A SANGUINARY ENCOUNTER. STOPPED BY THE POLICE,

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 242, 18 February 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

A SANGUINARY ENCOUNTER. STOPPED BY THE POLICE,

A mounted sword contest took place at the Bondi Aquarium, Sydney, on Saturday afternoon, the combatants being Sergean^ 'J. R. Donovan, and Mr J. G. Meats, of Melbourne. The stakes were aunqunced to | be £100, and the championship of the j world. The preliminaries were discussed with, some objection on the part of the combatants to the maska and gauntlets, but at» length, after the public had been kept waiting half an hour and five minutes, the I combatants made their appearance, using the gear provided. Sir Edward Strickland,, 1 who was announced as having consented to act ac judge,j udge, did notattend, and Staff-sergeant i Crotly, ofthe Cavalry Brigade Office^ w^s* ! ch6sen judge. The men used regulation) cavalry swords of two different .patterns^ which, when drawn for action, at once> appeared to be in a dangerous condition. The first attack gave an easy point to Donovan. In the second attack counters were struck, and no point was given. Afc the third engagement, Meats, who had now measured his man, got his stroke in capital Btyle, riding rapidly up to his opponent* and engaging in a quick, firm, free use of i his sword arm. The next meeting seemed to be in favour of Meats, but no point was allowed. In the fifth attack, Mefttg again scored with one of his rapid engagements* The next engagement was rather loose and uncertain. Meats acknowledged a point to> Donovan, but no point was scored. Meats; again got his point in the Beventh attack, but on retiring to corners he carried a splash of blood on the back of his left hand, from & nasty stab in thegroin olosetothecrutcb, and thesaddle alsoshowed blood from the wound. Meats dismounted and put his hand to hkk groin, and walked about a few steps, suffering much pain. He got on his horse again, and gamely insisted on fighting it out, and cantered off to his corner swinging his sword, amid loud cheers from the crowd. The two next attacks were splendidly taken by Meats, whose rapid charges j quite startled Donovan's horse, and set him on his hind legs. At this stage Meats had five points to Donovan's one, but from this out his strength ! failed from the wound in his groin, and fee i did not push his attack with his usual i smartness. In the tenth attack there was * I little fencing. Meats trying to pass. Pona? i van's guard, but Donovan scored the point, ! and when the men separated, Dosovan'» I sword had stuck in the netting ol kb« face of Meat's mask, but without doing any harm. The next engagement gave another point to Donovan, and this was the last attack that took place. Meats was now seen to be bleeding very badly from the right thigh, as well as the groin. Some of the police went up to him, and at once, stopped the contest. Meats got off hi* horse and walked across the lawn, rather shaky, but protesting that ho would like to see it out. There was a great stream of blood from the front of the right thigh down his trousers to the ground, and altogether he looked in a very bad condition. Donovan then rode round the ring, holding both swords in the air. He was received with astorm of howls and groans, for there was a very angry feeling among the spectators, and the term "coward" was freely used. The contest was declared to have been won by Donovan ; but subsequently when it was pointed out that it had been stopped by the police, the match was declared a draw, the* score was — Meatb, 5 ; Donovan, 3. Meanwhile, Meats was taken up to the aquarium office, which was for the time turned into an hospital, and his wounds were dressed by Dr. M, Donagh, of the Volunteer Medical Staff, assisted by Dr, Combe of Woollahra. Jt was found that the arteries had escaped but that the first wound was a gash about an inch and a half long below the groin, inside the left thigh ; and in the other the sword had gone staight into the right thigh to the bone. Meats was very weak, and had twice to be given stimulants. He was brought in to the Sydney Hospital by Dr. M'Donagh in a cab, andisnow getting on satisfactorily. The manager of the aquarium (Mr Taylor) states that before the combat began it was thought that there might be an accident, and he suggested that* the points of the swords should be ground off, and offered to have this done, but thab the combatants chose to go on with the weapons as they were. It does not appear that any recognisable authority made any critical examination or comparison of the weapons. The police authorities do nob appear to have been represented by any officer higher than the rank of seniorconstable.