The New York herald., 1876-03-23
Michael CIeary and James Weeden, Of
Philadelphia, Battle for $500.
CLEARY THE VICTOR.
Seventy EIGHT Rounds in One Hour
and Thirty-two Minutes.
BOTH MEN FRIGHTFULLY PUNISHED

Cleary and James Weeden both OF Philadelphia fought
prize fight at catch weights this morning for $500,
which resulted in favor Cleary a FOUL after
enty-eght rounds occupying one hour and thrty-two
minutes 1t was OF the gamest contests on record,
and both men, though Cleary was a novice ard Wee
den into the ring for the second time in his lfe
covered themselves with nstc honors
For than month this fight has been the talk
OF the Philadelphia sporting men, and forty eight hours
previous to and including last evening there had been
much argument and speculation upon tho result Gu
rously enough the match made and the articles
agreement signed for these TO como to-
gether Both pupils OF Johnny Clark,
'Lucky Johnny" as he is called by the fra
ernty, and six weeks ago he backed weeden
to fight Young Walker also OF the City Of Brotherly
Love- for $500, which came OF and ended in weedca
being declared the better Shortly after, from
some unexplained circumstances, Weeden went
to tho coterie of Arthur Chambers who has made
Philadelphia his place OF residence when Clark began
to look around for man to give Weedcn another
fight, as he seemed anxious TO follow up his
in the squared circle" Clark picked out Ceary
matters being arranged the men went into training
To thoroughly fit themselves required i've weeks of
downright jealous work, and this morning they met
face face anxious and ready for the rough and
labor out for them. IL first class fight and
tho novice achieved his maiden victory in stylo that
The 'tip'' quietly given to those desirous Of
bong hand at tho sporting houses Of Chambers and
Clark, which until early hour tt is morning
crowded with thoroughly appropriate assemblage
From every part Of Philadelphia they came and dis
cussed the coming event 'The eight o'clock morning
train through TO Washington from the old Baltimore
depot will take you straight" The direction given,
and enough, at the appointed time and place there
collected crowd OF tho "boys," who one and all
bought tickets TO Havre de Grace, that bein q the
To md
been intended from the first to make this place the
rendezvous. THIS gathering OF broad shonl
dcrcd and deep chcsed gentlemen slipped by
attendants with curious smile and
ing In OF the the doors wero locked, tho
In hour Wilmington was reached and here some
of the number jumped out, and sent thrill of disgust
the hearts Of their friends by returning and report
ing that companies Of soldiers, at Eikton and
at Havrc ue Grace were awaiting the crowd OF
roughs In wheezy, husky voice, like the straning
OF hoarse door hinge one veteran boxer shouted
''Yees'n get the collar every damn man; sec n ye
don't, but another & lighter, In, with good-humorsd red
man; come to the scratch, and hitl be all right"
And then tho whistle warned ''ali aboard " and once
we're on our way, soon forgetting, II possible
interruptions, and bravey swapping our fingers at the
soldiers miles away.
At last the place made and Fred Smith, OF
Philadelphia down in advance with the ropes and
stakes, stood on the platform to welcome the crowd
Whispering into that everything straight
as a gun barrel" which Information was soon pos
sesscd by the three four hundred the gang swept
down on the eight or ten carriages at the depot like
tornado and Instantly each contained half dozen
brusers all camorous IN their demands TO have
the drivers, some white and others black, start for tho
| lighting ground 'Hits the same place where Colyer
licked the 'ead or that ere Kelly" beloved in
loud tones. and instantly start was made over the
rough and hilly road. By houses whose inmates
were startled with this infusion OF reckless the
wagons slowly made their way and back beyond for
secure transportation. Once twice ladies
! pecred from their windows but II shot
Withdrew their faces, and In alarm slammed
down the windows fearing that their particular domi
| cile was the objective point o the innamed faces
McCellanviie and gwen to two
different clusters OF four houses each-werc passed
through and the latter constable met the party
and with the exclamation Of my Cod what's let
strangers
AZ haIi-pas ten O'Clock the country hotel OF Robert
! Montgomery reached and cheer from Sam Coll
yer told the crowd that the place was nigh at hand
The cheer caught up, and from hundred throats
end eyes /" said one Of the early corners, whose
shoulders were like the stern of yacht and chest as
pep and fsen good And say lad sSa. ere novice as
niver fought fight is honey Oh, Gawdl tell
yees." And this was the Introduction TO one OF the
gamest battles on record.
The ground is historic sor in The immediate vicinity
several brutal combas have taken place The location
is just that 200 acres Of free land" bordering
three Staies-Ponnsylvansa Delaware and Maryland
Jump fence and you are IN another State; leap
another and you laugh at officers from either Penn
/ sylvania or Delaware for you Maryland soil
From the tavern the dull thud of the mallet told tho
steps brought YOU to the side Of t The single ropc
just beng pulled through tho top Of the smooth
n
nouncement was made that 'ths ring pitched In the
State OF Maryland is nghtn' ready, I'll let all yees
| suckers know The centre of large field was tho
selected spot and the frost coming out Of the ground
had made the upper soil quite soft Them blokcs III
break their necks on that, exutDgy exclaimed
one of the Interested There was outer ring. In
| ten minutes The crowd had gathered They stood
! dozen deep all around. There was evident business
! intent upon the minds Of Cieary's friends and they
wanted the battle to begin at once No doubt
this was reciprocated by the admirers OF
wcedcn for the wait was not long. Meanwhile tho
| wdrha aned mnr nd fha fun
oil the toughest, as might be expected Billy Fall
! don and Billy Mclean, from Philadelphia and Andy
Haniey, OF New York, cleared the ring and gave tho
reporters they expressed IT, "a show that they
could get this scrap dead 10 rights" rho space once
cleared, these men guarded the ropes zealousy, and
commendable absence OF confusion for a time was
noted. Very soon Johnny Clark jumped into the en-
eTn,cn ana I'm be any s SIS or cc that
Cleary wins this nght Docs anybody want ""
IN nerr mas m bs, so oy &c" sso ,Ss
Cleary gets first blood and first knock down" To this
offer there we're no takers, and Johnny put up his
money.
the ring, and shout was heard which made every
| body turn his head. II tho coming OF Cleary
and In twinkling he threw his cap modesty tho
ring and vauted the roped barrier thousand
and the ceareyed boy bowed bccomIngly for the well
| come given him. Just then Andy Hanley led him
TO the HERAD's corner and Cleary, IN low tone, in
4 answer 10 questions, said:-
II am but nineteen years old; stand n. TX In,
and weigh, in my lighting clothes, about 1875 lbs.
lie then retired, and Weedcn's friends being nterro-
gated 1t ascerained that he Is twenty three years
OF age; height, II 3x in, and, in his shoes, tipped
I the scales az I27H lbs.
The day was charming A sharp wind whstled
merrily from the wcst but the warm rays of
the tempered II delicously. and In It's exhiarat-
ing character reminded one Of Tom Sayers' remark
TO Hccnan when they put up their hands before each
other, "If man can't Tight to-day he can't light at
alLn In tossing Tor corners Cleary won and he
chose that which placed his back TO tho sun.
Fred smith was announced umpire for Wceden,
whle Andy Hancy looked after the interests OF Cleary
/ In like position. Mike Donovan and Sam Colycr
nlled the responsible and arduous offices OF seconds
Tor Cieary, and Arthur Chambers ana Harry Hicken
looked for Weedcn. Mr. Charles Wallace Of Phila-
delpna, accepted the position OF referee and taking
his place middle stake, the coIors OF tho
| principals tied around the top OF the stick,
/ : oyer fixing Clsary's-a white ground with green
border shamrock in each corner. with the