Sunday Football Players Fight

New York, 1895

Miss Buckley Hurls a Stone at the Head of Player Twomey.

During the last half of the game of Gaelic football between the Shamrocks and Kickhams, at Wallace's Ridgewood park, Sunday afternoon, Miss Buckley, sister of Pat Buckley, captain of the Kickhams, picked up a heavy stone and threw it straight at the head of Twomey, one of the left wings of the Kickhams. Twomey saw the stone coming and ducked in time.

Shortly afterward several players of both teams began fighting. It was claimed that unfair methods were being used. A number of the Kickhams and Shamrocks were hurt and a free-for-all battle ensued. Field Umpire Maher was so severely punished that he will have to stay indoors at least a week. Maher is not certain as to who attacked him. He believes that there must have been at least a dozen persons who hit him. McIlroy, one of the Kickhams, was also badly hurt, His face was cut, nose broken, and his lips puffed up. He presented a sorry sight. He says that McMahon of the Shamrocks hit him. Several other players of the Kickhams were also injured.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 1, 1895, p. 1.

Note: Original says, "picked up a heavy stone and through it..."

Sears Wife's Tempter With a Red-hot Iron

1920

Angry Husband Then Plies Whip to Victim's Wounds.

SEATTLE, Washington. — Branding with a red-hot iron, administering a horse whipping and driving him from the State, was chosen by Alvin Steigerwald, widely known Washougal dairyman, as punishment for Walter Groth, an employe, whom he accused of attempting to violate the sanctity of his home, according to a statement made by the former to county officials.

Steigerwald is said to have returned to his home and found his wife in tears, sobbing out Groth's name. Steigerwald claims to have taken his shotgun and hunted Groth. He changed his mind, he said, about killing Groth and determined to brand and horsewhip him and send him out of the State.

Attorney Yates, investigating the affair, stated Steigerwald told him he paid Groth's fare out of the State and that realizing that Groth's wife and 14-day-old baby would be entirely destitute, took them under his protection and provided for them until he found their relatives in Portland, Ore.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 1.

Bangor Strike Declared Off

Maine, 1916

Bangor, Sept. 9. — Bangor's street car strike, which has been on since Saturday, August 26, was declared off at 5 o'clock tonight by unanimous vote of the two-thirds of the strikers who had remained loyal to the union. The other third had returned to the jobs as individuals during the past two weeks.

The strike, which lasted two weeks, has been accompanied by violence, which cannot be attributed to the strikers. Bricks have been hurled through car windows, granite blocks and sleepers have been placed on car tracks, an imported workman was arrested charged with brandishing a revolver and the feeling on both sides of the controversy has run high. For a time, 80 per cent of the electric car patrons refused to ride on the cars, the electric company carried fewer passengers than ever before. Last Saturday night there was a public demonstration in favor of the strikers.

The strike was declared off by vote of the men following a conference between their leaders and representatives of the Central Labor Union, at which it developed that after September 16, support from the Central Labor Union would be forthcoming.

At the offices of the railway company tonight, it was said that few of the strikers would be taken back, as their places have been filled.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 6.

Rival Labor Unions

1916

Copperhill, Tenn., Sept. 23. — Citizens and members of trade unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor today drove out of Copper Hill the principal leaders of a movement for strengthening organization of the Western Federation of Miners among employees of the Tennessee Copper Company and the Ducktown Sulphur, Copper and Iron Company. At the same time the companies discharged a number of employees said to be members of the Western federation.

Guy Miller of Denver, organizer for the Western federation was seized by a mob of about 200 men, taken to the outskirts of the town, whipped and ordered to leave. J. A. Jones, Miller's local assistant, was taken from his room in a hotel, marched through the streets and forced to swear he would leave town on the next train, which he did.

The western federation, it is claimed has been trying for several months to gain control of the local labor situation but is opposed by the United Mine Workers of America, who have been supported by what is said to be a majority of business men of the Tennessee Copper Field.

Smashes His Fist In Dream

1916

Dentist Thinks He's in a Fight and Punches Wall.

TORRINGTON, Connecticut. — No teeth are being drilled, filled, drawn or quartered in the office of Dr. Arthur E. Guildford today because his right hand is all out of shape.

Dr. Guildford dreamed that he was horsewhipping another man, but his blows were so violent that he soon wore out the whip. His victim realized the predicament and sprang at the dentist. Doubling his right fist, Dr. Guildford lunged such a terrific blow at the horsewhipped man that he almost knocked a hole thru the wall next to the bed.

The blow awakened every one else in the house and a physician had to be called to apply arnica and bandages to Dr. Guildford's battered tooth-pulling hand. Every one in Torrington would like to know who Dr. Guildford dreamed he was horsewhipping and why.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 7.

Drink-Crazed He Used Hatchet To Demolish Home; Police Got Him

Cedar Rapids, IA, 1920

If a high-powered explosive shell had entered the apartment of John Edgington at Second avenue and eighth street, today it could not have done more damage than Edgington did himself while apparently laboring under the impression that he was Carrie Nation. Seizing a hatchet, Edgington broke up anything and everything he could lay his hands on. With one blow he completely demolished a china closet; he chopped holes in a dresser, broke a big mirror in his room, smashed dishes and created general havoc.

Armed with the axe as he was and almost crazed from the effects of protracted drinking, he also threw a considerable scare into his wife and persons living in the neighborhood. When Policeman Mikota and Butler arrived at the rooming house Edgington was still engaged in his work of destruction, but accompanied the police quietly enough to the police station. There he again became violent and repeatedly dashed his head against the door of his cell. His cries could be heard all over the building and his actions were so wild that another man who was in the cell with him begged to be taken out and placed in another cell.

Edgington is said to have been drinking steadily since July 4 last. His condition would not permit of his arraignment in police court this morning but he will, it is expected, appear before Judge Clark tomorrow.

–The Evening Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, Aug. 13, 1920, p. 3.

"Sissy" of Chicago

1908

"Sissy" of Chicago.

[Copyright, 1908, by T. C. McClure.]

"Sissy" Floss was at Chicago. His father had left him $1,000,000, and he had been through college and traveled. He was called "Sissy" because he was short and slight and effeminate.

The young man had accompanied a friend to New York to see him off for Europe. The steamer sailed in the afternoon, and soon after her departure "Sissy" fell in with a couple of college chums. A dinner and a trip to Chinatown were planned and came off. The effeminate was only five feet tall, and his weight was only 110 pounds, and his voice was like that of a girl, but when he cut loose to have a good time he was all there. The trio were slumming the slums in the most approved fashion when a row took place, and "Sissy" was separated from his companions. He had imbibed too much to know whether he was in Baltimore or Boston or to make much of a defense, and at the end of five minutes he was very much in the hands of the Philistines. The gang floored him and went through him up to his collar button. They dragged him into a cellar, stripped off his clothes and gave him an old Bowery suit in exchange and left him to come to or pass in his checks. He was in an undecided state when the keeper of a Cherry street boarding house came along and took in the situation. He also took "Sissy" in. He wanted one more hand to make up a crew for a bark sailing for Bristol next day, and it made very little difference whether he got a live or a dead man.

When "Sissy" Floss awoke next morning he was lying in a bunk in the deck house of the White Wings, which craft was at anchor off Liberty island and making ready to begin her voyage. He didn't awake until he was being pulled out of his bunk by the second mate, who was also damning his eyes, his ears, his nose and other portions of his anatomy in the language of the deep blue sea. After being landed on the floor with a bump the young man was kicked out on deck and then up and down the decks. This was to arouse his enthusiasm for a life on the ocean wave. "Sissy" realized almost at once that he was being booted, but it took him some time to figure out why he wasn't in his room at the Waldorf. While he was puzzling over it he was booted some more, and the bark got under way. She was off Fire island before the victim got it through his head that he had been shanghaied and was being carried to sea. A protest was in order, and "Sissy" went aft to the captain to make it.

"What are you doing here?" roared that officer.

"I want to state my case."

"Case? You miserable little skulker, what have you got to say for yourself? Out with it!"

The story was told. The captain listened to it, with a grin and a sneer on his face, and then exclaimed:

"You are a blankety-blank liar! You signed articles of your own free will. You are a pickpocket or a green goods man that wants to get away from the police for awhile. Turn to and don't let me hear another word. If you keep this thing up there won't be as much as an eyebrow left of you by the time we reach the other side."

"Sissy" started to protest and was kicked off the poop. In going forward he was cuffed by the chief mate and kicked by the second, and, although more fit for the hospital than the decks of a ship, he was turned to and set to work. From that time on his days were anything but joyous. He was a protesting sailor. In the eyes of captain and mates he could not be a worse villain. He was made ship's boy. Nothing was too dirty to set him at. The cook stood in with the after guard and gave him many a kick and cuff, and the nearer the bark got to England's shores the worse the mates hazed him.

After the first interview with the captain "Sissy" made no more protests. He began to rise to the occasion. He recorded the kicks and cuffs in a diary. The last entry was made when three days from port. He neglected to add "sir" when answering the second mate and was knocked down and given a pair of black eyes. Then as soon as the bark had made fast to a wharf he was kicked ashore and told not to return under penalty of death.

Two hours after the last kick the young man had satisfied the American consul of his identity. A cablegram to Chicago brought him several thousand dollars within the next twenty-four hours. Two days later, when he had properly clothed himself, he brought about another emergency. This time it was for the captain, mates and cook of the bark to rise to it. Warrants were served on the four men — warrants for several things. The bark was overloaded by a foot. Her provisions were totally unfit. She was undermanned, and she carried no medicine chest. Not only the officers, but the owners, were haled into court. There were fines, and certificates were suspended, and as a last satisfaction "Sissy" stood by, with a joyous smile on his face, while his two hired prizefighters caught the two mates at the dock and gave them such a walloping that there are sailors in Bristol who remember it yet. As a local daily put it the next week:

"Hon. Barkendale Flossy, the American millionaire of honorable mention, sailed for home on the Celtic yesterday. The gentleman is slight and effeminate, but, in the language of our American cousins — oh, my!" — M. QUAD.

—The Star and Sentinel, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1909, page 4.

Old Home Week Gets Ugly Thanks to Italians with Spanker

Middletown, New York, 1908

DISORDERLY ITALIANS

Abuse the License of Old Home Week and Arrested Despite Resistance

Chief of Police J. D. McCoach had some trouble with two disorderly Italians, at the corner of King and James streets, Friday evening, shortly before 8 o'clock. The men had spankers made out of wood, and one of them struck a woman who was passing, a hard blow on the breast.

Chief McCoach took the fellow to account for it, and the Italian attempted to strike the officer, but the blow went wild, and the foreigner was placed under arrest. The other man, who was a brother of the one taken into custody, interfered, and punched at Chief McCoach, who necked him and hurled him to the ground, where he was caught by Chief Charles Higham, who happened along.

The two prisoners were locked up, but were released about 10:30 o'clock, when a friend deposited $20 for their appearance in court this morning. As Recorder Corwin and Acting Recorder Powelson were both absent from town, the case was put over until 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, when they were arraigned before Acting Recorder Elmer E. Johnson.

The men pleaded guilty and were each fined $5.

--Orange County Times-Press, Middletown, New York, September 29, 1908, page 2.

Juror Now A Maniac

Goes Mad After Conviction of Husband-Slayer—New Trial Asked.

Cambridge, Mass., May 10.—The development of insanity by Willis A. White of Maynard, one of the jurors who on May 4 convicted Chester S. Jordan of the murder of his wife, will be used by Jordan's attorneys in their plea for a new trial.

White returned home at Maynard Tuesday, showing marked effects of the strain of the trial, and yesterday he was sent to the Worcester Insane Hospital.

White was taken to Concord in an automobile from Maynard, and during a brief stop in front of the District Court building he became violent and implored the spectators who gathered about the machine either to save him or to shoot him. In the courtroom it was found necessary to administer a hypodermic injection to quiet him. White is a tall, strong farmer and it difficult to overpower him.

--Warren Evening Mirror, Warren, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1909, page 7.