Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-30
PRIZE RING PUGS.
Appe arance Of Pug.ist Before
aad After Fighting.
The Victor Becomes Lion and the Van.
quished IL Left to surfer In Melan-
choly silence Before and After
the Battle.


pearcd in the narrow space between
his eyebrows and hair lie VAS about
to enter the ring and expose his chin
to the deadly knockout blow. Near
this magnificent human brute lowered
his trainer, also attired in a sweater.
and keenly alert to every move and
sound. The suave gentleman in the
role OF financial hacker, who man.
ipulates the gate receipts. sas also
there, trying to appear gay and deb
onaire. but palpably anxious. AT the
bolted door stood fawning tin
horn sport without penny in his
pocket. but with good prospect OF
fondling a couple of dollars if things
went right. He knew the heavyweight
from having seen his picture in the
pink periodicals and worshiped him &C.
cordingly.
The dressing-room contained little
beside the heavywcightand his friends.
In one corner was wide cot of rough
boards hastily knocked together, on
which the pugilist reclined. thinking
that he thought. On table opposite
stood a number of bottles containing
whisky. alcohol and liniments. There
we're also a sponge, some fans and
towels, and under the table tub of
ice.
Outside could be heard the roar of
the rabble at six dollars per head. en-
icying the preliminary bout as seen
through the murky haze of tobacco
smoke. The event of the evening
the meeting of the heavyweights--was
next on the programme. favored
few gained admittance to the dressing
rooms, for there were two or three re-
treats. Substantial-looking men in
cheese-colored overcoats and diamonds
shade or two lighter crowded in to
shake the hand Of the thumper on
whom they had staked their money,
and to whisper word of encourage
ment in his ear. Some who were not
sports, but had friends in that line,
cazed 1westricken at the reclining
gladiator and his array of fighting par
aphernalia.
Having exhausted his oratory in
making the match. the heavyweight
had nothing to say, and those who did
give vent to words spoke in subdued
whispers. 1t was ii painfully solemn
and impressive occasion. Now and
then the trainer, lest he be overlooked
in the shadow of the stellar attraction.
clipped bit of court plaster with
which he tenderly dressed an imagi-
nary scratch on the prickled paws OF
his employer.
Eventually the battle takes place,
and at the end of an hour the heavy
weights are back in their rooms. The
winner is now the most soluble of the |
excited throng which crowds the small
apartment to the door. He recapitu-
lates every blow given and taken dur
ing the fight, and points out on the
chin of the hacker the exact spot on
which he landed the final punch.
is deliriously happy. for
they have won money, and call the
hacker Familiarity by his first name.
That astute individual is etfusively
solicitous for the welfare of his trained
lllimal, and presses upon him drink
II brandy from very small and Curl
)usly wrought bottle. The shape OF
he flask creates the impression that
he liquor is Of superior quality. dis.
Tiled expressly for winning pugs.
He is slow about dressing himself, is
he victor. for the red welts and gouges
ID his neck. breast and arms enhance
lis popularity 100 per cent. But he
lfrects not to notice these wounds and
hats gayly about how he knew that
hub wouldn't be in it with him, etc.
they all finally depart, however, with
he gate receipts, and spend the night
II drinking champagne.
Across in the other dressing-room
he dub sits blinking dizzily at
acancy. He shakes SO that the trainer
s unable to dress the fallen idol. There
S no one present but the trainer and
cuple of poor but loyal friends who
lad nothing to stake on the result.
I,en the hacker has retired in disgust,
I'D the Kisses of the sports who sup
,orteds the loser before the fight. and
yho followed him as he was dragged
imp and beaten from the ring, still
ound in the purple ears of the van
uished man. His stomach has been
hammered back and welded to his i
pine, his nose broken and swollen and
very bone and muscle in his pain
aclSed body aches. +
In melancholy silence, disturbed
My by the intermittent groans OF the
ugilistic ruin. his trainer rubs him
own with camphor and arnica. occa-
;onally pouring something from q
lack bottle into the throat of the suf-
erer. He still trepbles like a man
nth palsy and is too weak and wabhly
) stand without support. Il
After an hour Of grooming the vic.
i'm of misplaced money, sodden with 9
rink. is squeezed into his clothes, then
undled into hack and spirited away
trough side streets and alleys to the
blivion of Hannah bath. He is
imply whipped dog, with no more
redit or standing than the bull pup =
l.. la NIT The !