Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1886 — The Jamboree at Mount Airy [ARTICLE]

The Jamboree at Mount Airy

Tlie Newton county Democratic convention was held at Mount Airy, last Thursday. The convention itself was a tame enough affair but a combination of outside attractions made it a day to be remembered. They had a match game of base ball r a foot race for the championship of two counties, two or three wrestling matches, and, if we may trust the statements of some observers, one of the biggest general drunks on record . The base ball game was between the “Kids” of Rensselaer and a picked nine from various towns in Newton county. It was a well played game but the little fellows from Rensselaer won by a score of 18 to 20, and the Kids had one inning to go on. The convention, which was held out of doors, was just getting down to work when the ball game opened, and the result was that the crowd all forsook the convention to witness the game.

The foot race was between M. A. Makeever, of Jasper county, and John Foresman, of Newton county, for ten dollars a side. The distance was a hundred yards, and the Newton county man won by 3 feet. The betting on this race is reported to have been extensive, and quite a number of young men from Rensselaer are said to have dropped from five to twenty dollars, ~on Makeever. One wealthy man from Kentland is also said to have backed the same runner very heavily, reports of his losses ranging all the way from fifty to five hundred dollars. One prominent young business man of Rensselaer is said to have guarded by wise foresight against his proclivities for betting, and locked up all his cash before leaving home, but in spite of this precaution he waxed enthusiastic, borrowed five dollars, and lost it on the foot race. The most amusing, feature of the day was a wrestle between our eminent townsman, M. O. Halloran, Esq., and “Old Joe Gains” who lives out on the Big Slough. The wrestle was for five dollars a side, Halloran putting up his own cash, and the jman from Kentland putting up for Gains. M. A. Makeever held the stakes. The wrestle was to be two throws out of three, “catch as catch can”. The first attempt to close was a failure, each men catching the other by the arms. They let go and hied again. This time Mike, by a sudden rush, caught Joe by the long hair on the back of his head, and drew him down upon his knees and elbows. “I’m an Injun,” says Mike, “and I’ll pull yer dom scolp off.” The referees at once awarded the fall to Halloran, but notharinganyone to help him let go of the captured Gains, that worthy thrust his head between Mike’s legs and rearing up, threw the latter, over his head with great violence, jolting him severely. This aroused the fiery Celtic blood, and other liquid substances in Michael’s veins, and he was with great difficulty, restrained from attempting to thrash the offending Joseph, then and there. The latter’s friends got him into a wagon and started him for home, and at last accounts Makeever still held the stakes. Young Mell Makeever also had a stubbornly contested wrestle with a three foot wide and five foot high Polander, with an unspeakable name, and several years his senior, and was finally downed.