Colonial News.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 357, 5 April 1856, Page 8

Colonial News.

WHIPPING AX EDITOR

Jr. our last we published a pps>eeh of ?»Ifi(]aniJJ I/ola Mtjp.les, relative tn ;h<; rnisuii<lcrs!;it;<'liii^ \;>'l\vat;\i her asul Mr. Seekuntp <>i tho Time?;. It bc;iii£; ilicii cr.-i!« jru!ly «ijde'r«?iua<l, that " xvuir to li)« whip" }i;i'l Ijeeu declared by the be!]iger<.»ijt.s, pubiic

excitement was on the stretch, and on Tuesday many and various were the enquiries as to the progress of the campaign The tactics of each wore humourously discussed, and while a few seemed to have I'aith in the editorial thunders, and the assertion " that he would write her d.mii ;" the opinion of the Majority was. that on this occasion at least, the pen would be found unequal to the power of woman's tongue, and the counter assertion, that. " she would talk hun down," would in the end be found nearer the truth.

Rumour —which on such occasions is the mistress of men's minds —asserts that on Tuesday afternoon, Madame went to the Fancy Bazaar Lottery, at Uie Star Concert Hall,"and at the second or third ticket drew a lady's riding whip, which she immedia ely hailed as an omen of success and of the course sl-e o'.glit to pursue, .-\bout -5 p m., >vhile Mr. Seekamp and another gentleman were standing at the baijof the United States Ho-

tel. Madame Lola entered from a side door, with a short light whip in her hand, and walking quickly up !o Mr. Seeknmp, applied it vigorously to his head and shoulders. Mr. Seekamp. who it seems was not quite unprepared for something of the sort, as soon as he recovered himself from the rapidity of the attack, ufed his riding whip in return, and for a short time the combat raged with more than Trojan fury. The lady varied her performance feminine like, by asking such questions is '* How dare you attack me in your paper ?" " Will you abuse me again?" "Will you attack a woman?"' Following up each enquiry by sundry sharp and cutting strokes from the switch, that soon imprinted certain fatal notes of interrogation on her opponent. Mr Seekamp— whose whip was heavy,.and bore much the same proportion to the other, as a claymore to a Damascus blade—struck Madame across the shoulders repeatedly, till thinking the game rather unequal he made a blow at her face with his fist and whip. This, however, was parried by some one standing by, who thinking that the affair had gone far enough, took hold of the gentleman and put his head under his arm, in other words, in "' chancery." A considerable crowd iiad now collected, and the bar. which is large and spacious, was rearly filled. Both had by this time lost, their whips, and on Mr. Seekamp being let go, he supped through the crowd, and again made at his fair opponent, seizing her by the hair and dress. Madame on her part defended herself with great vigor, and seized his hair in return, and a scene ensued which —to the credit of the press be it said —falls to the lot of few journalists to record of another. The, crowd interfered, however, and took off Mr. Seekamp. Immediately after. Mr. Foiland, one of Mie company, who had been at rehearsal in the theatre adjoining, appeared, calling out where is her where is lit ? Mr Seekamp immediately left the hotel, followed by the other, and the matter now assumed a more melodramatic air, for on Mr. i^eekiunp's pulling some weapon from his breast which afterwards proved to be a life preserver, the other piji'ed out a pistol ; immediately, saying—'• Oh, if that's your j g:unn, I am ready for you. come on." On I Mr. Seekamp stating, however, that he had : no pistol, the other wisely put his out of ; Hght. A large crowd had by this time I assembled, who bpgiui to hoof; Mr. Seekamp, • and to throw oniuges, apples, and other I niis?il.';s al him. lie reh,ii:i!ed by certain j gesiwiNis of an a poHleriori character, and

I isy expressions indicative of strong contempt, | hut which, unfortunately, were of such a I nature as to justify tin- strongest in return.

! Amid tiic j-ers ;m<l ydU of ih e crowd, Mr. Sti.'kiunp tiic-n retired to tin; Clmrlie N:\picr I-to'.el, whiie Lola, from the window of the United States, shook h<:r whip at him in I dc-liauce and contempt.— Melbourne Anp,.