The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-14
rHuEspAy. JANUARY Ia,Iss7.


The fiercest sparring match that ever
took place in Delaware, has been going
on at Dover since the ilrst day the Lssis'
lature organized Tho participants arc
Woodward w. Chcairs and John 4. DICK
ey Cheairs second, have been w. y.
Kurtz and Bayard lleisel, while John L.
Dickey has been well looked alter by JAS.
Ponder, who has since called in JAS. b.
Pennington to help him rub John I. down
after every round.
Time-Any time Scene-In the House
Rt Dover.
Round FIrst-John L. Dickey captured
the seat byCaretully prepared plans, which
are carrisd out by thirteen Democratic ln-
spectors at ,ho Court House on the night
Of Thursday, Nov. 8, 1896.
In this sot.to Mr.. Woodward W. Cheairs
is completely knocked out in beautiful
style 1t was considered one of John Us
stiff upper cuts and it was supposed had
completely killed all further opposition TO
him.
Round Socond-Woodwar w, Chcairs
comes up smiling, and, by the aid OF his
two seconds, makes pass for Diekey's
seat by filing a contest with the House for
the same, averring that he had been most
foully dealt with in the fight; that he had
been dealt blow below the belt in the
deal and he was not satisfied that he had
been completely knocked out, but was on
dock ready to fight to finish. His sec
onds eagerly voiced his, Cheairs, scnt-
ments
Round Third-John 7. Dickey presents
his credentials, all properly signed, and is
seated in the House, where he proceeds to
get in few ticks at the man holding his
old office and which he had an idea was
created solely for him and his friends. He
also gave notice that he would present, in
q few days, several other partisan bills
that were loaded with good old Democrat
ic doctrine. All this time Cheairs was
tying to get him in the centre of the ring
fully expecting to knock the foxy John
ont, but John cunningly spared for time
Round Fourth Cheairs rather had the
best of 1t in this round, as he had been
able to have committee appointed to
count the votes in the ballot boxes in Will
mington, which were sent for by The com.
mittee, 1t looked as if Chears had the
b>st of it in this round, as John kept out
of his way doing the walking around act.
Cheairs seconds looked tickled to death,
but they didn't know what foxy old
game cock John waN, who was laughing
up his sleeve at them all the time.
Inbound Fifth-The ballot boxes are
brought down to Dover by Sheriff Finn
who, by advice, refused to hand over the
keys to Cheairs' attorneys or the Leglsla
tiye committee appointed for the purpose
of counting the votes In the ballot boxes
Here Is where Dickey completely winds
Cheairs and fairly stagger. his two seconds
who thought they had Dickey whipped
until he showed his hands which was ace
high to their one pair. The fight was de-
clared draw, but the participants will
meet again on Friday to fight out their
differences once more. And yet Delaware
j. claimed rs 9Hg OF the thirteen original
States Our forefathers should arise from
their graves, if such thing were possible
and pay cur State a visit during election
times, when we think they would be quite
content to return from whence they came.