Catching a Tartar.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2986, 25 August 1888, Page 2

Catching a Tartar.

Recently there was quito a scene on the Thames embankment near Blackfriars bridge. Big Ben was tolling in its massive lofty' thill it was midnight, ind a powerful ra|jyil\arlooking coal-heaver, who had jtnUCen turned out of one of the WpiSiichousus in fclio vicinity at the solicitation of his wife,. was chastising tlio latter in a brutal manner, iirged on from the .effects ojF the half-and-half, or tlio Old Tom gin lie had been imbibing. There was no policeman near, and the crowd who'had been attracted did not have the courage to interfere, knowing that they would not be able to cope with the burly coal-heavcr. The ;,yomau .begged find rested with her drunken better half to induce him to go home with her, only to receive a vicious blow or to be dragged by the hair, A scream uttered by the woman attracted tlio attention of two welldressed gentlemen, who woro making a short, cut in a dog cart to Charing Cross. ' Tlio tall man said to his companion "Hold up the horse while that fellow from beating thut.wJßn,'' "Nevermind,/replied tho other; " do not interfere."

" Yos, I will," replied the tall man, and pulling on the reins until the horso stopped, he jumped from the and pushing . through,the crowd, continued, "What kiud'of people aro you to seo tlmt fellow abusing that woman] Why don't you go for a policomsn ?" At tins juncture the wouian had received another blow, and she said, somewhat despairingly casting an appealing glance towards'the by-stafaders "Don't strike me again Bill;I will leavo you."

The tall stranger stepped up to tho coal heaver, and said, " You must not beat that woma?, You should ba ashamed of yourself,"

What right has a josser like you to interfere!" the coal heaver retorted, turning towards, tho' granger, " You may bo a I)., hut I n{\\ give you'a hiding for youvohoek. If I want to lick my wife, I'H do it." At the same instant lie made an attempt to strike tlißstrnngei-jand aregularband-to-hand fight ensued. The coal heaver, proved that ho had been taking lessonslrom Bobby Aldington or NedDoimeW-y the way he fought, Tbe'iigtit only lusted a minute,, tor the strangor reared to know all the rudiments orf' the art of soli defence, and by a straight left-hander on the coal lieavcrß jaw, followed by a tremendous right-hand blow on Ihe coal beaver's left ear the latter was knocked down; and ho lay there like.a log. . t ; j Duiing the imprcmptu'mill,}wo of the coal heaver's pals hadbeen attracted' to live scene, anil taking in tho situation one of them said: "Who's been hiding Bill Teesef " I found him beating this woman in a shameful way," the stranger replied, " and tried to. stop him. He tried to do the same with me." . The party to whom the conversation was addressed turned to his pal,; and remarked—. ■

" This club fellow has knocked the head nearly off of Bill Toese. : Let'». give iiima thrashing." ; 1 He had hardly ceased speaking when, both men rushed at : tlie'tall strati* who knocked the nearest one down, and. then, sent the other, sprawling) when liis'partnii.Vw&o had'foW sitting in thedog'oart, quietly watching the jmu 4, drove closer, remarking— • " " Jake, yon ha ve'got 'iii Vfine mesa. Here oome the police.. Hurry up;" anil the next instant the tall. stranger jumped into the ; itrap,Swhen',ono t of the crowd said, "Why thatis JakoKilrain the American champion." ■ ,l YMj' a}! o tberi and that's ■ Cb.arley MUghell-dfiviiig with him."