A "PURRING" MATCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3640, 13 March 1883, Page 4

A "PURRING" MATCH.

TWO BEtrnSS KICK EACH OTHER S BARE SItIXS U.MIL THKY AliE KAW FIIO3X KNEE TO ANKLE.

The New York Weekly Herald supplies the following particulars of a "purring" match, "which in common parlance is a scientific .shin-kicking - contest, that took place recently at Caiuden, I\..].:—"The principals Avcrc Robert Tavish, of Slaruiyuuk, and David JYEcWilliams, of Plymouth, Luzernu county, and (.lie .stakes A2oO a side. Tuvish -weighed 100 pounds, and 31cWilliams swung the beam at 142. Tavish was in the best condition. The men stripped a few minutes before midnight. Both wore kneebreeches and were barelegged from knee tv ankle. MeWilliams insisted on '' purring , " with regulation shoes. Tavish objected, on the ground that lie did not want to be crippled. The proj)cr "purring " shoe is a brogau with a crescent.shaped piece of horn set in the toe. Tavish's banker insisted that the men should " pnvr " with v new pair of No. 7 brogans. After much haggling this was agreed to, and the smiling but shivering combatants donned the shoes and faced each other. The kickers shook hands, then fell away from each other a few feet. Tavish hopped around like a dancing - master. McWilliams kicked with his right foot but Taiish was out of reach. Fov five minutes they danced round each other exchanging kicks which did not take effect. Then Eeilly called time. In the twentieth round Tavish kicked his opponent on the side of the left leg, drawing blood. In the thirtieth round Tavish scraped a two-inch piece of .skin from Ids opponent's rig]it shin and kicked him twice on tho mane leg. Tavish had tho best of tliu next three rounds. 3EoWilliams walked over to Tavish alter the .sixth round, and offered to bet §500 that he would win. Tavish said ho had no money. When the seventh round was called Me Williams began operating on the until then imwouuded shins of his lively antagonist. McWilliams kicked Tavish twice on the left leg, danced round and repeated tho dose, and when time was called Tavish had

four bruises on his left leg and was very tired. McWilliams had everything his own way during the succeeding rounds. Tavish rallied in the fifteenth round and by a terrific kick took a two-inch slice of skin from McWilliams' left leg. This was the worst single kick of the match, and stouthearted as McWilliams was he winced and dropped into the arms of Brocky Dawson, who was seconding him. In the twentysecond round Tavish's second could not stop the flow of blood. They wanted, to apply bandages, but Reilly would not permit it, and McWilliams kicked Tavish five times in the twenty-third round, then the latter dropped like a log and refused to go on. His legs, from knee to ankle, were covered with cuts, and were raw as a beefsteak. McWilliams got the stakes.