Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-04
RESCUED BY A BOXER
Tho Adventure of an American Girl and
TIA Strange Denouement.

Tho Adventure OF an American Ulti anu
Its Strange Denouement.
This term respect, often applied TO
professional boxers, will seem very
strange, and yet it is the only one which
defines the prestige with which those
heroes of pugilism are surrounded in
the United States, writes Paul Bourget
in "Outer Mer," in the Boston Herald.
One Of my lady friends here, to whom l
was speaking Of this enthusiasm, told
me how she owed her life to one Of the
most famous boxers Of the west and
under circumstances so singular that 1t
is worth while to report them in detail.
She had dined and spent the evening in
one Of the suburbs Of the large town
which was then her home and was re-
turning in her carriage when she had
TO cross a street which was full Of
threatening people. She had fallen into
the turmoil of a big demonstration after
a prolonged and painful strike. Her
horses were compelled 10 stop. She put
her head through the window out of Gu
riosity, and an overwhelming clamOr at
once saluted her appearance. The CLEAN
of the electricity which lighted the
streets had just struck on some large
diamonds which sparkled in her hair.
This latter sign Of luxury, added to the
aspect of the brougham, the livery OF
the coachman and the footman, and the
turnout of the harness, raised the indig-
nation of this famished crowd. Fists
were extended; faces approached with
insults in their mouths. Il had taken a
long gold pin, " said the young woman,
land l was resolved to strike at the eye
of the first one who came too near
At that moment, and when she be-
lieved herself to be in extreme danger
having only so feeble weapon, she saw
with terror colossal form break
through the ranks Of the crowd, push
ing people aside with so much authority
that she took him for one Of their chiefs.
Don't be frightened at those wretched
people," said the man when he was
near her. Il will see to it. Only tell
your coachman to advance. - The young
woman once again leaned out of the
window, but this time the terrible cry
did not arise and she gave her orders
TO her servants, who were overcome
with fright on their seats. The brough-
am started, escorted by the unknown,
who simply rested his hand on the edge
of the window, and the crowd separated
to let the equipage pass. Once beyond
the strikers, the unknown salutcd the
lady. The coachman whipped mp his
horses and started off at full speed.
The footman was still trembling all
over as they reached the door Of the
house. "You may imagine that | was
anxious to know by whom l had been
saved" she continued, "but the two
servants were Irishmen who had just
arrived from Europe and who knew 10.
body. The description which | gave to
some Of my friends who were acquaint-
ed with the personal appearance Of the
leaders of the strike did not answer to
any of them. had therefore given up
the hope Of knowing the name of that
mysterious protector, whom | saw con-
tinually. with his thin face, snughty
and martial, his domineering look and
the ease, at once brutal and supple, Of
his movements.
"But fancy, seven or eight weeks lat
er, as we found ourselves my mother
and |, in q shop buying furs, disturb
ance broke out at the door | saw my
coachman off his seat and one Of my
horses on the ground, and man, to-
tally drunk, fighting with the police. l
recognized my savior and at the same
time found ont his name and the ex-
travagant exploit which he had just &C
complished. 1t was John NJ. V, the
celebrated boxer, who, under the infu-
enco Of alcohol, had bet that he would
fell horse with his fist Chance had it
that this absurd wager brought him right
in front Of this store, and that he had
Just happened to strike one Of my horses.
was able to acQuit myself, at all events
to a certain extent Of my debt toward
him by preventing them from prosccut-
ing him for his act, although he did not
run the risk of being condemned to a
severe punishment He was too popu-
]