The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-05-15
RUSHv|LLE MAN
ACTED AS REFEREE
Badger and Bull Dog Fight
at Eagles Last Night
Great Affair.
OSCAR WONT FORGET FIGHT
Boxing Contest and Music Form
Other Diverting Features for
Convention End.

One tremendous cheer for Oscar |
Fletcher of Rushville, the referee of |
the badger fight which was pulled off |
in the Eagles clubrooms last night and
the state convention of the Eagles
came to an end
1t was the grand finale and undoubt-
edly for many years to come the noise
and din, the shouting and betting and
the voices of the policemen warning
against any betting on the fight, will
ring in the ears of the referee
Last evening was one of those in
Eagledom for which the birds have es-
tablished the reputation of hale good
fellows, brimming with fun and mirth.
and with tender heart for their
brethren in time of need
1t was all fun and play last night.
The day itself had been nicer than the
preceding one. Quite a number of
delegates were still in town, some of
| them having come yesterday morning,
twelve hours after the convention ses-
sions were over.
The badger fight" was the big draw
ing card for the evening, but there
were other preliminaries that in them
selves would have made the evening
complete in entertainment
But the badger fight promised to be
bloody and on the square with a ref
cree like Oscar Fletcher. Further
more there seemed to be a chance for
| betting.
Fight Announced.
! At 1880 Judge NJ. Poland of East
| Chicago announced the fierce and fero-
cious badger fight between a full
blooded bulldog and badger. as he
exists in Wisconsin. The ring for the
contest was cleared and Frank Roth's
bulldog was Led into the ring. In the
meantime Officer George HanIon. who
was also the. baIlln IN Judge Foland.s
court last night. began to wrap tie
referee in towels in order to protect
his clothes from blood which might be
spilled.
Frank D. Williams OF East Chicago.
who is veteran badger fight manag-
er, took the floor as manager of this
| hight and explained its principles and
recommended the referee as being emf
nently fair. He admitted that it was
against the state law and advised that
the doors be securely locked. which
was promptly done.
The doors had been barely locked
when the betting began. The referee
began to get slightly excited seeing
that he should referee a fight in which
possibly $3,7S6.70 would change hands.
He wondered what kind of maniacs
the Northern Indiana people were to
go crazy about SO blood -spilling a fight
when he, in the little town of Rush
vile, had never as much as heard about
such sport.
But for two days Dave Hirsch had
talked to him of the sport how neces-
sary it was to have a very fair Judge
since it was to be a fight between two
animals instead of men and that
, neither of them would have any re-
dress should his decision be unfair.
| Mr.. Fletcher decided to do his best, and
he did.
! The bets were coming thick and fast
when officer Hanlon announced that
there would be no betting, and 1t was
: then Fletcher arose in all his majesty
as referee and said the assembly should
: declare all bets off, and that he at
least would do SO. He could barely
finish his talk, for the bulldog was
tugging at the chain and the box con-
tanning the badger, still locked up was
being pushed into the ring.
Dave Hirsch was asked to act as
} timekeeper, but Immediately there was
! a loud objection that Dave had in the
neighborhood of $500 on the badger.
The Fight Begins.
The final moments before the fight
had arrived and somebody handed the
chain which was tied to the badgers
i
consin animal was still locked up, only
the chain leading from the box into
hands of the referee, being visible
Suddenly a hush fell over the crowd
Fletcher noticed that the final mo-
a ment had come, nervously he bit his
1 lips and braced his feet, one of his
hands went toward his face to pusf
back few hairs. but the timekeepers
hollered Go" the lid of the badger
y box was UP and Fletcher gave the chair
8 a vicious jerk to bring out the badger
e 1t came out, aided by the jerk, and
a went directly into the dogs corner
y Fletcher watched the streak made BY
e the badgers course for a second, drop
e ped the chain which was still wound
around his hand, and turned white
Had he tried to say something hi.
. voice would have been drowned in tn,
: roar that went up; all bets were of
r surely. Slowly he took off his impro
t vised leggins and received the con
gratulations for his fearlessness Un
: doubtedly there will be a badger fgh
t in Rushville within the next few weeks
g The badger fight was preceded by
= three round, two-minute boxing con
e test, between Reese Powell (Kic
r Thomas) and Sam Livingstone, tw,
e Hammond boys. The bout was refer
: eed by Harry Burge and was declares
# a draw. 1t was good and clean an,
!. theehonors were about evenly matched