The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-09
BRAND 1T A FAKE.
Military Men, Accused OF Engaging
in an affair of Honor Call
Down an Evening Paper.


Down an Evening Paper
"Ev'nin' psipers. All about - prizeAgat
at de Arrnory," yelled the newsooys about
the streets yesterday afternoon.
Who were the hghtersF' inquired q
gentleman, before purchasing.
'oh. q couple Of blokes what belong to
de military company" cams back the
answer. Such a proceeding as this was
too good q thing 10 miss. so thu gullIble
citizen squandered two cents 20 read an
account OF one OF the rankest fakes ever
perpetrated on an unsuspectlng public.
The article in question graphically de-
scribed four-round fight with small
gloves between two well-known MEN,
beers OF Il company, Prtvates Clark and
keeEs. IL told how the two members had
had words about either a lady or gen
tleman friend some time before, and de-
c!ded TO settle The affair OF honor" a la
Corbett and Fitzsimmons after Tuesday
nights erill how they prepared for the
go" and how Clark administered the
coup d'etat to keene In the fourth round.
This highly colored account or what was
in reality friendly sparring match with
pillows caused a great deal OF comment
in military circles and did not tend 10
soften the tempers Of the young men who
spared or Lieut.. Mat Gormley, who was
present.
Lieut. Gormley was incensed at the item
In question. and sent the following ex-
pianatory account 10 the Post-Intelhgen-
Ger last night.
I'm the Times of last evening appeared
an article which. in order 10 do justice
20 the members Of Company B. deserves
an explanation The article ia an account
OF an alleged 'prizeight' which occurred
at comparry's room Tuesday evening.
The fight IS described In a very vivid and
sensational, as we'll as imaginative, man
ner The facts in regard TO the so-calie3
tight are as follows: The members or
Company have for the past three
formal manner nearly every Tuesday
evening after drill. There have been con-
tests az each Of these evenings Of prac-
tice. Most of the members of the COM
pany who are inclined to athletics have
at one time or another had on the gloves,
and the gloves. by the way. are the large
boxing gloves that are ordinarily used in
There have never been any formal
challenges for these contests; they have
been arranged on the spur OF the moment:
A week ago last Tuesday evening several
OF the members OF the company were in
the room when either Keene or Clark.
neither one renserf1 oers which. asked the
other to box with him, bu: not feeling like
boxing. the invitation was postponed UNI
I'll the next Tuesday evening. This was
agreed to and the matter was dropped.
Last Tuesday evening I became aware
that several outsiders were coming TO the
room 20 see the members spar After the
drill was over and the company dismissed
told the boys unoffida!ly TINT II they
had friends present who were not MEM
bers, I desired that they request them 10
retire. / did this for two reasons. First.
we are not In the habit OF allowing our
quarters to DO used as public room. and,
second. I aid not care 10 establish any
precedent toward making the room
ioungfng place for the class who are u%u-
ally attracted TO free boxing exhibition.
after the boys had removed their uni
forms we had the usual sparring. Not
f4r4s Al et4s.e
members were boxing, myself among the
number There was no hard feeling be-
tween the two named above. There were
TO tights used. nor light gloves; the Same
gloves were used that we were eccus ornei
to using Nobody was injured in the least.
Everything that took place can be seen
nearly every day in most gyTlnasiums.
and there was no opportunity for news
item. except for very VIVID imsgina-
ton
cernes. I do not believe ii Is necessary 10
defend II. / write this merely that those
who are interested in the company and
is merers nay not sea , Us Z false Use
company will look AT this In an unpreJu-
diced manner. remain. etc"
Private r. Bruce Keene. one Of the
''conabatsnts in the affair Of honor" was
more put out over the appearance Of the
fake than Lieut.. Go-mley. and di6 not
take any pains to disguise the fact. He
said:
The article in the Times this evening
under the heading was an Affair OF
Homer IS false from beginning 10 end.
/ was one OF the principals In this bloody
contest as the Times Is pleased 10 call
f. and have no hesitation In saying that
there Is not one iota Of truth in the whole
article. The fact Il, Clark and / are. and
always were friends. and have boxed
great deal together. The evening agtta-
tor ss evidently cramped for news. as IL
gave this little farce nearly as much
space as the san Francisco Examiner
gave 70 the Cor5ett -kftzstrnmons fight.
Lieut.. Gorgnley Is one of the best military
Officers IN the state, as well "a 6 perfect
gentleman and would not for one moment
allow = nght n the CON pany room"