The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-10
GEORGIA SCENES
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than Bill relinquished his hold upon Bob's
neck. In this he seemed to all to have
forfeited the only advantage which put
him upon an equality with his adversary.
But the movement was soon explained.
Bill wanted this arm for other purposes
than defense, and he had made arrange
ments whereby he knew that he could
make it answer these purposes, for when
they rose again he had the middle finger
Of Bob's left hand in his mouth He was
now secure from Bob's annoying trips;
and he began to lend his adversary ire
mendous blows, every one of which was
hailed by a shout from his friends: "Bul-
lets!' 'Hoss-kicking!' ''Thunder"
''Thatll do for his face; now feed his
short ribs, Billy'
l now, considered the contest settled
1 deemed 1t impossible for any human
being to withstand for five seconds the
loss of blood which issued from Bob's
ear, cheek, nose and finger, accompanied
with such blows as he was receiving.
Still he maintained the conflict, and gave
blow for blow with considerable effect
But the blows of each became slower
and weaker after the first three or four,
and 1t became obvious that Bill wanted
the room which Bobs finger occupied for
breathing. He would therefore, proba-
bly,, In short time, have let it go, had
not Bob anticipated his politeness by
jerking away his hand and making him
present of the finger. He now seized
Bill again and brought him to his knees,
but he recovered. He again brought him
to his Knees, and he again recovered A
third effort, however, brought him down,
and Bob on top of him. These efforts
seemed to exhaust the little remaining
strength of both; and they lay, Bill I'M
dermost and Bob across his breast mo-
tionless and painting for breath. After
short pause Bob gathered his hand full
Of dirt and sand and was in the act of
grinding 1t in his adversary's eyes when
Bill cried Enough Language cannot
describe the scene that followed-the
shouts, oaths, frantic gestures, taunts,
replies and little fights-and therefore I
shall not attempt it. The champions were
borne off by their seconds and washed,
when many a bleeding wound and ugly
bruise was discovered on each which no
eye had seen before.
Many had gathered round Bob, and
were in various ways congratulating and
appla uding him, when a voice from the
center of the circle cried out, Boys,
hush, and listen to mel 1t proceeded
from Squire Loggins, who had made his
way to Bob's side, and had gathered his
face up into one of its most fattering and
Ineligible expressions All were ODE
dent to the squires command. Gentle
men," continued he, with most know
ing smile, 1s-Sammy-Reynold-
-company-of-gentlem
Yes" said Sam, there am
Sammy" said the squire, winlking to
the company and drawing the head Of
his cane to his mouth with an arch smile
as he closed, "I-wish-you--to tell
Cousin-Bobby-and = these = gentlemen
here present-what-your -Uncle-Tommy
-the-ight-began?'
ooh, get away, Uncle Tom,' said Sam,
smiling (the squire winked), you don't
know nothing about fighting" (The
squire winked AGAIN. "All you know
about it is how it'll begin, how it'll go
on, how it'll end that's all. Cousin Bob
when you going to fight again, just go to
the old man, and let him tell you all
about It. If he can't, don't ask nobody
else nothing about it, I tell you.'
The squire's foresight was complimented
in many ways by the by-standers, and die
retired, advising 1.-The boys to be at
peace. as fighting was bad business"
Durham and Stallings kept their beds
for several weeks, and did not meet again
for two months. When they met Billy
stepped up to Bob and offered his hand
saying. Bobby, you've licked me a fair
fight; but you wouldn't have done it if
hadn't been in the wrong. I oughtn't
to have treated your wife as I did, and
I felt so through the whole fight, and it
sort o. cowed me-"
well. Billy" said Bob. ''1et's be
friends. Once in the fight. when you had
my finger in your mouth and was pealing
me In the face and breast I was going to
halloo. but I thought of Petsy. and knew
the house would be too hot for me If
got whipped when fighting for her. after
always whipping when l fought for my
SELF
Now that's what I always love to see,"
said by-stander. Its true | brought
about the fight, but I wouldn't have done
1t If 1t hadn't "a been on account of Miss
(Mrs.) Durham. But dod etarnaly darn
my soul II l ever could stand by and
sec any woman put upon, much less Miss
Durham If Bobby hadn't been there I'd
"a took it up myself, be darned If I
wouldn't, even If I'd IA got whipped for
1T But we're all friends now" The
reader need hardly be told that this was
Ransy Sniffle.
Thanks to the Christian religion, to
schools, colleges, and benevolent associa-
tons. such scenes of barbarism and
cruelty as that which I have been just
describing are now of rare occurrence,
though they may still be occasionally met
with in some of the new counties.
Wherever they prevail they are disgrace
to that community. The peace officers
who counteDance them deserve a place in
the penitentiary. HALL