The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-22

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with modification by visiting an igno
! minious defeat upon him.
In fact, caught some words not in
tended for me. They revealed that the
pugilist who had been imported was the
notorious Sid Buxton, generally known
as the Western Cyclone, "a burly giant,
who had knocked out every aspiring
boxer that had presumed to stand before
him.
The exhibition was similar in most
respects TO those with which every New
Yorker is familiar. There were club
swinging, fencing, dancing, some good
| singing, several pleasant exchanges of
taps between amateur BOXERS and final
ly the event of the evening was announc-
ed as sparring bout between "a gentle
man, Mr.. Richard Mortimer of Chicago,
and the we'll known clubman, Harold
o. Westcott.
The audience broke into uproarious
applause. There were stamping, clap
ping of hands and loud calls of West
cottl Westcottr'
AS yet Mr.. Mortimer had not shown
himself. He was in the dressing room
behind the stage | slowly rose TO my
feet and with my topcoat over my arm
walked forward. AS assembled the steps
at the end the applause became doafen-
ing.
"What hypccrisy!"I unused. "Of the
500 men in this room four-fifths would
give Il goodly part of what they are
worth TO see me stretched almost life
less before this brute that has been
brought here for the express purpose of
half killing me. 4"
The man who had expressed fervent
wishes for my success and who declared
that he had 500 upon me was obse-
quious III his attentions. He accompa-
MED me to the dressing room, helped
me TO shed my outer clothing and TO adj
just the gloves to my hands, repeating
his best wishes and his confidence in
my prowess.
''Who is this Mortimer?' l asked,
after the strings were tied at my wrists.
Some Chicago dude, ] believe He
has been practicing out there until he
fancies, like every one from the Windy
City, that he knows it all. He has come
east TO give the New Workers a few les
sons, but | reckon he'll know more to-
than he does now -
Possibly though it seems to me
that we ought to have been introduced
before meeting on the stage However,
let that 60 Where is he?"
''In the next room. Would you like to
see him?'
Eyes. Lead me to him"
Passing through the door separating
the apartments, | was introduced to
Mr.. Mortimer of Chicago. He was q
prodigious brute, a mass of rigid mus
cles, pianolike legs, enormous arms,
bullet head, with fiat nose, beadlike
eyes, close cropped hair and counte-
nance that reminded me of a gorilla
He nodded with grin that showed his
yellow teeth, but did not speak Per-
haps he was afraid of revealing his per-
by his language.
Five minutes later we were intro |
luced TO the audience from the stage. |
The applause was tremendous One III !
my position sees much more than is sus-
Dected. / could easily read the expectant |
ooks and knew that nearly every man /;
here was gloating in advance over my
l looked at Harold. He caught my
we and nodded. He was the hapniest
lerson in the house, for he knew what
vas coming. Possibly ! was equally
happy, for l felt that it was to be my
pleasure of battling a mean plot
Mr.. Mortimer evidently looked upon
lis task as such dead easy" one that
lie felt able to toy with me as a cat
loes with mouse. He must keep up
he semblance Of fairness and not be !
90 rough from the start.
We had spared a few minutes, when
lie landed lightly on my chest. 1t sent
ne backward a couple Of PAGES, for l
vas not expecting it.
1t was apparent to me that the fellow
vas skillful sparrer, and it was impor-
ant to be on my guard, for, although
ny strength was prodigious, was as
vulnerable as ordinary mortals TO attack.
If 1 suffered him to land one of his
erriic blows, should be laid out My
My saferr, therefore, was in anticipat-
ig him.
Sparrers, like fenccrs, look straight
ito each others eyes. 1t is fatal mis-
Ike to do otherwise. We continued
round each other, landing
blow now and then, which was not
ard enough to trouble him, while I
opped one or two ugly thrusts Sud-
enly there was a peculiar whistle and
Ill from several quarters of the house.
he people were becoming impatient.
hey did not wish to wait any longer for
~ overthrow.
/ saw look of hideous devilishness
)me into the gorillalike face before me.
he brute was gathering himself for the
nockout blow, and while doing so an
thing took place.
The Western Cyclone was seen to rise
bruptly from the stage and then speed
saIAl g.
Iz-ST,yJ NJ ~