Evening star., 1934-01-21

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John C. Heenan, champion of America.
rho defeated Tom Sayers OF England
in a 22-round fight in 1850.
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.
IRRESPECTIVE of how far back we may go
that is to the beginning of the city it
SELF of course Washington seems to have
always had its full share of sports, and II
it were not dog fighting, chicken fighting
or horse racing, it was something else to
keep the people interested and on their toes
OF course this was largely confined to the boys
and young men, who from time immemorial
have craved excitement and enjoyed good
contest even if it were personal one, and In
the DAYS when Washington was sparsey SET
tied stone battles were unusually popular, par
ticularly in such sections of the city as COW
town, Swampoodle, Foggy Bottom the Island,
GEORGETOWN English Hill, Crow Hill and else
where but as none of the boys had the marks
manship of David, seldom was any one severely
hurt.
Christian Hines who has recorded so many
interesting things about Washington, tells us
of a cock fight that took place in the vicinity
of Washington Circle Pennsylvania avenue and
Twenty third street, about 1876, and how 1t
wound up with a general battle with stones
and shillalahs, Mr. Hines says;
Of the young men of Georgetown came
the city side of Rock Greek for the
purpose of attending cock tight and other
ports that were going on in the neighborhood
# what Is now called the circle. This was
the usual place for such sports, on holidays,
ty the laborers employed public and other
buildings.
while these men were there dispute arose
tetween the laborers and those men who came
from Georgetown, which resulted in few
NrIa conn racfnr rod
cwever and they continued their sports; but
some of the laborers, who were not satisfied
With what had taken place, went secretly and
Insuspected by the Georgetown boys down to
the branch, and cut themselves Shillalahs With
these concealed about their persons they re-
turned to where the amusement was still being
i1dulged in by the other party, and, at a given
gnal drew their cudgels and began to beat the
GEORGETOWN boys In most unn1erclful manner.
The latter being taken by surprise, defended
themselves for some time as best they could;
but, having weapons to resist the other party
with, and the blows falling on them thick and
heavy, they were at length forced to retreat in
the direction of the lower bridge
The armed party struck them whenever they
had chance, and when they arrived at the
ever bridge they ceased pursuing and returned,
the Georgetown boys continuing on to their
homes.
CONE of the Georgetown party it appears,
> defended themselves bravely with such
objects as they could lay their hands on.
rlorg them our old friend Leonard Cook
cIdorfer, a Georgetown blacksmith who lived
cl High street, nearly opposite to where For
st Hall now stands. He had powerful frame
Il 2 grip Of the hand like wise. have sew
i times felt his grip, in my younger days.
., vas good-natured, friendly, jovial man.
=. it appears at the commencement of the
'ee seized a fence rail and defended himself
nuful7y; for, fast they would come up
irl to give him a blow with their cudgelS,
With his fence rail, would lay them PROSTATE
"A in this manner he fought his way through
: Georgetown. This is the substance of the
cunt Cf the affair as I understand 1t from
~ brothers when they returned In the eve
.nn
This affair caused considerable oRcitement
:" Georgetown, and that night some of the
gathered up their muskets and old fowling
and put them in order, determined to 60
s'-r the next morning and seek satisfaction
the insult and injury they had received
the laborers, and 1t was with great DIM
" that the mayor, Mr.. Corcoran, could pre-
It them from carrying out their designs.