The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-02-26

sc;SSaipman 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 a ring.
On one side stood the American sail
ors, who, for the time being, forgot
the sting OF their recent defeat and
shouted and cheered their young
champion. On the other side We're
the English, equally excited over the
contest, and though prejudiced in ia
vor of "Shorty," their own man, they
could not help admiring the youthful
gladiator
The midshipman was Slight in build,
but his muscles were hard and we'll
knit for one OF his age. His quick,
agile movements indicated an athletic
training that would now stand him in
good stead
His opponent was an older man,
thick, strong and stocky. Long SER
vice 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 con-
III tiltlI tlldlllIJlOl hey Dtttl
witnessed some of his bravery in the
recent naval conflict.
The ring was finally formed, and
certain simple rules regulating the fist
fight were agreed upon. The two men
then threw off their coats and began
the encounter. For the first two or
three rounds there was no evident adj
vantage ON either side. Shorty was
| tha hao1riar nf tba two and hic hlouc
powerful enough to knock his young
antagonist down, but the willy mid
shipman avoided them well, and sue
ceeded in getting in a stroke now and
then that fairly stupelied the English
man. The fight continued for five or
ten minutes with undated 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 well that
he had really punished the boy but
very little. The spectators cheered
and shouted
$50 it, my little Yankeel SO it,
Shorty! III bet on the man that gets
the pig Give it to me-"
The fight was renewed, but the mid
shipman spugilistic 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
Englishman was nearly knocked of
his feet, but each time his comrades
braced him up and sent him at il
again.
Don't give in yet. Remember thu
pig. Give it to the young Yankee"
The shouts of the sailors were con
fusing, but they served to encourage TIN
fighters. Finally well directed blow
followed up by two or three others from
the midshipman, settled the question
The Englishman acknowledged that h
was whipped and surrendered the pi
to it's rightful owner.
The American sailors, prisoner
though they were, felt that the secon
battle of Valparaiso had been fought
and with q cheer that was deafenin
they Joined in hearty hurra for thei
champion. The young champion
taking the pig under his arm, acknow
edged the cheer and walked away t
his place among the prisoners.
Thus did Admiral Farragut, the her
OF Mobile and New Orlans and the frs
: American upon whom the title of az
! miral'was conferred, win his first fiji
fight and partially wipe out the di
grace of the navel defeat at Valparais
George Athelbert Walsh in Yank
Blade.