The morning call., 1891-01-24
ON THE QUIET.
Two B00tbiacks Settle an Affair
of Honor in the Ring.
The Fight Is Witnessed by Crowd Of Proml-
nent City 0fieials-An Ez-schoOl
Director as Bottle-Holder

For several years past two colored gentle
men well and favorably known In the
"shining" circles of Mission society as An
drew Jackson and Billy Benjamin have
been engaged in backing boots at stands
situated opposite each other on Valencia
street, near Tweuty-second.
During all the time they have lived and
labored in the most perfect harmony. They
have been friends, fast friends, and in their
daily intercourse had never permitted a
keen and active competition to beget a
spirit of rivalry, or to mar the severity OF
close friendship of long stlnding
About ten days since Andrew borrowed a
brush of Billy, and his muscular manipu-
lation Of the poiisher damaged it in many
places. In this condition it was returned TO
the owner. who promptly filed claim Of
damages.
Andrews demurrer admitted the fact OF
accidenttlJ Isplintering, but denied the
sudicency Of proof in point Of law to sup
port the claim.
A JUDICIAL OPINION.
The matter was argued at off times dur
ing the day for nearly a week, and was in a
fair way of bloodess adjustment when
Billy. in moment of colloqual confidence,
related his great grief to one of his patrons,
an ex-Judge well known in this city. After
| listening to the story the man of legal lore
delivered himself of an opinion as follows
This is a serious case; one which in
wolves the honor of gentleman and the
cost of a blacking-brIs 1t is, however,
rather too much of a scandal for a court Of
! justice. l would not advise you to appeal
TO the law. The code is treacherous, and
| luries come high. In my opinion there is
| but one atOL ement for this awful insult.
| Billy, my boy, you must have blood, and
the sooner you get it the sooner will justice
be aDpeased. You must fight your dusky
rival if he still in sistS in his refusal to ma Ike
good the damaged uteDSl But fight him
Ike a gentleman and n jackson. Don't
creep up behind him while he is putting a
shine on Supervisor IS boots aud strike
him with cObble-StOne, or waylay him in
a lonely alley at night. jackson would not
operate thus. send him a challenge for a
hard glove contest, and III see you
through"
A SUPERVISORS ADVICE.
Now, it so happened that Andrew bad also
related the story OF their broken friendship
TO one OF his patrons, a member of tie
Board OF Supervisors, p gentleman of ath-
letc mold and naughty mein. By strange
coincidence he also advised Andrew to fight.
The eX-JuIge and the Supervisor put their
heads together. and within three days the
men had signed articles for a fight to a finish
with tye-uunce gloves, the winner to re-
ceiye the sum OF SIS aud the loser So.
1t was decided by the distinguished pro-
motors to fight their men at night, in barn
in the suburbs of Oakland; but for some
reason their plans were slightly changed,
aud on last Thursday night as the bells of
the city were striking tine hour of II o'clock,
midnight, about thirty OF San FranciSco's
most prominent men (nYted guests filed
noisleSsIY through the half-open door of
small hall, situated over saloon on Nalen-
cia street, near Iwenty-SecOnd.
THE MILL BEGINS.
The contestants had arrived before, and
from their respective corners in an 1S-fOot
ring eyed each other savagely and listened
to words OF cheer rom their seconds, one an
eX-SchOOl Director and the other a promi-
nent railroad official.
\ city official was chosen as time-keeper
and precisely at 12:l5 o'clock the combatants,
stripped 10 the waist, faced each other In
the center of the ring. Both were good
boxers and in first-class condition. Besides
deciding question of honor there was the
price of many shines for the winner repos-
ing in the inside pocket Of a prominent ply
stefan, not unknown in the councils Of the
Board of Health.
At the close eff the fifth round things
looked dark for Billy. He was out of wind,
and had hardly recovered from three terrific
blows on the neck which had sent him to
the floor.
A SENATOR'S TONIC.
4 gentleman who at this time two years
ago was engaged in making laws at Sacra-
mento gave him something from a dark
flask. This seemed TO infuSe new life and
strength, and he opened the sixth round
with a series of pile-drivins blows which
completely dazed MS opponent and delighted
the spectators.
In the two following rounds Billy scored
heavy and effective work, and in the ninth
Andrew was put to sleep by crushing blow
on the right jaw.
benjamin was thereupon declared win
ner and hero, and the "invited guests :"
dispersed, vowing that of many affairs on
the quiet the brunette mill took the sweet
ened dough.