The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-26
A TALE OF FORBIDDEN SPORT.

IAt Ut tONblDDEN SPORT.
Detailed BY Rounds for an interested
Public.
While the sport of the ring has
been a forbidden one in this city
since the evening some years acc
when the appearance of the sheriff
and band of deputies caused several
prominent citizens to make am exit
from the old Crockett Opera House
through the front windows, there il
occasionally an impromptu affai,
of honor or dishonor recorded in
the city even since Virginia became
civilized and joined the water wag.
on corps on~Sunday.
Such an affair was pulled off in
front of the Virginia Pool Hall al
shortly before one o'clock on Tues.
day, the high dome of heaven cover.
ing the spot selected and permitting
of free admission to the rine.side
which was space without bounds
although the sixteen foot sidewalk
was the base OF operation at the
outset.
The participants in the. manly
sport were one Ransom Metcarfe
editor of The Virginian, and one
William Bennett, youth who has
learned the difference between a
|type-louse and the railroad camp
variety, and who had been in the
employ of The Virginiap for sever.
al days since coming here from
Hibbing three weeks ago.
Stakes-Not mentioned in any ar.
ticles of agreement.
Rules-Push, punch, gouge, kick
boiler and scratch. In short, moth
ing barred except what would be
permitted in the prize ring.
ROUNDI.
The-ex-Democratic postmaster OF
Biwabik, appointed as one of the
last official acts of the illustrious
Grover Cleveland before he was
given the unanimous permission of
approached Mr.. Bennett as the lat
ter was holding down a stool in
front of the billiard hall, and casu-
ally introduced himself. The in
PRODUCTION did not include the ex-
animation of gloves or other minor
preliminaries. Even the call for
Time" was omitted, and the first
intimation the onlookers had of the
approaching breach of etiquette
was when the former disciple of
Grover was heard to remark in a
courteous tone:
you're liar!"
"And you're another" came the
prompt response.
At this juncture the editor made
dirty swipe at the boy, nearly
knocking him from the stool, fol-
lowing his advantage by getting a
strangle hold and parting his op-
ponent from his wind supply.
ROUND II. '>
The customary time limit between
rounds was omitted, the second
round starting in about seven-'Iev-
enths of a second from the close of
the first; in fact, a black cat on the
back fence would not have had time
to wink twice at the white spot on
the moon between acts.
In this round the editor, regain.
ing his hold on the collar of his op-
ponent, held him by sheer strength
and weight at arms length and ad-
ministered divers and sundry kicks,
aimed at certain points on the boys
body demanding no closer mention
to those who witnessed the affair.
Near the close of the round
Bennett broke from the hold, and
the spectators were given an exhi.
bitiOn of some swift work for few
moments, the boy getting a half
Nelson on his weighty antagonist
and landing him on the soft side of
the plank walk in a manner we'll de-
signed to disturb the peace and
dignity of the state-at least for sew
eral blocks, or as far as the rever-
berating whacb could be heard, and
|the round closed with the smaller
man having the situation well in
hand.
ROUND III.
Positively wantou disregard for
the rules of the game as booked for
the prohibited article, the round
opening so closely on the heels of
the previous play that the stickler
had time to walk around a bit,
YOU" Bennett again assumed a
position on the upper deck, and was
seemingly as unmindful of his sur
roundings as he was of the proba-
bility of the clearing away of the
| wal O4OuO 1dI east
Biff!
Whack!
| yG-r-r-r-r-r!
f. Thus it went, while cries came
from the onlookers of
1Soak himw =
Throw the worries into him."
KNOCK his block Off"
Meaning, presumably, his Stein.
Block.
| ROUND w.
Both men entered this round with
caution, and the first observance OF
the time rule was noted. It was
while the opponents were thus par;
leying that Chief of Police Sullivan
hled an appearance on the. scene
and introduced some bran new tao:
tics, getting a fetching hold on
either combatant and rendering
them a candid invitation to accom-
pany him on a visit of inspection
to the new city hall building. g.
This Invitation was accepted with
more or less becoming grace, and