between his knees. For a mo-
ment the fighter struggled, but he could
not free his head, and it was not long De-
fore he lay exhausted and unconscious.
Then the small man rose to his feet and
arranged his cuffs.
That's a trick | learned many years
ago when first started circusing, he said
to the bartender, who had watched the
marvellous proceedings with half-stupefed
fascination Its very simple, and Ill
teach it to any one present for 81. 1t car
be learned in ten minutes. Don't disturb
the champion. He'll come sound In a mo-
ment. dug my knee il hard just under
the ear Ia order to do that. There! He's
coming round now. Bartender, just give
me another glass Of ginger ale."
For the next two hours the small man
was teaching the ankle grip to the east
siders. He was the hero of the occasion,
and when ne said good night to the as
semblage he had Sc more in his pocket
thar when he had entered the saloon, be-
sides an immense supply of ginger ale that
had cost him nothing.