The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-03-08
FOUGHT TO WIN SOULS.
o.ascher Won Three Prize
fights to Save Cowboy.
orE FIGHT LASTED SEVEN ROUNDS

.corclusion of the Contests Each
cowboy Joined the Battered Evan
0sIist's Flock - Hard Hitting the
puIe-No Punishment Was Too Sc
ro For the Clergyman.
In the interests of Christianity and to
,o;sa money for his missionary work
the Rev. Cyrus Escomb, a travelling
oronoelist of the Dunkard faith, recent
" participated in three prizefghts at
toIlefourche, S. D., of two, four and
soven rounds respectively, In each he
was victorious, and with every victory
he saved, or thinks he saved, a soul.
The Rev. Escomb has been holding
rovivals at the various cattle camps in
this section for nearly year About
+hemiddle of January he came to Belle
fonrcbe. The citizens received him kind
". but the COW punchers from the neigh
boring ranges, concerning whose spirit
nal welfare he was especially solicitous,
were not interested in religion.
His opportunity came in an unex-
nected way. Chuck Perkins, foreman on
the Star w ranch, had been kicked
byavicious broncho and was INDUCING
in considerable profanity. The Rev. Els
comb overheard and rebuked him.
Chuck Instantly became abusive. The
minister, nervous and irritable from his
long, up hill struggle with the cattle
men, threatened him with a whipping.
Lick me- said Chuck impressively,
IAN I'll jine yer church"
Big Mike Crane, another of the ''Star
W gang, and Charles Ransom, a local
tough and bully, heard the conversation
and wanted in in the game on the
same terms. 1t was Crane who suggest
ed a cash donation Of 500 in aid of the
clergyman work of evangelization for
each fight he won.
twas probably the clerical cut of the
pastors garments rather than anything
in his appearance that made the men
so confident, for when they came to
strip they could not help noticing that
be was decidedly in the heavyweight
class and picked their best fighter to
meet HIN first. Crane was their selec-
ton. The fight was fought in a corral
outside Of town, where there was no
danger Of interruption. A big crowd
gathered to watch the result.
Not much skill was displayed, but
what the contestants lacked in science
they made up in strength, courage and
determination. To every ones astonish-
ment the Rev. Escomb forced the fight
ing from the start. Crane held his own
during the first and second rounds, but
came up groggy in the third and was
knocked out in the fourth
hanson made a better showing. He
lasted seven rounds and mauled his an
tagon1St severely. The latter won more
0y sheer endurance and Indifference to
punishment than by superior skill.
Hanson entered the ring at the begin
1lng OF the seventh round badly blown
and much annoyed by the flow Of blood
rom cut over the eye. The Rev.
Escomb saw his advantage and, avail
ing himself of his superior weight and
reach rushed his man rapidly about
sne ring, beat down his guards by pure
force OF muscle and finally landed a
9IoW on his jaw under which he went
uoWn and was unable to regain his feet.
Perkins confessed himself beaten be-
lore he began fighting and devoted
most OF his time to lodging the rever-
gnd gentleman's sledge hammer fists.
Inc latter was considerably battered,
oat Perkins, who had at first considered
himself sure of victory, completely lost
MS nerve when he saw Crane and Ran
son fall and would, as he afterward
admitted, have kept out of the ring al
together had he been able to do SC
uedltably. He went out after two easy
rounds.
The Rev, Escomb held his men strict
TO their agreement, and all promptly
Pald their money and professed Chris
1anlty, Perkins and Crane took theil
4ereat IN excellent part, and the minis
Ter expresses all confidence in Their
conversion, despite the UNUSUAL manner
III Which it was effected. Ransom il
Sullen and dissatisfied. He claims the
clergyman fouled him. and it is doubt
t9i II he will make valuable or lasting
"ualtlon to the evangelist s flock.
Inc latter is an old Vermonter, passed