The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-01
STONE THRO WING IN CoREA.
An Exciting Sport Among the Natives
of the Hermit Kingdom.
From the Netg YORK Recorder

An Exciting Sport Among the Natives
of the Hermit Kingdom.
From the New YORK Recorder.
The Corean correspondent of a japan
paper gives an account of curious popular
practice in Corea. Kite flying. which is
universal in that country, ceases suddenly
the 18th of the first Corean month, and the
next day stone fights take its place as the
chief public Amusement. In the eastern
part Of Seoul. the capital, there are large
open spaces that have not been built upon,
and here occur the most serious and inter-
esting fights. One section of the city is
pitted against another, but any one can
take a hand on either side at pleasure
They are no recognized leaders, but the
mass of fighters readily follow the lead OF
any one who shows himself to be little
more reckless than the rest. The mobs, con-
sistlng OF fifty, seventy or 100 men
each, are drawn up against each other,
with an interval OF perhaps fifty yards be-
tween them. There Is an incessant shower
of stones, and each mans business is to hit
as many men as he can, and especially TO
avoid all the stones directed at him. From
ten to twenty men on each side are armed
with stout clubs and wear thick wadded
helmets. These form the skirmishlng line.
They sally out from their respective sides,
and, meeting in midcareer, strike out
vIciously at each others heads, each man
holding up his CLOAK as shield Co ward off
the blows Of his adversary. After the club
fight has lasted about thirty seconds one
side or the other begins to give way, which
is the signal for rush of the others
Almost invariably the other side breaks
and runs, and sometimes are chased
into their houses, but generally
some of the pursuing party press too
closely upon the fugitlves. Then the latter
suddenly turn and deal a few staggering
blows, which check the pursuers, and in a
second the tables are turned, and those who
a moment ago were flushed with victory are
now in full fight with their enemies Thus
the battle goes back and forth across the
fields while the neighboring embankments
are crowded with spectators. The effect of
the laundering cheers of the spectators upon
the combatants is marvellous. They charge
upon each other as II in actual battle, aud
show what would be bravery if exerted In
some useful cause. Near the river are nu-
merous villages, numbering from 100 to 500
houses each. They are situated along the
banks at inter walls of about half mile These
keep up continual series of fights among
Themselves during the season, one village
being arrayed against another. The
defeated party fly across the marshy fields
TO their own village, followed by their
enemies, who enter after them, seizing
anything on which they oan lay their hands
iron, files, doors-to mark their victory.
Then the whole village rises against the In
vaders, and they fly, glad If they can get
back without broken heads. The first stone
fight of the present season was rather more
disastrous than usual It is reported that
six men were killed, but this is probably an
exaggeratior. A company Of soldiers was
ordered out to stop it, which they found
some difficulty IN doing, even with fixed
bayonets.