HOW GENTLEMEN SETTLE THEIR QUARRELS IN MELBOURNE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 777, 9 March 1877, Page 4

HOW GENTLEMEN SETTLE THEIR QUARRELS IN MELBOURNE.

The Melbourne Argus of the 31st mlt. says ; —“ A gentleman just come ■up from Melbourne,” says the Bendigo Independent, tells us of a ‘mill’ which came off not fifty miles from an hotel in Elizabeth street last Friday night. The combatants shall be nameless. B. is an ex- M.L.A., not unknown in Good Templar circles, and will probably soon be anM.L. A.again. He stands about sft. Din , and is 12st. ■weight. C. stauds about Cft., and weighs about 14st.; ho imagined he •could villify and insult B. with impunity. After bearing in silence for some time B. determined on avenging himself in the only way at his com mand, and so a settlement was arranged by the friends of both parties for last Friday night—the first time Since the holidays for B. to he in town. At the appointed time and place the combatants and their friends met, and after a few preliminaries the men began. C. advanced with the swagger of a Goliath, and B. with the glances of a determination to conquer •or die. For thirty-eight minutes the men fought like tigers, until C. fell fainting and bleeding profusely from a face fearfully disfigured. Upon ex■amination it was found that one of Cl.’s teeth had been literally knocked ■down his throat, and another half out •emoedded in his lip, which was split. 33. seemed careful only of his face, ■which he carried off without a scratch. Blows appeared to have no effect on him, except on his arms, which were •considerably bruised. He astonished the half-dozen spectators present, of whom our informant was one. He ■deeply regretted (ho coolly said) that he was forced to fall back on this -branch of his college training to teach the use of polite language to scoundrels. When his blood was roused he seemed dangerous, and would not be satisfied till the two friends of C., whom he accused of aiding and abetting in slandering him, also apologised abjectly rather •than risk the consequences.