Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1886 — An Editor Who Had Some Sand. [ARTICLE]

An Editor Who Had Some Sand.

Major JBJtten Account of lII* Fight tvlth Otto Rettlg. Rochester Republican. ‘ Some years ago George Rettig. of Peru, purchased eleven hundred acres of prairie land, southwest of Koch ester, and proceeded to fence and improve it with the hope of making it* a iinanciai success. A few years of labor demonstrated the fact Jthat it was not a profitable investment, and putting his sou Otto in charge he sough t other channels ot business and dually sold iiis stock farm to a Mr. Tom Lovett, also of Peru. It was during Otto’s stay on' the farm, after he married a Miss Porter, thafr-Ottrr - became indebted to this otiice the sum of S 3 ob for subseriptiou and advertising a horse. When the i farm was sold and Otto removed to Peru ho paid no attention*'to a number of debts ho bad contracted in this plaee, j and there was considerable talk about the unbusinesslike manner in which he had treated his creditors.

Some time after he became a wholesale vender of Peru beer, manufactured by Omer Cole, and Otto frequently visited this place to dispose of his decoction of rainwater and old boots, but he never camo near to make any statement as to his ability or willingness to liquidate our account. Wo theu addressed him ! a Very polite letter in regard to the matter, but ho paid no heed to the very mellow epistle. Three or four weeks ago he was in Rochester, and we met him upon the stroet, at which time wo expected he would make some mention of his delinquency, but he did not, wheieupon we made out a bill and had the junior partner of the Republican present too same lor payment: The only answer he made was ‘ S I will pay that some day.” t Up to this time we had not learned that George Rettig and his Son had met with any financial embarrassment, and believing that Ot had abundant means to pay r his printing bill we felt that he was attempting to dead-beat us out of the amount, and thereupon we informed the public of his disposition to wear diamonds at a poor priuter's expense. After the article had been perused by the public Mr. Charles Brackett informed us that Mr._ ftettig is about financially Swamped, and inasmuch as Otto depended entirely upon thp employment and means, furnished by his father, ho was also very hard up. Had ive known these facts before showing 'Tip fho young man our pen would have been withheld, but iike Pontius Pilate, wliat we had written we had written, though we Sad no desire to do any person an injustice, especially one with whom we had been upon familiar terms from his infancy. An editor of a country paper is so frequently and shamefully imposed upon by; delin' querns that ho is. justified in ventilating those at least wlio fly high , and apparently have millions—to get. Ot Rettig is twoary-live years.bf age is very muscular, nroad suouidered, Lug -HeekHdv-we4i-p;.oporiiojnd,.athletic and weighs about ono hundred and eighty pounds.. _ Like his father, lie has shad considerable experience as a knocker, and no ordinary individual is capable of downing his anatoiny. We were informed by a friend directly after the offensive article appeared that there were some party, or parties here who were encouraging Ot to disfigure opr physiognomy, and wo rather expected . trouble when the proper occasion was pvseuted.

Monday this pugilistic vernier of Peru swill met the writer near Jesse Shield's corner and without any particular preparations or preparatory ceremony the battle commenced and raged with varying sueeesss until Constabl<£ Ferguson put in an appiarance.*- Ije wos i-non fnlhivved hv Stwr'ff Wallace, his deputy Calvin and Marshal Ward, lfy their united efforts theantagonists were separated before any jparticuiftf personal injury was occasioned by either. Ot p'elted its one on our alabaster brow, scratched our nose and aural appendage, while we frescoed his leit optic and churned the beer in 'his abdominal regions severely. An assaulting'party has the advantage in such personal contests, but we shall always believe that had not the officers interfered we should have done him up in great shape.

We are very sorry to be connected witli such a disgraceful affair, but in this case it was unavoidable. We have never yet commenced a tight, but have always been found ready to defend ou r personal interests and the principles we represent. Otto was fined five dollars and costs* amounting in all to $>8.20. He also paid the account due this office and received a receipt in full of all accounts. For the peace and dignity of Rochester, find the credit of the parties interested, we hope the war is over, but if at any time the engagement is renewed it may result disastrously. ,