The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17
THE PUGILIST IN FICTION
THRILLING DESCRIPTIONS OF PRIZE
FIGHTS BY NOVELISTS.
Bulwer. Lawrence. Eugene Sue and
Other Famous Writers Described
Pugilistic Encounters.

James j. Corbett and Robert Fitzsimmons.
ii will be interesting TO note some of the
pugilistic encounters described by the nov
eists. Last year a novel by y. Conan
Doyle. "A Romance of the Ring. gave
very realistic description of two fights. one
between a professional and an unknown
aspirant to ring honors, the other between
retired champion and a new star in the
pugilistic armament. Older authors than
Mr.. Doyle have given descriptions of fistic
encounters, not by professionals, which are
worth recalling at this time. These are in
the works of Bulwer and Lawrence. Eng
lish writer's: Eugene Sue. French ro-
mancer; w. Gilmore Simms and Sylvanus
Cobb. jr, popular American novelists of a
generation ago.
George Alfred Lawrence was an English
novel writer who exalted muscle in men
and doubtful conduct in women, and wor-
SHIPPED blue blood in botn. His heroes were
aristocrats with mighty thews and sirlews.
who led profigate lives. Guy Living
stone" the hero of the novel bearing that
name, appears on the scene at a public
school. He is described by the author, who
writes in the first person, about fifteen.
with a dsproportionate length of limb and
development of muscle which developed
Livingstone after his school preparation.
went to oxford. One night general row
between the varsity and the town broke
out and ragged fiercely Finally the two
champions of town and gown met The
meeting is thus described by the author:
Suddenly the melee seemed to converge
to one point-the mid eddy, as it were, of
the whirlpool; then came lull. almost
hush: and then fifty strong arms, indis-
criminately of town and gownsmen, were
locked TO keep the ground while storm of
voices shouted for Il ring.'
In that impromptu arena two men stood
face to face. under the full glare of the gas
lamps-one was Guy Livingstone; the other
n denizen of the potteries, yclept 'Burnss
Big Tn who had selected B as his
training quarters, in preparation for his
fight 10 come off in the ensuing week with
the third best man in England for e1O0 a
side.
They made a magnificent contrast. Guy
apparently quite composed. but the lower
part of his face set stern and pitiless. an
evil light in his eyes showing how all the
gladiator in his nature was reused. his left
hand swaying level with his hip all the
weight of his body resting on the right foot,
his lofty head thrown back haughtily, his
guard low. The professional, three inches
shorter than his adversary, but a rare
model of brute strength his arm and neck,
where the short jersey left them exposed.
clear-skinned and white as womans,
through the perfection of his training, his
hair cropped close round low, retreating
forehead his thick lips parted in savage
grin, meant to represent a smile of conf
dence. So they stood there-fittino cham
pions of the races that have been antag
onistic 1000 years-Patrician and Pro-
letarian.
Suddenly there was a commotion at one
corner of the ring, and L saw d small, bull
tio1s child. striving frantically TO force his
way through Don't let EN- Tight he
screamed out. It's robbery. 1 tell you.
There's hundreds, of pounds on him for
daren't Show him with a scratch on him.
"A great roar of laughter answered his
tie man back but his interesting charge
| seemed to ponder and hesitate, when a
drawing. nasal voice spoke from the oppo-
site corner. All. you're right; take him
away: don't show his white feather till
| you're druv to it, That turned the waver-
| ing scales. The Big I'm ground his teeth
| with blasphemy and set to.
Il need not go through the minutiae. of
| the fight it was all one way. The profess
| sonal did his best and took his punishment
| like a glutton. but he could do nothing
| who stopped and countered cooly as if
he had only the gloves on.
| our champion bore only che mark. showing
where a tremendous right-hander had al
most come home-a cut on his lower lip,
ing freely. / will not try TO describe the
hideous changes that ten minutes had
wrought in his opponents countenance; but
/ think / was not the only spectator who
| felt thrill of fear mingled with disgust as
| the Big Tn made his despairing effort and
| fought his way in TO the terrible haif-arm
| rally In truth, there was something un>
| earthly and awful in the sight of the
MANNED and mangled colossus: his huge
! breast heaving with wrath and pain; his
| one unblnded eye glaring unutterably; his
| crushed lips churning with crimson foam.
| 1t was the last rush of the Cordovan bul,
| goaded to madness by picador and chulo;
| but Guys fatal left met him, straight. un-
| yielding the blade IF the matacor; twice
| he reeled back well-nigh stunned; the third
| time he dropped his head cleverly so as 10
| avoid the blade and grappled- For some
seconds the two were locked together un-
| distinguishably; then we saw Guys right
| hand never used till then save as a guarG.
| rise and fall twice with dull. smashing
| sound which was bad 10 hear: then the
| huge form of the prize fighter was whirieG
| up INTERESTINGLY over his antagonists hip
| and fell crashing down at his feet. a heap
| of blind. senseless bleeding humanity.
I'VE heerd afterward tat the taunt thas
| made the fight certainty came from the
| commissioner of the party who stood heav-
| lily against the Pig I'm. sent down to wa n
him in his training. and spy out the joints
| in his harness..
ENGINE SUES FIGHTER.
Eugene Sue. in the first chapter of his
Mysteries of Paris" makes his hero, who
| turns out to be Rudolf, the Grand Duke of
| Gerolstein. thrash an athletic ruffian known
| the Knifer. because he had killed one
| man and wounded others with a knife, and
| served a term at the galleys therefor. The
| slender. and shapey. sort of Teuton Cor
| bett. Boxing is form of athletics not
| kindly taken 10 by Germans. so that Ru-
/ dolfs skill ar the game demands explana-
| ton. He was. the author explains, weakly
| in his youth, but by dint of outdoor life and
| training under the direction of Sir Walter
Murphy. an English country gentleman
| with an Irish name. he became robust. ac-
| tive, and daring The discriminating read
| err will see in this acquired strength sim
| ilarity to Sandow, who gained his vast
muscular development by training. Rudolf
was perfected by the best masters" the
| author says, in fencing. boxing and French
| boxing with the feet wrigglestick tsingle
| sticky. and flash Language with TINS
| explanation, let GS go back ana view the
| French picture of boxer in action. Ru-
| dolf disguised as workingman. visited q
| quarter of Paris inhabited by the submerged
| class OF both sexes. The burly knifer
was abusing young girl. called La
Goualeuse; the Squaller: this being fash for
| Knifer by the throat. What followed is
| thuc dacerthad ~ CO..