The morning call., 1893-10-29
FOUGHT FOR LOVE.
Telegraph Operators Don
Hard Gloves.
BATTLE ON A HOUSETOP
The Appearance of the Police Puts an
End to the Chivalrous
Encounter.

A scene of revelry by night. or rather by
morning, attracted the attention of the
police patroImen in the vicinity of Market
and Grant avenue about $50 o'clock on
Friday morning.
Information was brought 20 the police
that a duel, fought with gloves, was in
progress on the roof of the business office
Of the Examiner. The contestants were
Edward Dugan and George Stewart, both
operators for the Western Union Tele-
graph Company. They were accompanied
by three or four score persons, comprising
their personal friends and associates. a
coterie of sports and goodly share of the
all-night contingent.
Bad blood has been brewing between the
two telegraphers for several months. The
explanation for the i'll feeling, given by
their fellow-employes, is that the primary
cause of their strained relations was the
inevitable woman in the case. Both loved
the same girl, who is described as belle
of the Mission.
Each emed to share her fayors equally
for a time, but eventually Dugan gained
the supremacy and Stewart was Telegateu
to the position of back number.
For several weeks Dugan has been In un-
disputed possession OF the beauty. Stewart
has said little to any one on the subject,
but his feelings have been as deep as they
were still. The relations between the two
operators have been very much strained.
and on several occasions harsh epithets
have been exchanged. Both men are on
the night SHIFT, when there Is compara-
lively little business doing in the offlce. and
so there has been plenty OF opportunity
for verbal passages at arms.
Finally last Thursday night after several
s 1nlfx bod hnn ho rad
an open rupture occurred. Dugan took
occasion TO reprmand a mesSenger-boy
who had been guilty OF dereliction OF duty.
He had been absent an Internationally
long time, and had no adequate excuse TO
offer for his tardness.
Dugan spoke rather sharply to the boy.
threatening to report him to the manager.
His lecture was suddenly interrupted by
Stewart.
Leave that boy alone. you bully" sai id
the vaGouished lover in sharp accents. IF
you don't I'll punch your head"
''Yoa mind your own business. you guy"
replied Dugan in complimentary accents.
One word led TO another. and the out
come of the quarrel was a challenge by
Stewart to fight to a finish with gloves.
The gauntlet thus thrown down was
promptly picked up by DugaD. After
some preliminaries 1t was agreed between
the two that meeting should take place
after working hours. SECONDS We're
chosen. a referee was appointed, and the
battlefield selected was on the roof of the
Examiner Office.
At 8 80 A. NJ, accompanied by a crowd
of all-nighters, they assembled TO the roof
OF the building in question. There are two
outside stairways, one from Brook street
and the other from Grant avenue. A ring
was formed, the duelists, armed with
gloves and stripped OF their outer gar
ments, faced each other. Time was called
and few blows were exchanged. Then
occurred a sudden interruption to the hos
tilities
"The police are coming. look outH was
the warning cry.
Such a scattering followed as is rarely
seen among crowd of pugilistic patrons.
The spectators OF the fight swarmed down
the Grant-avenue ladder as Officers George
Douglass and John Maloney climbed up
from the Brook-street side. The patrol
men say that when they reached the roof
not soul was in sight. The officers had
been given what they call dead sure
tip" and were cognizant of all the details
of the half-fought battle. To their relief
the duellists escaped them.
Although frustrated in their plan for
personal revenge. the two operators are
still thirsting for blood. They returned to
work on the following night, but no salu-
tations were interchanged Both Dugan
and Stewart still cherish mplimentary
sentiments toward each other, but no out
ward sign Of enmity has since passed be-
around, however. that another mill is to
be arranged, when the two telegraphers
can settle their difficulties by fight to a
finish