The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-03-18
Puo,L,sTs SHAKE HANDS.
But Their Subsequent Actions Seem to In.
dictate lnslncerity.

PuGILisTS SHAKE HANDS.
But Their Subsequent Actions Seem to In.
dictate lnslncerity.
Ordinarily the llandsha<e is regarded
as an evidence of friendlin on the part
of those who perform the opera ton,
but when two pugilists, prepared Tor q
desperate contest, clasp each other ny
the hand the action looscs all it's friend
ly significance and becomes nothing
more than a hollow mocl<ery.
Two men have signed articles to fight |
to n finish. which means until one or
the other has been pummeled SO hard
as to be unable to continue. Each is
IL determined to inf1ict as much physical
Jury on his opponent as is posi- bic,
with due regard for the rules under
which they battle. and yet before they
begin the work of battering each other
they shake hands with a great show OF
| apparent friendliness.
The spectators are OF course aware
| that the fighters are simply gong
Through a form, and that the subSe-
| quent battle will lose none of its fierce
| ness because of the show of temporary
good feeling
| While the preliminary handshake is
| somewhat fareical the ceremony per-
formed at the close of the contest is the
! most pronounced burloSquc. When the
last round is over, the exhausted com
| tatants are dragged to their corners by
their seconds, and the work of spong-
ing and rubbing the fighters goes on
vigorously.
Meanwhile the referee. with lsnotted
brow, is pacing about the ring endcav-
oring to decide which had the best OF
the encounter, and where fight has
been close this is no easy task. Hav-
ing decided, the referee whispers to the
announcer, and the latter holds up his
hand as a signal for quiet, and when
the buzz Of talk has ceased the am
nouncer says: '"rhe referee decides that
Bangs has won the fight"
Thereup pom there is loud yell from
the persons who bet their money on
Bangs, while those who wagered cash
on the other fellow express their dis
approval with Kisses. The referee has
become used to that sort of thing, and
, he merely smiles at the Misses 1t is
when the announcer has spoken the
name of the victor that the pugilists
become objects of exceeding interest.
While waiting for the decision the
contestants. if not too badly injured,
> | sit with their neclSs ccancd forward in
an effort to catch the first word. When
> the successful man hears his ma me
spoken he springs from his chair, and
with a look of extreme pleasure on his
bruised and bleeding face, PUSHES across
-, the ring to the corner where his oP
u poncnt sits, scizes the hand of the lat
. ter, and vrings it with an air OF the
" greatest cordially.
a The defeated pugilist sits sullen ant
- disappointed. He feels that lie ha
been robbed by the referee, and h
. permits the other fellow to do all tn
J, Misunderstanding. AS 4 matter of fact
- the winner does not shake hands be
10 cause of a friendly feeling for his de
IL feated opponent, his action being NOR
r. in the nature of spontaneous out
u burst of exultation over his own VIC
, tory.
III Occasionally, where one of the con
&c tes,ants is com oletely knocked out, tn
victor simply shakes the nerveless han
of his victim and climbs out of tn
ring.
The few minutes between the tim
that the contestants enter the ring an
the beginning OF the fight are full c
= interest. Tho pugilists sit in thei
j corners, and before each stands Il SCI
ond, who flaps a towel in Il lazy sort {
q way in front OF the fighters face.
i The principals have coats throw
V over their bare shoulders, in order tha
\ they may not become chilled bcfoi
hostilities commence. Then the wor
of putting on the gloves begins. IL
seconds first push the hair away fro
the back of the glove. just over tt
: knuclles, after which they pull it o
s the hand, and tie it at the wrist,
E there is no possibility of q slip.
3 Then the announcer says the spect
tors will have to stop smoking or tt
fight will not go on. With Il gencr
rrovl cigars are s1nudged, upon viii.
ce the referee looks at the men and as
Ter if they are ready. A nod in the affirm
tive, and lie remarks with emphasis
om "Shale hands"
hc The men rise from their chairs, the
coverings are snatched off by seconc
on and the pugilists meet in the center
for the ring and shake hands, according
,at the instructions of the referee. Ih
let thew turn and start toward their CO
ncrs.
Nv Before they have taken three steps
1 ;. gong gives out one sharp, harsh stroll
III which is the signal for the beginn in e
IS the fight. The men wheel about, p
Mt up their glovcd hands, walk arou
,dv each other warily, all the time wats
x.1, ing each other like cat docs a III GU
The floor of a ring is always sprink
md with powdered rosin, and ut the clt
of a round the spectators, who sit clt
,,o to the ringside and near the corne
no., receive an unpleasant surprise.
;t Farming the pugilist begins as SO
~. as he sinks into his seat. and is c.
ia tipued until the next round is call
- The flaming is usually done with
80, large towel, and this fills the air w
60 rosin dust, which settles on the clot:
n OF the onloolxers.
60, Another unpleasant feature is
:, r pra ctice some seconds follow OF TAXI
~. a nouthful of water and squirting 1t
tn. pucilist in the form of spray.
: speot a tors frequently receive more