The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-25
OLD TIME PRIZE FIGHT
THAT OCCURRED EARLY IN THE
CENTURY.
Charlotte BrOnte's Uncle Ono of the
Principals and Sam Clarke the
othcr-An Era Making Event for the
People of County Down.

took place i'm 1911 will be found particu-
larry interesting reading. One of the
principals was Welsh Bronte, Charlotte
Bronte's uncle, and the report Of the
battle is taken from DR.. William
Wright's 1.-THE Brontes in Ireland" an
entertaining volume just issued by the
Appletons of New York The fight took
place in County Down. Ireland. within a
short distance of the birthplace of Char
lotte's father and all his brothers and
sisters. The account, prefaced with an
explanation OF the origin of the trouble,
is as follows:
The great fight between Welsh Bronte
and Sam Clarke of Ballynaskeagh was
an era making event. The contest took
place long before my time, but l had
a precise and full account of the battle
from two eye witnesses, John and James
Todd. No encounter of the kind in
County Down ever made such a noise
or left such a lasting impression. Like
the fight of a Mohammed or the found
ing of Rome, it became a fixed point
around which other events arranged
themselves. Women would speak Of
their children as born or their daughters
married so many years before or after
the fight and old men, in referring TO
their ages. would tell how they had been
present when Welsh Bronte licked Sam
Clarke. and that they must have been
of such an age at that time. 1T was one
of those famous encounters which only
required the pen of Pentaur to give it
Immortality in epic form.
Origin of the Trouble.
Welsh Bronte had a sweetheart called
Peggy Campbell. and she had little.
delicate, deformed brother who used to
so to Ballynafern school on clutches
Some Of the big, healthy boys thought
lessly amused themselves by tOTmenting
the little cripple. He often arrived home
with his clothes torn and daubed with
mud. and sometimes showing on his per-
son the signs Of the ill-trea tment.
Welsh had no doubt often heard the
story Of his fathers wrongs when a
child, and at hint from Peggy consti-
tuted himself the champion Of the in
jured boy He went TO Sam Clarke, who
was a near relative of the offenders, and
begged him to interfere. Clarke. who
was said TO be something of a bully. ad-
vised Bronte to mind his own business,
and BrOnte replied that that was exact
ly what he was doing. and then Clarke
added, as q threat, that unless Clarke
restrained his brutal relatives he would
chaStise them himself Hot words en-
sued and BrOnte and Clarke parted with
expressions of mutual defiance. Bronte's
blood was up. His sense Of justice was
aroused on behalf of the ill-used child,
and his feelings Of Chivalry impelled him
to. become the champion of his sweet
hearts brother. Meanwhile the boys
were meditating vengeance ON their vic
tim who. in addition to the crime of
meek endurance had. they believed
proven a sneak and a clashbeg by tell
| ing or their misdceds.
\ Timely Rescue.
Welsh Bronte resolved to watch the
| children on their way home from school
the following day lie took up his posi-
| ton in cmmp of trees somewhere near
| the glen. lie waited long, but the
school children did not appear, and,
| thinking that perhaps they had returned
home. by another path. he left his am
! bush to resume his work. Suddenly he
| heard hilarious cheering and piteOuS
| cries. and hurrying toward the spot
whence the noise came. he found the
| school engaged in the ceremony Of duck
! ing the clashbeg or talebearer They
! had taken the poor little crippie's
! clutches from him and had placed him
! in the middle Of a pond OF water up 10
! his neck. and then. having taken hands
| they danced in n circle round the pond,
| chanting "Clashbeg, clashbeg. clash
| beg
! Welsh Bronte took in the situation in
! a glance and captured the biggest two
! Clarkes before they knew he was near
| He then compelled them to wade into
! the pond and support their victim gently
: to the edge When they had placed him
( on the dry ground he was so exhausted
| that ne could neither stand nor support
| himself on his clutches. and Bronte
! obliged the Clarkes TO carry him home
1 on their backs. time about. the water
! dripping from their clothes. They did as
! Bronte directed them, but only after
| considera BILE chastisement
The other children had fled home in
| alarm and had given a colored descrip-
ton Of the inhuman manner i'm which
| Bronte was treating the Clarkes. Some
J Of them reported that he had actually
] drowned them in the pond.
/ On that night a challenge from Sam
| Clarke reached Welsh BrOnte, and it was
| instantly accepted. The time for angry
words had passed and all preliminary
| formalities were carried ont according 10
| rule and with perfect courtesy. Seconds
| were appointed, the day was fixed, and a
| professional pugilist who resided at
| Newrv was engaged TO act as referee.
! Both men went into close training, ana
1.-THE event was awaited with the most IN
! tense excitement for ten miles around.
| The appointed time al last arrived, and
| II proved to be a fine summer day. A
! crowd numbering probably 10.ooo-some
/ estimated the numberfat from 10000 to
! 80. OOO-assembled. They came from
Newry, cambridge. Rathfriland. Dro-
: more Hilltown. Warrenpoint, Lough-
| brickland and other country towns and
districts Such an assemblage Of the
| scoundrelism of that region had never
| been drawn together before But they
were not all scoundrels, for public opin-
| ion had not at that time affixed the
| stamp of infamy indelibly TO the brutal
exhibitions of the ring, and it was said
| that a number of sporting clergymen
| and country gentlemen were present UNI
| disguised and unashamed.
| Snorfnn Mothers.
Many circumstances rendered the field
| famous. The mothers of the combatants
| had fed their sons like gamecocks. Oat
| bread and new milk We're the staple
| food. which We're supposed TO give
| muscle strength and endurance. Short
| ly before the fight Clarke's mother, when
| giving kS-n his last meal before the en-
| counter. addressed him in the following
| words: "Sam, my son, may you never
| get bit nor sup from me more if you, do
| not lick the mCngrel."
This spartan speech spread like Wild
| fire through the field and such was the
| code of honor or that occasion that the
| exhortation was much blamed and led
| to a strong current of popularity IN Ia
| vor Of BrOnte The word ''mongrel, "
| referring to the fact that her sons an
| tagonist had a catholic mother. was con-
| sidered uniting to be used in connec-
| ton with the noble encounter that was
| about to take place.
| The ring was roped off in the hollow
! Of a green field The multitude stood
on the rising ground around. Three or
| four hundred men were enrolled as "spe-
| o~lo,. r,rocor-,ra1.s They stood in n