Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-03-24

open until or 3 A. M, also wide open
on Sundays and holidays, selling to
men already intoxicated and then TAX
ing money from them, more than due.
They opened new saloon across the
street from the church. Men come into
church with whisky breath, sit a while,
go out and return worse than before.
The streets are thronged with drunk
en- men on Sunday nights, making it
unsafe for our ladies to come to church.
The insulting conduct of officials be-
came unbearable and their refusal to
take complaint against a saloon-
keeper became a scandal.
The evidence secured made the con.
ditions such that before daring to open
again my influence must be destroyed
and / driven from town. Therefore the
saloon-keepers and officials entered in
to conspiracy. An article was pre-
pared and printed in the official organ
of the whisky dealers.
First, however a fight must be had in
order to draw me into the net and thus
prove the statements made in their
! article-that l was wolf in sleeps
| clothing and used to aspire to be a
pugilist. Saloon-keeper Dondero want
ed to slap my face and, being an artist
| which to bring about friendly contest
for points and then secure an oppor-
tunity to slug me and prove my con-
duct disgraceful az minister. Thus
he had me fixed. If l accepted his
challenge I was pugilist and would
| not be allowed to preach again, the,
officials having great influence in our
church. If I refused I was a coward
and fit prey for the gang, who would
| enjoy themselves at my expense and
harass me until would have to leave,
The officials being against me and bet
ting on my showing up, [ was forced
to depend upon my own resources.
So persistently did they keep at me
that I finally, at 10 P. NJ, Saturday,
Dec. 8, consented to take my chances
with one man rather than be at the
mercy of the gang. So I went with
| them to a barn which they had prepar-
ed for the occasion. being challenged
claimed the right to furnish the gloves
| and make the conditions. | got out
peculiar set of gloves, made according
| to my own ideas while at college, which
the boys had dubbed "Axtelrs pillows"
| They chose timekeepers and a referee
and appointed my second. 1 am TWEEN
| ty-six years of age and weigh 1876
| ~ o
| a Wolverine of Yankee descent Gus
Dondero. of italian parentage, weight
| 40 pounds, is about thirty years of
age. and a well known character here
.abouts.
The contest was a lively one from the
word go. l took the defensive and
maintained 1t until the latter part of
| this third round, when I became agrees
sive, landing a right hook on the 1ugu-
| lar. In the fourth and fifth kept him
groggy, my aim being to convince him
without badly injuring him. The last
| few seconds of the fifth landed right
and left and had him up ready and
| just about to deliver a solar plexus
when the referee, his brother-in-law,
called time and decided it a draw.
was escorted home by the gang and
| wished well.
The officials and saloon element are
| making it unbearable here, however,
and the landlords. one of their sym
| pathizers, has notified me that my rent
is to be raised, and as there is not a
vacant house in town I don't know
| what the outcome will be.
Dondero has been arrested on sew
eral charges, and as the cases are sure
| ones he may also have to leave town,
escorted by the Sheriff. I wish every
young man was properly trained ath-
lete, learning that it is glorious to pos
sess a giants power, yet cowardly to
use 1t in any but a just cause, which
would make better Christians and
citizens. I have spent a large share Of
my time in the study of anthropology,
and believe in upbuilding the human
race rather than uplifting it,
Mems sana in sano corpore" is my
motto, and "alternum vivo" my puF-
pose. JOSHUA ]. AXTELL.