The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-31


a neatly attired. natty-looking Cracker
by the name of Mooney seemed by his
quiet, unOMensiVe maner to have attract
ed Dicks attention. He was at this time
engaged in conversation with two or three
friends. / had just Joined them when l
saw DICK walk, or rather stagger up and
i9oking dlrectly at Mooney, ne, said: I
KIN lex any er man IN this crowd 'cepin of
my frens."
Mooney turned away, making some re-
mark to one of the gentlemen.
Dick repeated his remark.
Mooney said TO the gentleman nearest
TO Dick: Pears 10 me sum peoples look
in fur a chance to nuss scabs"
Il kin lick airy a man In this crowd 'cep-
tin of my frens, whoof! replied Dick
well, sab" said Mooney, Il haint ak
quainted with you; mebbe your remark $
Don't make no difference" said Dick;
He didn't have time to complete his de-
hance. Drawing from his coat pocket one
Of those common pint bottles used for
soda water, but at that moment half filled
with whisky he hurled it at his opponent.
striking Dick just between the
eyes and exploded with a re
port like a pistol, the whisky running
down his face. Putting out his tongue to
gather in the few drops lodged In his mus
tache. he rushed forward, uttering his final
"Whoof for that day. In a second they
il, They were finally hitched, and poor
Dicks head was in chancery receiving two
beautifully cOiOred. but inartistic. looking
blue eyes. He swung his arms around
Mooney. "gittin the rae Iniun hug" on
him, but twas useless; he could not throw
him down. Round and round they went
the crowd forming a ring around them
The old deacons and elders rushed from
the piazza to separate them, but their eff
forts We're fruitiess; the young men not
permitting il to be done until one man gave
Pandemonium broke loose just them
Women screamed and men rushed francti-
above the voices, and the imprecations Of
the combattants could be heard the cries of
the lockers on.
Hands off. gentlemen, an a free fife
I'll cut the lites outen of the fust man
what teches tell one hOlers. Deacon let
EN- lone. They is pledged to fife tell
they satisfy one another. A fair fife, SEE
/; no gougin' Of eyeballs nor a-chawin of
thumbs ="
An old deacon siezed Dick around the
waist and tried to pull him away, but a
young buck grabbing the deacon by the
tails of his coat turned him spinning
away like q dancing Dervish. Dick was too
far gone to show his usual skill He was
too foxy from his repeated drinks and so
We heard the cry "Nun." Mooney heard
and following the tradition of the people,
closed eyes, and a bruised nose
But while these two principals We're set
thing the question as TO who was the best
man, the most laughable incidents were
going on around them. Every cross-road
bully, every pineyWoOds fighter, seemed
suddenly imbued with a desire 10 fight
some one or something. Each one gather
ed a half dozen friends around him. either
by design or accident, and thus surround
ed he would leap up three or four feet.
striking the palms of his hands together,
Gentlemen LET me git at him q" ct
am the best man in seven counties"
ooh, let me git at him, gentlemen" His
friends would seize him by the coat tails
and try to pacify him. ''Oh, Bill, you
don't want to fife nobody?' Nobody
hain't done nuthin to you" 'Ketch holt
on him, jim, but Bill only called the
louder, Let me ct at him, gentlemen"
Not ten feet from him on every side
another group, another bully, another set
Of peace-makers raised their voices and
uttered their detiances. I counted seven
groups and from the center of each /
heard the cries: Let me git at him"
Il kin lick my weight in Wildcats" II
grit" Il am the cock. of the Altama-
haw." steel springs an chain lfghtnings
KANT hold me. Hold the ole War-horse
of the big Sinttily, gentlemen" all Of this
punctuated by crows, in imitation of a
game rooster.
Still friends urged. "sam. nobody hain't
sed nor done nuthin' to you" "Wot you
tryin' to git at him fur"' Women and
children and non-combatants crowded
into the empty cars on a side track and
commented on the scene.
who's that ere big feller?"
That, why that is Mat Mills-old Jim
Mills SON."
Reckon he is the cock Of the Alta
mahaw?"
II reckon he is sonny, an besides. he
IS the best man in seven counties, an
kin lick his weight in wild cats. He kin
lick any man in sight, les it mout be
sun. one wots larned boxin' es a science.
Don't know bout him"
Tired out at last, the friends ceased
their entreaties and let the warlike bull
lies alone. AS soon as they saw them
selves deserted, they became perfectly
quiet and stopped their challenges. It
was evident to every spectator that each
one was trying to make a lighting record
for himself and relied upon his friends
to help hold him. Just as soon as a real
fighter like Mooney had disengaged him
self from Dick and cried out, Turn me
loose, men, and let one KUN one at time
dead silence took possession Of the
whilom fighters. They skunk into TIE
crowd. followed by the jeers Of the Buys
and girls. A little boy, half crying, called
out:
Come. daddy. les go home Suns down
an nanny viii be ready and a waitin
some time.
"--~r ectly nv ron torael1v"
"Oh, do come daddy. an don't drink
no more, please.