Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-02
EVENING STAR.
AY.....seytember >, ls.s.
The fatal Prize Fixhx
sBoCKING DETAILS OF rHK BRrrAI A.

sneNAANS DETAILS OF THk BRCTAL Az
FAIR
The prize Fight which occurred THURSDAY
morning near Pennsvflle, n. T. onpoSIie
New Caste, Del, resulting in the death OF
Cne OF the principals, was one OF the most
brutal events OF the kind ever knogp in This
CT untry. The surroundings and details were
simply shocking. The principals were James
Wetden and Phil. Coster, otherwise known
IS Billy walker, and the stakes were st0a
Both tie pugilists were young men, residing
IN the old Southwark district, PhilsdelphIa,
Thousand spectators departed Wednesday
night on oarges and tug boats, landing early
the following morning on the Jersey shore,
the fight beginning at half-past six O'Clock In
the morning.
SEVENTY. SIX ROUNDS
we're fought, resulting IN the defeat and
death OF Walker. When fourteen rounds hs1
been fought Sheriff George Helms, OF salem,
arrived, and ordered the men 10 stop, but
the crowd completely prevented his Inter
ference with the sport. heaping upon him a
superior numbers, to leave the scene IL Is
believed that had he attempted TO have ex-
ercised force he would have been pounded TO
death; II not shot down instanter. When the
sheriff left round fifteen was cornmeuced
and continued mp 10 the seventy NTH, which
was the beginning Of the end. weedeu
started AZ once and peppered Billy ia the
face terribly with both hands, and ne could
not respond, though he had not been SO weak
apparently as this state Of affairs would de-
note. His only return TO
wEEDkN'S SAVAGE WORK,
wss q feeble attempt Win mis- left, which
landed on Weeden's right shoulder. Then
they clinched and Weedeu gave Walker tue
back heel and fell on him, the crack as he
struck the ground seeming like that or a
whip. Walker looked very stupid as he was
roughly taken 70 his corner by bis seconds.
His face mp TO this time had not looked so
terribly bad, but suddenly IL seemed TO
grow shapeless and became badly discolor-
ed. His eyes had been nearly closed and his
lip greatly swollen, and his left cheek was
In a " ara o. uol,
worse Weeden showed the cut under his
right eye, the cash over his nose, or rather
lumpy left face, but Ii was not dIscolored to
any extent. AT the end OF this round Weed
ems friends were wild with Joy.
ON THE 10TH AND LAST ROUND
Walker had not recovered from the fall and
punishment of the last round, and he came
mp staggering. To show his oewildered state
his hands were open and hanging by his
side, though instinctively he clutched them
for an instant, but did not bring them into
position. He should not have been sent up
by his seconds in this terrible condition.
Weeden, perceiving his plight, rushed at
with his right and left with the force OF eau
non balls, and, then catching him, lung him
down and again fell on him with his full
weight. A cry went up TO heaven from the
more tender hearted al the cruel exhibitioa,
while Weeden's friends cheered him until
they were hoarse. Referee Gormley called
"time" for the next round and Weeden re-
ground, and was tnsensible, wholly oblivious
OF where he was and what he had been doing.
defeat, and then Madden and ne picking up
the still ipsensible Billy, laid him In some
brush wood, awaiting his return to con-
sciousness. 1t was now ffty-five minutes
past eight, the fight lasting just two hours.
Thursday night the body OF Walker was
found on the "Salt Works wharf," where
only q short time before he had gone of 10
secure what he thought would be gallant
victory. His body was removed to the res
idence Of his parents, at I'd and Wharton
streets. Weeden, his second Walker, his
trainer John Clark, and three other partici-
pants in the fight, have been arrested.