A Blackguardly Affair.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 281, 2 April 1889, Page 3

A Blackguardly Affair.

TWO AMATEURS FIGHT NINETEEN

ALL OVER AN ELECTION DISPUTE. Melbourne, March 20. A pugilistic encounter took place shortly after seven o’clock on Sunday morning last, iu the presence of about 100 spectators. The two contestants were supporters of rival candidates for Parliamentary honors in one of the northern suburbs. The fight originated th oujh a slight disturbance, which occurred at a meeting held during the week. One of the men being rather noisy, the other man " run him out ” of the meeting. .A fight was commenced on the spot, but friends of both parties prevailed on them to stop the encounter, and to fight it out quietly. Arrangements were then made for the affair to come off in the Royal Park on Sunday. The friends of the candidates having become acquainted with the arrangements that had been made, communicated with the authorities on Saturday night. The result was that several plain-clothes and uniform police were sent to the spot to prevent the affair coming off. The other party, however, were quickly on the alert, and having ascertained that the police had got wind of the affair, determined to alter their arrangements. A meeting of the friends of the contestants was held and it was arranged that the parties should meet in the Prince’s Oval at the same time as previously arranged. Accordingly on Sunday morning the parties met and at once proceeded to the place appointed. A ring was formed and everything carried cut in a fair manner. Two well known members of the ring acted as time keepers and referee respectively. Seconds were appointed, and the men having stripped off the contest began in real earnest. The men appeared to be very evenly matched, and neither appeared to have any apparent advantage. One of the contestants had far more science than the other, but the superior strength of the other told evenly against this. The men continued the fight for a considerable time, and both were beginning to show signs of trouble when it was thought advisable to discontinue the contest, as the hour was getting far advanced 'into the morning. The pedestrians began to get too numerous in the Oval, and the spectators were increasing. At this time some nineteen rounds had been fought. The referee decided that the men should meet again to finally decide the matter in a week’s time, at a place to be decided upon by the parties during the week.