BRUTAL FIGHTING IN MELBOURNE.

Kumara Times, Issue 710, 8 January 1879, Page 2

BRUTAL FIGHTING IN MELBOURNE.

A correspondent of the Telegraph describes the brutal fighting at the hotel of Mace and Thompson, in Melbourne as follows :—“ I purchased a ticket, fully expecting to see a scientific display of boxing, instead of which I was an eye. witness, of the most blackguard brutality and cowardice that can possibly be conceived. There were at least 300 persons, or demons, present, and their execrations and blasphemy were simply fearful j there were quite a dozen, free fights going on at the same time, the place being a perfect pandemonium, the scene entirely baffling description. The police seemed quite neutral, mysteriously so. I would not have troubled you in this matter,. but I deem it my duty, as one of the public, to acquaint you with a further, and, if possible, more villianous outrage. 1 called at the hotel about five o’clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of inquiring after Foley, as I had known him as a fencing master in Sydney, and learnt, to my surprise, that he was in bed, nearly blind, owing to his having that same afternoon fought a pitched battle, in Mace’s ring at the hotel, with one Nathan, a pugalist, for over an hour, with the bare fists, and this in spite ot the tact that there were several detectives on the premises at the time. I was shown to his room, and fou.id him with his eyes completely' bunged up, his face smashed to a jtslly, and his nose apparently broken—truly a pitiable sight, lie said that Mace had been his second in this tight, and only took him away when he Was unable to see any more. I also saw the lad Nathan going away with his friend; his face was swollen, ami his right hand nearly useless. I went again in the evening, and elbowed my way am ui" the vicious crowd of blacklegs, sharpers, ami thieves, who thronged the bar and billiard saloon, ami learnt that another fight vims being arranged upstairs, and, upon inquiry. I found that preliminaries and a heavy deposit had been made for a prize fight t{* come off in twelve wet’ks time. And all this is openly done in our midst; law and order set at defiance, and brutality fostered.”