The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-12-01
ABOUT THE FIGHT
MERIWETHER TELLS ABOUT
QUARREL WITH BRANCH.
His Bitter Repentance-Would
Rather Have Met Enemy's Fate
Than Lived-Had to Fight
or Be Ostracised and
Then Resign.

Annapolis, Nd. Nov, 2e.-Mid-
shipmanMeriwether today took the
witLess stand in his own. behalf.
His story Of the trouble between
himself and Midshipman Branch
did not differ substantially from the
testimony of previous witnesses. He
told of having had fight with
Midshipman Humphreys, in 1904,
in which the latter knocked out"
the witness. ea.e 4<s
Speaking of the night when the
feud came to head, Meriwether
said: "a = j
81 went in Branch's room and
the light was turned on. Isaid that
I had come to see him about what
occurred. Branch said, you are a
dam fool to come to see me, you
know that my class hates YOU
L II said, That is not. SO; you are
the only one who does.'a
Branch asked, What if I dor
II said, Then you are a damn,
sneaking coward, and 1 will fight
you, though I. am not in fighting
condition I added, If you get7up
I will lick you
HE said, "You mean you will
try.'
/" That's what I will,' I said,
land If you get.up I will show you.'
He did not get up, and after little
further converse ton, Jaegar and ]
left the room.
II called Branch what I did be-
cause I was told the custom was
that fight would end feeling, and
Branch had told me he was going
to 'bilge' me-that is, make me fail
and wanted to fight and end the
matter. I did not intend to fight
when I went to the room, but. he
again told me that he intended to
'bilge' me"
Meriwether's counsel then asked
him about his refraining from hit.
ting Branch during the fight, al
though to do so under the rules.
The witne-s told of two instances
of this, explaining that he did not
believe any blows should be struck
in stand.of fight unless men are
on their feet. He also told how he
fouled and offered to give up the
fight, but the seconds would not al
low it. i ttfl !s--f 50
'tAtter the quarrel with Branch ,
said he. "Midshipman McKittrick
came to my room and told me thai
be had been appointed Branch's sec
ond to arrange a fight. l wanted
Jaegaruas mine. The details were
then arranged. During the fgh1
we first fell under the blinds. Abou
the 18th round I rushed Branch
and both fell sideways through tn,
door. The next round Branch hi
me terrific uppercut. It stunned
me for some rounds. I returned tt
his Jaw He threw, his head -bacl
and I returned. but swung my arm
around his neck, we fell in that po
sition, his head striking the floor
"We were lifted up. Ny. arm
could not be used for the next tw'
rounds. My left arm was crushed
in football game about three year
ago. The arm is still weaker thai
the-other.'' .s&4 -. .tts.s
Meriwether then showed. a dee
scar on the wrist of the left arm
He's said silver plate had been pu
there g. ~ . s3s4f#
| ."At-t the. endaof the .23d round,
he continued, ,, Branch. came acros
thereon and we both apologize
and he said:s Afterwards we vii
be friends He then left and / hav
never seen him since. We parte
as friends. z.s-s1G z.1:
ST could not 60 to breakfast th
next morning. Il had to go to .th
hospital. An orderly came. and sal
that there was q man Eunconsciou
in the hall. He was brought to- th
hospital that night, and DIR. Anne
told me that Branch was doing wei
About 3 o'clock the next afternoo
I was told bya nurse that Branc
was dead. I requested an of6ci'
investigation by the superintendent
I was grieved beyond expressio,
| I think that Mr.. Branch was il
deed more fortunate in being in h
place, in going to sleep and nj
waking up, than to be in mine an
; having to live this life after this ss
and deplorable affair.
|