The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-14
Badger Fight is
Feature of Trip
Hosts of Strangers Makes Every
One Happy and Better Ac-
ouaintence Week Goes Along
Merrily

20 gallons of salad, and boxes OF to-
matoes were required to feed the
crowd that went down the river yes
terday as guests OF the Trade EXten-
sion bureau of the Richmond chamber
of commerce on the trip that featured
the fourth day Of Better Acquaint-
, ance Week"
THE badger fight one of the most
Interesting OF all sport events since
horse-racing. pugiIisttc bouts and cock
nghtfng have been banned by law. was
pulled off four times and rare sport was
afforded the crowd IN each Of the
fights.
The river trip was started on the
steamer Pocahontas of the Old Do
minion line at o'clock. and it con-
cluded Mt II last night when the
steamer warped in at tho wharf at
the foot Of Main street. Every min 10
ute Of the time vas taken up with
something.
II Joe Kessnlch. director Of the Rich
mond Municipal bank. y hteh was
aboard, happened to be on another
part Of the boat when the band want
ed TO play. one or more OF his SUB
stitutes-jolnt cond8etors-~Jeter jones,
Alvin Smith. or Fred Powell allied hts
place. and Mr. Jones was a winner
with the crowd not only as director
pf the band. but as sploist-
AFR Jones rendition Of silver
Threads Amoug the cold" was one Of
the features OF the musical program,
He responded to several encores.
The BADGER Fight.
After the boat had reached Curtis
Neck the refreshments, prepared hy
CatereF GuNenafar. were served by
twenty five waters. The preparation
OF the dinner required the service OF
four cooks and stx assistants When
the luncheon had been put away. and
the boat had started back toward Rich,
mond Alvin Smith. Tstu TRimatory ard
II II Hester rem smbered that Elmo
Redwood had brought aboard his bull
dog, ar animal that has appeared iu
forteethree badger fights, and hail won
all bat seven,
ore IF the most ferocious badgers
that bad ever been brocght cut OF
Texas was on hoard
Il was decided that there should be
e. fight in which the supremacy of the
hadSer over the dog should he DEM
onstrateA The man from Texas de-
clared this possible and Mr. Redwood
Insisted that his pup Was SEINE scrap
per.
Of the 926 PERSONS on board the
ttocahontas. rs many az could gather
at the after ccnpauionway and await
ell tine signal for the start Of the fight
The Official timer WAS Mr.. Hester and
thu referee, Alvin Smith
Several az the exeursionlsts had be-
come Interested enough tn the badger
fcht ta place bets on the outcome
According 90 the rules. such could not
participate in the fight by holding
The badger untH the gate Of its cage
was raised,
MIR kio~e Volunteers.
Finally IL was found that w G
kluse III Grove Va. a young man who
measures ri least six foot six. and whc
Of the business 81 his father, was
qualified to back the badger
AR kloSo was willing He graspcd
the stout leather string which held
the animal and awaited the signal, Mr.
Redwood. backing hts dog, held this
hig hull TIA leash The crowd gather
ed uhaut The improvised rope ring
Excitement was intense.
Alvin Sm.;h waited until every spec
tator had secured a most advantageous
position before giving the signal u
go The word geo" meant fight, and
al it's utterance the two strings Were
pulled Air Redwood was at the enc
Of one: MIR. klose at the end OF me
other.
AS Mr.. Smith gave the signal, the
bull appeared The pup, vicious
ed. Frnth appeared al its mouth. The
crowd was prepared for a desperate
conflict and many doubted the dogs
ability To handle a badger that nae
struck terror To many fighting can
ines
The badger appeared later. II wouic
nor come al the first yank OF th'
string. Mr Klose pulled again. sud
denly AS though surprised, th'
n ys-,Orlf In china
useful, If not amentai-appeareo
The dog skunk back TO its corner, lick
ed
Three times more the bull~badge1
fight was pulled of on the boat tril
and Mr. Klose was keen in his en-
tovnent Of the downfall of the hacker
of the badger in each OF the scraps.
Souvenirs were given by representa-
lives of Richmond business houses u
the visitors making ;ste dewn-ris ,sl
trip, ara there was not one VINO 0t'
not enjoy the entertainment pro
vided
Repatriation Continues.
The registration fof visitors from
Southern States forfthe week continued
heavy at the bureau In the auditorium
81 the chamber OF commerce, on th'
tenth floor of the building until short
~ after O'Clock yesterday afternoon
when the registration bopls were
moved to the Old Dominion wharf. Th'
removal Of the booth to the dock wal
for the convenience of those who ar
rived early in the afternoon. and wht
wished To make the James river trip.
The excursions which arrived owe
the Southern and the Norfolk ant
Western railways Wednesday nigh
brought large number OF merchant
from the western part OF the STATE
ANA from North Carolina, who regis
tered during the morning. The tota
number so far registered this weel
exceeds the expectations of the exeeu
tives of the trade extension bureau
and the members of the body arr
pleased with the results of the week.
West Virginia Represented.
The visitors are coming from Yves
Virginia. Virginia. North and Souti
Carolina and Georgia. and Tennessee
and Florida also are represented. on
OF the most gratifying features of thu
@ registration is the fact that lare'
II 10. tcto n.