Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1859 — A Row Among the “Fancy." [ARTICLE]

A Row Among the “Fancy."

’ A prize fight between a St. Louis and a New Orleans bully took place above Alton j on Tuesday, and after the anouncement of • the result, viz: that Connors was the victor, because his antagonist, Byrnes, had struck I “foul,” a row sprung up of wonderful miscel- ■ laneousness and ferocity. We coppy from the Democrat's account of it: “When this decision was announced Byrnes fiercely remonstrated. Some five or six hundred outsiders then burst into the ring and a general row ensued. Byrnes seized the referee, Moreland, by the throat, saying ‘Do you mean to say I’ve lost it!’ Moreland was then attacked by Byrnes’ principals, was struck and kicked, and had a portion of his face gouged out with a stick. Connors, with the most of his party, drew off to their boat, while the balance remained fighting with the Byrnes men, the most of whom gradually followed to the Henrietta. Stripped, bloody, and enraged, Byrnes dared Conner to come out and finish the fight, which he declined under the circumstances to do. Then many of Connors’ men rushed on shore and joined their comrades, and a scene of riot and murderous attack followed which bafflesdescription. Knives were freely used, bottles sticks and rocks were hurled, and at last a shot was fired.

This was the signal for general drawing of pistols, and some one hundred shots were rapidly fired. Those who had no pistols rushed for their boats, which at the same time began backing off from the shore. There was then a heavy rush to get on I board, and some fort persons were instantly iin the river. Certain skiff men pulled away in terror, leaving the victims to swim or drown, as they might. “One or two fights actually occurred in the water! The swimmers at length scrambled on board, not knowing how many had sunk and been drowned. Probably three or four perished, at least. “The Henrietta was soon following the Elvira, both boats leaving numbers behind ■ them on the island. It was about four o’clock iP. M. Montgomery had narrowly escaped drowning, having leaped overboard’to save a | man who seemed helpless, and being himself j drawn out by his son; the son also succeeded in saving the man. One wretch, who was shockingly cut,had been with great difficulty rescued by getting him on a plank. “The mood of the Henrietta party may be inferred from thg fid that some twenty fights ' were waged on board before she reached Alton! Whisky reigned. There were robberies and complaints of roberies, of watches, pocket-books, &.C., which had to be rectified by attacking the robber or robbed. One victim, accused of having stolen a purse of S2O, was assaulted by several persons with such fury that he sought his revolver. “His intent being perceived there arose a cry of‘kill him, k’H him!’ and 3 fresh onset was made upon slim. In respuH-P he ate, bit, kicked, gouged, tore and scratched his opponents in a style which should entitle him to the laurels and stakes of the glorious d'<y. By nearly tearing off his pants, the pistol was taken from him—and also, as he alleged, S4O of his hard earnings. Finally he was kicked senseless,dragged to the hurricane deck, and left to revive or die. “Shortly came off a fight for the possession of pistols, between John Monaghan and John Ryan, which resulted in the casual discharge of the weapon. Its contents passing into the abdomen of Ryan, inflicting a shock"ing and probably fatal wound. Monaghan was at once subdued by this incident. He sat down and wept over the wounded man, declaring that Ryan was one of his best friends. “An impression to some extent prevailed that a pistol was actually fired by Ryan. In ten minutes afterwards, Monaghan jumped overboard and swam towards the Illinois shore—nearly two miles distant. When last seen from the boat he was still swimming, about half a mile from the bank. “The shooting of Ryan caused a temporary tranquility on board, but in half an hour the deanion of fight was again raging. Many were cut and otherwise injured, but no more pistols were fired, nor do we learn that any one was dangerously stabbed.”