The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-13
MOZART HALL GLADIATORS.
A Series of Bouts i'm a Sitting At
mOsphere.

The Hale-Wrade sparring contest came
off last night at Mozart Hall. Forty or fifty
sporting gentlemen and ex-pugilists paid so
cents each to linger in a sitting atmos-
phere. redolent with the fumes of bad whis-
ky and tobacco. They yelled and swore al
~ternately at the efforts of six men and two
boys to chew each other to pieces. The po-
lice were there, consequently the delecta-
BILE entertainment did not develop anything
more violent than the dislocation OF a few
teeth, a discolored eye and a bloody nose.
At $50 o'clock the performance had not be-
gun, and the air Of the hall grew so dense
that a number Of the spectators began to
grow restless ard to evince a disposition
to bolt. However, a stampede was averted
by the appearance of billie Barlow in
the ring. Barlow has won some distinction
as a wrestler, and his appearance seemed
to have a profound impression upon the
crowd. He announced that he had a treat
in store for the audience and that. the gore
of Messrs. Hale and Wrade would be re-
served for the last. Then the crowd re-
NAMED and was rewarded. Master George
Smith, a promising child of thirteen sum
mers, staggered into the ring, CARRIED only
in a badly-soiled suit of natures own. 1t
being circulated about the hall that the
youngster was a pupil or the redoubtable
Hale, he became quite prominent and strut
ted about the ring like a bantam cock in an
onion bed. Charles Wrade, another preco-
cious stripping of fifteen, was introduced as
the brother of pugilist Wrade. and he i'm
mediately became popular. Then Barlow
called time and these youngsters went at
Ii. The contest lasted for thirty minutes.
during, which period the aspiring youths
succeeded in faying each other until their
skins were as red as the flag of an Anarch-
list.
After the pair had grown thoroughly ex-
hQuSfn6 rhpU Uara 1p6 nnf and a 0nInla OF
grown gladiators brought in. One of these
men sails under the magnificent title OF
known both to the crowd and the police.
His antagonist was Elmer Corkins, not un-
known as a local pug. These two WORTHLESS
shook hands and buffeted each other around
for three or four rounds. At the end of the
first bout Corkins showed decided indica-
tons of .'short wind" and was carefully
lighting world as Poke Woods" Mr.. Con-
ley was compelled to curry his man with
one hand, the other having been relegated
to b~andages, the result of a recent stabbing
ARRAY. The contest between Wilson and
Corkins was devoid of those atrocities SO
longed for by the crowd, and the exhibit
ton was voted disgustingly tame. At this
point Barlow announced with great gusto
that another one of the Wrade family
would appear with Fred Heintz a gentle
ring. Mr.. HeintZ brought into the circle
with him a figure of beefy splendor, and
with such hauteur did ne take his corner
that the crowd decided the fate of Mr..
Wrade TO be about as uncertain as the
Wilson tariff bill. These speculations were
not far amisS. The gentleman with the Teu-
tonic features proceeded to land on the face
of the representative of a famous family,
and Wrade was boosted out of the ring
with a bleeding nose and black eyes. The
sight of the tiny stream of carmine that
traced a rudy line down the face Of the
~vanquished pugilist aroused the sports that
crouched about the ring, and they were in
delightful condition to receive the principals
of the stellar attraction. The crowd said
that Hale was in fine form, and it was as
serted that he would literally eat up the
last of the Wrades. Mr.. Hale danced and
capered about the ring with the glee of a
young bulldog waiting the appearance of
the hired girls company from the back
door. Both men met, clasped hands and
smiled with all the geniality of a couple
of hyenas. AT this juncture referee Barlow
mounted a chair. and, addressing the crowd
by the strange sound OF gentlemen" d.
vulged the that Wrade and
Hale, owing to the fact that the receipts
were but $500. would spar three rounds in
stead of eight. The crowd displayed de-
cided lynching symptoms, but Mr.. Barlow
was happily spared by the philosophic fore
thought of a scarlet-nosed man, who sug-
gested that a collection be taken up. The
referee acted upon the suggestion and raised
$40. Then the mill began and lasted four
rounds. At the conclusion of the fourth
the face of Hale was bleeding freely and
Barlow shrilly declared the contest a draw.
| The chagrin of the crowd was only ex-
celled by the disgust of the police.