Champion Butchers.

Manawatu Herald, 9 August 1898, Page 2

Champion Butchers.

I The great beef dreeaing competition for the butcher championship of the world and £200 a- side came off in Jane at Wood- green Athletic Grounds. It was realty a remarkabla exhibition of skill, and as such was distinctly interesting, even to those who knew nothing of the technicalities. The killing was not done in view of the public. In the centre of the grounds a platform had been erected. On this the 4 beasts were placed, The two competitors mounted the platform, and were introduced by Mr W. Haydon, L.C.C. Paul Tetzel, of Chicago, champion of America, and Edward Harper, of Depford, champion of England. Harper was tall, stout, and red — a real big butcher, and looked it every inch of him, from his great grey woollen stockings drawn up over his trousers legs, to the fair, closely.Topped locks on his perspiring forchaad. Tetzel was a little man, whose waistbelt would not have been half big enough for his opponent.

He was pale-faced, too, and slight in mueclPj and, with black shiny either legging 9 and neat white wool sweater, with turned-down collar, would have been taken for 40 things rather than a butcher, But be quickly proved himself a very lightning manipulator of lbs knife and cleaver. He made the dressing of a bullock seem the veriest child's play. Each competitor was allowed 4 a?-----r siatants, and before they set to wink 10 men were photographed. Then the referee gave the word j " Time !" Almost in the twinkling J of an eye Te'zel had the head off his first beast, and had it dr*s:ed while his men were placing the animal ready for skinning. In that lay his first big lead. The butchers arouul yelled with delight. He was extremely quick, too, in slipping from one beast to the other. While his assistants were moving one body he was in an instant busy upon the the second. The hide seemed literally to slip off beneath his hand 3 as easily as if it had been a mere Inverness cape. His first beast was hoisted before Harper's was half ready for the stretcher, and his readiness was loudly cheered. In the end he proved an easy winner, having completed his two carca9ca ready for the market in 18 mm. 82 8 s*ec, while Harper was just over 20min. The win seemed a popnlar one. It was said that thousands of pounds had been betted on the result. But though the Depford man wa9 beaten on time his was beyond all question the neatest and best butchering. The beasts were very even in weight. There was only a pound difference between the two pairs. Afterwards the meat was sold by auction. There were 2 other interesting features of the gathering. The old butchers' band from the Cittle Market were prestm playing marrow-bones and cleaver?, and making them as musical as the famous bells of Bruges. And several men were doing a good trade selling silk handkerchief trophies of the occasion.