The times., 1897-06-23
FOUGHT FOR A FAIR LADY
Young MIR. Gates aud DR.. Reneh
Pummel Each Other.
BATTLE DECLARED A DRAW
Black Eyes aud Broken Noses and
the Loss to Both Of the Young
Woinan's Affections the Net pe-
suit Both the Pugiiists i'rolni.
neut In Social Circles.

10 seuble the dispute as to which gen.
tlenan lad the greater claim upon the
affections of !. pretty young girl, Mr..
Cyrus v Gates, Of. this city, well -snorn
in social and political circles, and DR.
Victor b. Renah. 4 prominent druggist of
baltimore, fnuebt to a finish with bare
fists Monday night, at an isolated spot
just over the District line. The result
of the battle is told in the dIsfigured
countcnan ces, 1thei, blackened eyes, and
swollen Roses 81 THE coInbatants and the
complete annifhlatipn Of the young lady's
affection, so far as both gen tienisn are
concerned.
IT ali came about in this way: DR.. Rench
is popular young man. and so IS Mr.
Gates. He is president of the Young
Mems Sound Money Club OF Washington,
and was leading candidate for the office
of recorder or deeds for the District of CO.
lu.nbia, hut the nomination finally went to
Mr.. CAeathain. During last falls campaign
.ie made speeehesi in Maryland and Virginia
i'll behalf of the gold standard, and his
friends still believe,tbat the President VIII
reward his services with a lucrative posi-
ton. Society knows him fully as well.
DR.. Reneh is Il no less conspicuous fig,;ss.
Several inonths ago he went 10 Baitinore
To become manager of large drug ssore,of
which Arthur Nattans is proprietor IL
was with deep regret that he was COM
PEELED to leave behind the fair one in the
case, aud several times each week he
might have been found in Washington at
the home of the Young lady, and il was
generally understood That they we're en-
gagged.
Meanwhile Mr.. Gales, who is manly
and handsome young man, employed at
Eiscaan Brothers oiothing esta allishnent,
DIT seventh and z streets, continued to caIl
upon the young lady, as he ALLEGES merely
ON account of his having aequainl ance with
the family and with 10 idea of changing
the channel of The young lady's affections
1t tranFpired several tia Us since that the
young lady fell suddenly i'll, and Mr. Gates
called to learn her condition and offer his
sympathy.
He sa. nisusreeting In the paTler, wfen
in waise,i DR.. Rench, andit is alleged il.at
with an OATH and in the company of LADIES'
the latter demanded to know re cause Of
Gates Presence. This brought a singing
rebnke from Mr. Gates, and only through
the diplomacy OF the Young ladies was a
scene prevented. a
Mr. Gates resented the insult. and that
night when he went home he sat down and
wrote the doctor a very plain letter, in
which nc referred to him as dirty cur
and went on to state that if he had any
grievance against him that ii must be set
tied in private and not before ladies'.
The Baltimore man at once interpreted
this To mean a challenge, and the first
train cut of Baltimore the next morning
foind him on his way To Washington.
lie sought Gates at his place of en-
plcyrnent, and demanded a retract ton,
which being denied, settlement Of the
difficulty then and there was prevented,
only by theintegfeferce OF the proprietor
SO it happened that the two comsatants
decided TO choose a aithird party as referee,
and proceed to the grounds of the Wash
ington OUTING Club TO end the matter.
The historic field at Bladensburg was
rot selected. because pistols were rot
down on the program. Accordingly, wlen
darkness hovered over the city, the two
young Elen, escorted by The referee who
kept betw tbeing boarded an lexington
car and proeeetle,.Gto the arena
There, in the broad, grassy meadow,
where none could modest or interfere tEey
made ready for the encounter There
were no stcoads, backers or specta ators.
No one. saveaths timekeepeT and referee,
in one person, witnessed the battle II
was agreed that the contest should be
for one continuous round, eo-as-you-pIease
and cafch-as-catch-can.
Time was called and the giadiators,
both men Of small stature, laid asi de their
outer garments.
Then for fifteen minutes ensued most
terrific struggle; after moments spar
ring the amateur pugilists clinched clae eed
each others hair, pnched, scratched, bit
and occasionally struck each other. Over
and over they rolled, while their blood
mingled with the dew, while their cloth
ing hung IN siireds and tatters, and not
until both were completely breathless
from exhaustion did they CRY quits.
Swollen and bleeding they found their
way To the still waters of a neigfborine
brook, where they bathed and were re-
freshed, and baDdages, arnica and court
plaster were brought into use.
Dr. Rench managed TO get back to the
Monumental City without comingin town
He was not able 10 work yesterday, an.f
reported to his friends that he had met
with cable car accident Mr.. Gates, with
two black eyes and swollen nose, was
on duty yesterday, and people who do not
know of the affair think that he met with
d bicycle accid ent.
Meanwhile the engageme Mt has been de.
clared off.