The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-04-05
The Great Battle
i'm
Pulliam's Cellar
81 ExTER TRAvERs had to quit COL

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his father failed in business and it be-
came necessary for both of them to go
to work. Travers senior, being well
and widely known among the big iron
and steel factors, had no trouble in get
ting Dexter place with the Pu,liam
Sheet Iron and Metal company, and
therefore, in the shipping-room OF the
grimy institution, Dexter began his ca
rser as business man. His duties were
neither picturesque nor interesting to
him, but as he was, to use his own
words, "strong with old man Pulliam,
and as the other clerks and employees
liked him, he managed to exc out fair
ly comfortable existence on $12 per
week.
1t soon became evident about the
Pulliam establishment that Dexter
was ga bug" on athletics. He rugged up
a ceiling and punching bag in the cell
lar, and there during the noon hour and
at sundry intervals when business was
dull he was wont to exhibit his prowess
before the admiring teamsters, porters
and junior clerks. He brought down
set of four boxing gloves, and within
six onths after his arrival the athletic
microbe had attacked half of the men
and boys in the house. Dexter came to
be recognized as an authority on all
sports, and all hands agreed that as
boxer che was a crackerjack."
Being as democratic as any sport"
could desire, Dexter made no distinc-
ton of race, color or social standing
when 1t came to test of physi ex-
cellence, and pretty soon the teamsters
and porters, white and black, began to
appear in the front Office with black
eyes and swollen noses. Old man Pull
liam, happening to visit the cellar one
afternoon. came bump against Travers
and "Possum," gigantic negro team
ster, who were at that moment so abb
sorbed in bout at fisticuffs that
neither of them noticed the presence OF
the boss. Half dozen employees who
surrounded the ring saw him, however,
and, becoming suddenly silent, sneaked
away one by one till Dexter and his an
tagonist were left alone in the presence
of Mr. Pulliam.
That worthy employer stood in the
shadow of stack of sheet iron long
enough to see the round end, but he
didn't say word nordisclose his pres
ence, and a moment later, when he re-
appeared In the front Office, there was
a broad smile of amusement on his red
face. When young Travers heard that
"the old man" had seen him fighting,
or boxing, in the cellar he decided to
maintain posture of mastery inactiv-
isy till Pu.liam either reprimanded him
or forgot the incident. A week passed
without word from the front Office,
and then the young athlete sailed in
for all the sport he could crowd into
q working day. Discipline in the store
went to the dogs, and Dexter himself
became more Of a hindrance than hep
to his employers.
BE began to get recruits from the
front Office. Bookkeepers. cashiers
and stenographers, who had heard
whispers of the "doings" in the rear
cellar, began to wander thither during
the midday recess, first as spectators
and later as participants in the ever.
lasting game of boxing with big soft
gloves. Some Of them had learned to
box and some wanted to "try It,"
One day as he sauntered past the Ions
row of desks in his Office Mr.. Pullian
was astonished to notice that his head
cashiers left eye was overhung by
hull
known to the sportive fraternity a,
"a shanty." Two desks away book
keepers nose showed unmistakabls
signs Of having undergone fierce i'm
pact with some moving, solid sub
stance. An inspection of a dozen othel
clerks yielded various exhibits o.
skinned foreheads, split lips and dis
.olored bumps. >
"Whewi" whistied the old gentle
man to himself as he pushed the cleo
trio button that summoned the heat
chipping clerk.
ssTom,r began Mr.. Pulliam whel
that sedate and paIlid clerk appeared
show is young Travers getting on'2"
do you mean in business or in box
kar. sir?" asked Tom, his lean fac
cracking in honey smile.
"Just how is he getting on; Is b.
any good? Any better or worse thai
when he started here?"
~Well. sir, they amt no doubt he
easy the best boxer in the house. He
licked everybody, that's put ON th
5 rloves with him. an understand he'
{ Issued challenge to fight any man u
tho foundry acrost the alley. Hes I
awful punisher, sir, and them left jab
- his - wonderful, sir, wonderful"
doesn't he do anything but box
Tom?~
even, sir, you see it's Hike this
Travers don't have none too much TIM
for work. A man can't fight all com
ers an be ready AL the time II hea
eot q make out bills-lading and dre,
tickets ID between. o. course We eal
Tet olone WITHOUT Travexn. you know
II. Pulllhm. n fact, ~ ne4@e ~