The San Francisco call., 1908-08-25
Harry Simpkins and Harry Scott
Battle in Sacred Precincts
of Burlingame Club
Dinner Given as Goodby to
Thomas Sherwin Breaks Up
in General Melee
Horrors" Says Society al
News of Plebeian MauIing
Match

Oh horrorsl
Oh fragments of shattered rules of
conductl
Clubdom gasps and ultra smart So
ciety is aghast.
A hght-a plebeian fight with fists
fight like the royal suggests of the
Mission street arena, fight that kept
going even after the gong had
sounded twice, has occurred in sacred
precincts.
Had it been almost any other place
it wouldn't have been so bad, but to
have a real, old fashioned mauling
club-that is what causes pain.
Exactly what happened is matter of
doubt and dispute. Even the principals
themselves are not certain as to details.
They are not even sure that they were
angry-they know they are not now
but from after indications they are in
clined to believe that there was a fight
of some sort, and the consensus of
opinion and a comparison of notes by
eye witnesses has established a circum-
stantial web of particulars
AFTERMATH OF DINNER
1t all came about as the aftermath of
the Burlingame club Sunday night in
honor of Thomas Sherwin. who revently
gave up his official position with the
local telephone company and started
east yesterday morning. It was Sc
lect party of five, and they are all good
friends. Harry Simpkins, yachtsman,
member of the University club and
brother of Mrs. Robert L. Coleman;
Harry Scott, son of Henry T. Scott and
brother Of Mrs Walter Martin; Jack
| Noyes Family club member and anna
teur entertainer, and Percy SeIby of
Menlo Park, wealthy real estate
man-these were the four who gathered
to bid Sherwin farewell
The dinner was elaborate and the
hour grew late. Then things hap
pened. This is where the testimony
begins to disagree, but the most au-
| thentic narrative. pieced together from
the several versions, has 1t thus
Scott waxed playful. He pulled
Simpkins' chair from under him sew
eral times. The victim protested. He
also threatened to wallop his tormentor
on the chin if he did it any more. Scott
| tried 1t again and he got the wallop-
solid, jarrfng jolt
| There was a rush of friends and the
combatants were separated and had
! laboriously explained to them the hu-
NOR of the affair. They finally saw the
point of the joke, shook hands and
| took a drink. Then Simpkins. in an
| unguarded moment, said he believed
| he could lick Scott. There was an
other scramble and another separation.
and Simpkins and two of his com
panions retired for the night.
BREAKS IN DOOR
At o'clock in the morning there
was a gentle knock on the door. An
! instant later the door crashed in with
Scott sprawling amid the wreck. He
regained his feet and for the third time
gave battle. The resident membership
| in pajamas took q hand in restoring
peace. Everybody worked hard for a
| few minutes and then all stopped for
| lack of breath The suggestion that
| the matter be immediately finished on
the squash court was argued at length
and given up with the understanding
| that hostilities would be resumed at
daylight.
| But daylight failed to witness a re-
newal of the battle. Everybody was
asleep. Later Scott and Simpkins came
up to the city. Scott went to his
apartments at the st. Francis and last
night he and Simpkins were telephon-
| ing each other to find out what it was
all about.
"A fight with Harry Simpkins T' re-
peated Scott last night when asked
about the affair. why, Duke and my
! self are the very best of friends. But I
believe there was little rumpus The
story that he drew knife when he
came at me--tf1at's all bosh. He did not
and would not do a thing of that sort.
It was all my fault-just the outcome
of an exceptionally good dinner-and
I'm mighty sorry it has had to come
out"