The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-16
MARYLAND OFFICERS ACT
Prize Fighting at Chesapeake June
tion Not Permitted.
After n Crowd of Seven Hundred sien
Gather in the Pavilion, 1t Is An
nounced That the Scheduled Bouts
Are Postponed One Week An
Episode Mt an Infamous Resort

There was no prize fighting at Chesa-
peake Junction last night, which is proba-
bly, the first positive statement to the
credit of that unsavory resort that has
been made since its infamy was exposed
some weeks ago. But. creditable as the
mere fact may be, there are, unfortunate
ly, certain qualifications
In the first place, there was no voluntary
surrender to either the law of decency
or the law Of the State of Maryland. in
which Commonwealth the nests of de-
bauchery are gathered, just beyond the
District line. 1t required the efforts of
Edward T. Shea, the sheriff of Prince
George County, aided by fifty-eight depu-
5ties. to convince the promoters OF the
prize-fighting enterprise that the Mary
land authorities were in earnest in deter
mining that that particular pest hole of
the State should become no more pestif-
erous than it has been.
This involves another qualification.
Sheriff Shea went about his work as if
the task were exceedingly distasteful. and
he was SO courteous to the managers of the
pdgliistic scheme ass to Justify them in
making the announcement that the fights.
as scheduled for last night, had not been
abandoned. but had merely been post
poned until next Wednesday night
The deputies. or at least some OF them.
whom Sheriff Shea had gathered about
him last night constituted Of themselves
another Qualification. That most of them
were n sympathy with the management
of the enterprise. and are opposed 70 aay
sort OF publication process. was shown by
the manner in which Trey treated such
persons as were unlucky enough to have
asked them for information. The Ian
guage used by some of them was SO foul
as forever to disqualify them from again
entering the presence Of a decent man or
woman. One blear-eyed and bloated ind-
viuusl, who claimed to be dfputy,
whe.Ae he was or not. used expressions
so disgustingly filthy that even the
toughest of the toughs who heard him
turned away and coughed. That is the
Bowery equivalent of a blush.
1t became evident early in the summer
that the Junction resorts. although beyond
the District line were calculated to put
foul blot upon the character OF the capi-
tai OF the nation, or. at least, upon it's en-
virons. Despite the protests that were
made from time to time the disreputable
the head of affairs out there concluded
that they could go to the extreme limit
with impunity. Confident of the potency
of their pull, project was formed for
the holding of prize fights. The time was
regarded as propitious, as the Horton law,
under which limited round contests have
been permitted in New York expires next
month, and it was proposed to make this
neighborhood the istic Mecca. pavil-
ion. capable of seating 500 persons. was
built, and series of fights arranged to
come off last night The programme con-
sisted of number Of preliminary bouts
Of six and eight rounds each between pu-
gilists of no repute.
TIE star event advertised was to be OF
twenty-five rounds to a decision between
Dan Creedol. a white man from Aus
tralia, and BILLY" Peyton. colored man,
whom Washington honoTs by permitting
him to claim this city as his residence
These men are heavyweights
Hardly had the announcement of the
programme been made when protests be
gan to pour IN upon the District Commits
sioners. Henry B. F. Macfarland, Presi-
dent of the Board. wrote letter to Gov
ernor Smith, Of Maryland. respectfully
calling his attention TO the conditions ex-
listing at the Junction. and to the pro-
tests. Governor Smith, in turn, referred
the whole subject to Judge Merrck os
Marlboro, Prince George County. in whose
bailiwick the pest hole lies. with instruc-
tiOns to use all the legal machinery at his
disposal to, at least, stop the prize fight
ing feature.
Judge Merriek summoned Sheriff Shea.
gave him some pointed Instructors, and
told him that he would be on hand him
self to see that those instructions were
carried out. And he was. Judge Merrick
remained en- the ground until nearly mid
night.
President Macfarlsnd, In his commune
cation to Governor Smith, had said that
the District authorities were rather more
than willing 20 cooperate with the State
a aIthorities. and in accordance Herewith,
lieutenant Daley, OF the Ninth precinct.
went to the scene with a reserve force OF
teE men.
1t can be stated positively that it was
known down town early yesterday that
there would be no fighting last night. The
tip" it is said, came from Sheriff Shea
himself. Nevertheless, six or seven hun
bility, or the lack OF it, went cut to the
junction and paid their 81 or 50 each TO
witness what was advertised to be Il series
u bloody encounters.
At $50. the hour set for the first bout
ne pavilion was crowded. and there was
much yelling and stamping of feet. In
stead of a pair Of "pugilists' coming for
ward to smash" each other, a master
If ceremonies" entered the ring and an
that because of the county au-
hoIities being uncertain as to the con-
,tructian of the statutes relating to glove !
contests. the bouts advertised would be |
postponed one week 1t was also announced |
hat any person who had purchased a
icket could have his money refunded upon |
application. The applications were i'm |
Mediate and numerous.
II was after the hall was cleared that |
Sheriff Shea and his deputies displayed |
heir displeasure at being called upon to |
ierform such unpleasant duties. There /
we're of course many persons in the crowd |
Who wanted information. When they ask
ID for it. or. at least when some of them
lid. they were brutally insulted.
After the prize fight throng had melt
ID away on the returning Columbia line
.ars. the usual revelries at the junction,
.ontinued. Probably as a result of tht
presence of Judge Merrick there was no !
lanclng in the pavilion devoted to that
,urpose but there we're scores of young
iris whose dresses scarcely reached their
hoe tons. who were to be seen entering
he many deeply shaded paths, in company
With Young men who wore their hats far
,yer to one side and puffed cigars perched
Il the usual angle of toughdom.
II would require some extended analysis
O determine whether the Junction was
made any better by the stopping OF the
,rze fights last night. 1t is quite certain.
lowever. that it was not made any worse
RANGER MISSING