Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-01
RALLY FOR LOWDEN
Bows Shown Good Time at the
Black Hawk Club
Quarters.
ARE GUESTS OF JOHN P. LooNEl
Fonr Ring Battles Feature of the
EVening-New InitiatOry
Ceremony.

The entertainment that took place
last night at the quarters of the Black
Hawk club, in which John z. Looney
is the leading spirit, and was last
night q royal host, had all the ear
marks of Lowden rally, Il gathering
Of the flag ends just before the pri-
maries at which delegates are to be
selected to the state convention in an
which of the five aspirants for the
republican governorship nomination
is really their friend. 1t is
estimated that there were sew
eral hundred persons in the
clubhouse, which lies nestled in a val
ley just north of the Rock river road
and about half a mile east of the
Watch Tower.
Nothing was left unGone to insure
the guests an enjoyable evening. One
large room was used in which to dis
pense refreshments. There were
three kinds of soup, sandwiches, Wien
er-wursts, blue points, ETC., pure
spring water ION the side) and good
cigars. Lowden, it is understood, paid
the freight.
On the next floor above is the audi
forum. Here 16-foct ring had been
roped, and there was seating capacity.
arranged in bleacher fashion, for 300
The remainder of the visitors perched
on the rafters or hung onto the side
lines. The room was packed almost
to suffocation.
Utilization Ceremonies.
The ceremonies began at o'clock.
The first order of business was an
nOunced to be the initiation of a class
of candidates from the south part of
the county, members of the Edging-
ton Loafers' club, and the special
guests of the evening. This ceremony
was indeed interesting. The candi-
date was first blindfolded in an ante
room. after which he was led int the
roped arena, made to answer in 4 tone
of voice audible in all parts of the
building questions bearing on his
moral character. If the replies were
So satisfactory to the chief interrogation,
he was. tipped to the floor, a roar
ing alcohol torch placed close to his
ear. and n small cake of ice dropped
on his barred breast. The degree made
some of the boys screech. but they
took it good naturally, and when re-
leased admitted that the work. while
not so warm as that done by the loaf
ers, had more to it. and was much
more impressive. Two wandering
minstrels. with mandolin and guitar,
furnished music while the crowd wait
4 -
pers.
Four Fights on Program.
There were four battles, the main
one occurring last. For an opener
Grotegut and Lundgren, of Rock ISL
and, pair of youngsters, were offer
ed. While neither displayed any more
science than the law allowed, they
acted like fellows with ambitions
along pugilistic lines, and put up a
fierce contest lasting four rounds. 1t
was declared draw.
Francis, of Savanna, was awarded
the decision over Fulmer, of Rock ISL
and, in four-round go. Fulmer was
at all points.
Harris and DeGroot, boys, were
scheduled to go six rounds. but the
latter had Il package handed him in
the second round that made him
sleepy. He could not hear the referee
counting and Harris was given the |
decision on a knockout.
The main event was a disappoint- |
ment, Jack Welch, the Chicago white, |
who was touted to put it over Kid |
Finley. the Moline colored man, TAX |
ing the count in the second round. |
This fight was to have lasted six
rounds.
Among the leading republicans who
assisted Mr.. Looney in making the af- |
fair pleasant politically and otherwise
were III. NJ. Schriver. J. X. Scott and |
e. Albert Johnson, and numerous Of
fetal representative of the city adj