The wedding celebration began with music, dancing, and an old social custom. It ended with broken heads, a riot call, seven arrests, and a bride with a black eye.
In Irwin, Pennsylvania, Michael Portezy had married Annie Barzek, and the festivities were underway at his boarding house. Among the Russian miners gathered there, it was apparently expected that male guests could dance with the bride after paying a silver coin.
But when the first man stepped forward to claim his dance, the groom refused.
Portezy did not want his new wife dancing with other men all night simply because they had money to pay for the privilege. The disagreement quickly turned physical, and when one guest tried to pull the bride onto the floor, the wedding party erupted into a free-for-all fight.
Black Eye For Bride
IRWIN, Pennsylvania. — Michael Portezy side stepped a social custom among Russian miners, east of town, and the result was a free-for-all fight, numerous broken heads, a riot call, and seven arrests.
Portezy married pretty Annie Barzek. Wedding festivities started at his boarding house in the evening with a dance.
The men present supposed the usual custom was to be followed, that of dancing with the bride on payment of a silver coin.
When the first man came up to lead out the woman the groom objected. The former insisted, but Portezy contended that he would not allow his wife to dance with other men all night, just because they had money to pay her.
John Maszy then attempted to haul the bride to the floor. This was a signal for a blow at Maszy’s head. A general fight started. When officers arrived nearly all of the guests bore marks of the fracas.
Portezy was badly used up and his bride had a black eye, while her wedding finery was almost stripped from her. Seven men were locked up on charges of rioting.
Source: The Chickasha Daily Express. Chickasha, Indian Territory, Okla. September 25, 1907.
