Bowser's Major vs. Ruble's Shine 1904

Orgininally published in the January 1905 issue of Grit and Steel.

Editor of Grit and Steel: At a well-known resort in Covington,Ky., on the night of December 6,1905,the fawn dog "Major" by Bowser and Tomlinson,of Montpelier and Hartford City,Indiana and the brindle dog "Shine" owned by Mr' Ed Ruble of Louisville,Ky., met for the 33 pound championship,a stake of $100.00 a side and the entire gate receipts.
Major was conditioned and handled by L. Bowser of Montpelier,Ind.,the old veteran of many a battle and formerly of Bradford,Pa., where he owned and fought such dogs as Ceaser,Turk, Boeny,etc. Shine was conditioned and handled by Billy Crellin of Cincinnati,the well known fancier and handler.
Both dogs were previous winners and prepared by such well known and skillful trainers,the interest was intense in dog circles and an extra large and well mannered crowd of fanciers,business and professional men were in attendance. The pit was an ideal one.Car went to the door and the pit was 18 feet in diameter,electric lights and raised seats. An ideal place and a first class gentlemanly crowd that had plenty of money to bet and did bet it.
Joe Nolan,sporting editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer,was chosen referee,but has little to do.However he did that first class.
After washing the dogs they were turned loose to make the greatest dogfight in the history of dog fighting.The fight lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes without a scratch and when there was a turn the fight was over,as Shine was all in.
Shine was a wonderful dog buy simply out-classed, and out-fought all the time,but his superb condition and wonderful gameness enabled him to last much longer than any other first class fighting dog in the history of dog fighting.
Shine beat Major to the first hold,but Major immediately bit him off and took a throat hold which he held for eight minutes.Then Shine wrestled him away and got an ear,but was immediately bit off and Major got him by the nose but lost it shortly. Shine fought wonderfully fast and savage and was as clever a dog as ever fought,but no matter how he tried,Major seemed to have a little better in stock.However the fight was a fairly even one in that both dogs were strong and able to punish at the end of the first hour. The dogs were in fact very evenly matched,except in biting power in which Major completely outclassed Shine.
At an hour and fifteen minutes,Major got Shine;s lower jaw and held it for 31 minutes,breaking it and creating another world's record.That was the actual turning point of the battle,although Shine never quit trying and was a really wonderful dog both in gameness and fighting ability.
From now on,Major began to take a lead,which he increased as the battle progressed.At the end of two hours he got Shine's right front leg and held it for fifteen minutes,breaking it,Shine being unable to bite him off.
Then,Major tore off Shine's upper lip and finally got a good solid nose hold,in fact,almost had Shine's upper muzzle,and how he did punish.
Gameness,condition and nature could stand no more,and at the end of two hours and forty-five minutes the dogs for the first time in the entire battle,broke apart and Shine turned.
Bowser immediately claimed the scratch and it was allowed,They handled,and at the end of 30 seconds at the order of "let go" poor game Shine could not stand and come across,although he gamely tried and the battle was a awarded to Major.
It was a popular victory,as the crowed was a fair one,and the best dog won.
Major was still strong and eager and could apparently have gone on for another two hours.Shine weighed 32 1/2,Major 32 3/4 pounds.
It was the greatest battle in the history of dog fighting. The longest without a scratch,and Major held the longest hold in the dog fighting history,thereby making himself a true champion in the true acceptance of the word.
He is one of the nicest dis-positioned dogs in the world.Perfectly kind and courteous to strangers and especially fond of children and is a perfect gentleman on the streets,following Mr.Bowser's heels and never paying the least attention to other dogs.If a dog will play with him he will play like a puppy.He is two years old,or will be the 17th of December,and won a good fight last summer at Dayton,Oh. killing his dog in 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Shine died after the fight,but Major while not as good looking as some ladies at the present time,is perfectly sound.With best wishes to Grit and Steel,I am Very Truly Yours,Dr. W.E.Coover.