The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-06-01
"LrcK ME- AND I'LL BE GOOD"


Converts lot AhI
In tie interests of Christianity and
to raise money for his missionary work
the Hey. Cyrus Escomb. n travelling
evangelist Of the Dunkard faith, par
i ticlpated In three prize fights, of two,
four aud seven rounds, respectively
In each he WAS victorious, and with
each victory he saved, or thinks he
saved, soul.
Tie Rev. Escomb has been holding
reyiyals ut the various cattle camps
near Belefourehe, $. d.. for nearly 4
year About the middle OF January he
went to Bellefourche. The citizens re-
ceived him kindly. but the cowpunch-
ers from the neighborng ranges, con
corning whose spiritual welfare he was
especially solietous, were not interest
ed In religion. His opportunity came
In an unexpected way. Chuck Per
kins. foreman on the "Star W. ranch,
had been kicked by vicious brOncho
and was INDUCING in considerable pro
family. The Rey. Escomb overheard
and rebuked him. Chuck instantly
became abusive The minister, nervous
aud irritable from his long, uphill
struggle with the cattlemen, threaten
+ ed him with whipping.
Lick me- said CHUCK impressive
/ Is land I'll Jlne yer church,
big Mike Crane, another OF the
Star Y" gang. aud Charles Ransom,
local tough and bully heard the con
versation aud wanted ln' In the game
/ on the same terms. 1t was Crane who
/ suggested a cash donation OF SO In all
/ OF the clergyman's work OF evanSeliza'
4 ton for each fight he won.
+ II was probably the clerical cut OF
/ the pastors garments rather than any
/ thing in his appearance that made the
men so confident, for when they came
/ TO strip they could not help noticing
/ that he was decidedly in the heavy
weight class, and picked their best
/ fighter 10 meet him first Crane was
+ their selection. The fight was fought
f In corral outside of town, where there
was no danger of interruption. \ big
crowd gathered TO watch the result.
i Not much skill was displayed, but
what the contestants lacked in science
+ they made up i'm strength, courage, ana
determination. To every ones aston
ishment the Rev Mr.. Escomb forced
the fighting from the start Crane held
his own during the first and second
rounds. but came mp groggy IN the
third. AMI was ignominiously knocked
out in the fourth
Ransom made better showing. lie
lasted seven rounds and maulcd his
antagonist severely. The latter won
more by sheer endurance and inditfer-
encc 10 punishment than by superior
skill. Ransom entered tile ring ut the
beginning of the seventh round badly
blown and much annoyed by the flow
Of blood from a cut over the eye. The
Rev Mr.. Eseomb saw his advantage
aud, nyailing himself of his superior
weight aud reach, rushed his man rap
idly about the ring, beat down his
guards by pure force of muscle, and
/ finally landed blow on his jaw under
which he went down and was unable
10 regain his feet
Perkins confessed himself beaten be-
fore lie began lighting, and devoted
most of his time to lodging the reycr-
end gentleman's sledge hammer fists.
/ The latter was considerably battered,
hut Perkins. who had at first consider
ed himself snre of victory, completely
lost his nerve when he saw Crane and
Ranson fall. and would, as he after
ward admitted. have kept out OF the
ring altogether had he been able to do
so eredtably. lie went out after two
easy rounds
The Rev. Mr.. Escomb held his men
strictly 10 their agreement, ana all
promptly paid their money and pro
fessed Christianity. Perkins and
Crane took their defeat In excellent
part. and the minister expresses all
confidence In their conversion. despite
the unusual manner in which 1t was
effected. Ransom is sullen and dissatis-
fed. He claims the clergyman fouled
him. and II is doubtful II he will make
valuable or lasting addition to the
evangelists flock.
The latter is an old Vermonter, pass
cd his boyhood on farm. spent several
years In the Wisconsin lumber camps.
and bore the reputation in his youth
of being an almost invlnclble rough
nnd-tumble fighter. He Is now about
- years old and weighed in at the ring
side at 1917 pounds. Crane is 50 years
old and tips the beam at 2l0. Ransom
weighed 153 and Perkins $50.