Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-25
Lynch and WeIch Pounded Through
Thirty-nine Rounds.


q, uiIAnCunVy Win WEIGH DrOCner ana
blacksmith's helper, hunted Lynch up
forthwith and squared things for the
family by doing the switchman nm
III desperate rough and tumble
fight. Lynch then offered to fight
WEIGH for money, and the offer
was promptly accepted. This was about
four weeks ago, and since that time both
men have done some training The last
of the stake money-S2O0 a side-was put
up Saturday afternoon. The two men
with their hackers went to Sheffield the
same afternoon and spent the night at a
farm house, eating breakfast together
yesterday morning. The ''mOb'' did not
get out there until shortly before
the fight commenced. Some went in
carriages, others took late train. and
the remainder, about one hundred men.
including Tribune reporter, were car
ried over by the tugboat Pearie, especial
ly chartered for the occasion. The boat
left the foot of Randolph street at
O'Clock, having received her passengers
quietly, two or three at time and the
trip across the water was made in about
two hours. The load was landed about
two miles from where the battle was to
take place, and While waiting for daV-
light to appear the shivering gang warm
ed itself by bonfire on the beach.
just at dawn they took up their march
TO the important spot, wading through the
wet grass, climbing fences, and Jumping
innumerable bitches. Lynch and his
hackers were found In little grove near
the meadow, but Welch had not vet ar
rived, and there was another cold wait.
At $3.50 wagon drove up bearing WEIGH
and several of his friends. Instantly all
was excitement. While the stakes were
being driven and ropes stretched for the
ring the sports who were fortunate
enough to have money were circulating
through the crowd after bets, bic
''rolls" being ''flashed up" here and there
as the boys Justify announced their favo-
| rites. WEIGH seemed to have the most
friends, but Lynch's hackers had the most
money. John Hannigan, the State street
saloon keeper, bet considerable money on
Lyncn, while Billy Whalen backed WEIGH
The bets ranged all the way from So to
$50, no odds being offered on either man
at the start.
WEIGH entered the ring a few minutes
before O'Clock, and dressed for the fight
before everybody. He stripped to the
waist, wearing only pair of white tights
and button shoes. Lynch, who had been
dressing in the grove, stepped into the
ring few minutes later, also stripped to
the waist and wearing red drawers and
low shoes. The men appeared to be about
evenly matched. They are the same age,
"A years, of medium height, and weigh
about 40 pounds each. Jerry Sullivan
was selected as referee without any bick-
erlng. Owen McManus acted as Lynch's
second, land South Chicago saloon keeper
performed the same service for Welch.
Time was called at O'Clock, and the
fun commenced.
First ROund-Each man waited for the
other to assume the aggressive. After
few feints had been made Welch let drive
with his left at Lynch's head, but the
latter lodged it, and both men clinched
and fell, Welch on top.
Second Round-After making a few
passes Lynch's right arm shot out and
Welch caught it in the mouths giving
Lynch first blood. A yell went up from
the crowd. Lynch had left himself open,
but WEIGH threw away his chance by
clinching. Both men fell heavily, with
WEIGH on top again.
Third ROund-Lynch caught a hard one
under the left ear and fell. He was a lit
tie late in failing and a foul was claimed,
but not allowed.
Fourth ROund-The men clinched, Lynch
being thrown.
Fifth Round-Welch caught a hard one
in the ribs, but got in another under
Lynch's left ear. They clinched, and
WEIGH was thrown.
Sixth ROund-The men clinched and fell,
WEIGH on top.
Seventh ROund-Lynch got powerful
right-hander in the nose and bit the dust.
Both men were bleeding.
Eighth ROund-Welch got in two heavy
blows on Lynch's head, and then clinched
and threw him.
The crowd was getting wild by this
time. Fouls were being continually
claimed by the seconds and friends of
both men, and three or four outsiders
jumped into the ring. Welch had got the
best of 1t so far, and bets of $25 to $40
were made on him.
The next few rounds the men did moth
ing but clinch and fall. Lynch was get
ting somewhat grOggy, and neither of the
men made any further attempt to do
scientific work.
In the twelfth round Welch got a stun
ner in the right eye, which began to swell
rapidly. In this round Lynch threw him
by a foul catch, and Welch's friends be-
came wilder than ever. One of them
jumped over the ropes and thrust a COPY
of the Marquis of Queensberry rules I'M
der the referees nose. Jerry said allow
ances would have to be made for the men,
as they were a little green. He was
friendly to both, thought the fouls were
about even, and wanted the best man to
win.
Lynch got his second wind after about
fifteen rounds had been fought, and when
ever time was called he rushed over to
Welch's corner, driving him against the
ropes several times and getting in a num-
Der of blows on his head and ribs. About
that time Lynch stock went up. The
next ten rounds commenced, most of
them, with clinching, the men pounding
each other as we'll as they could without
regard to rule or science, Welch's body
began TO show some ugly bruises, but
Lynch's face and head were getting cut
up and bleeding freely, Both men were
well winded, but responded promptly
when time was called. 1t was now any
bOdy's fight.
In the twenty-fifth round Lynch got a
heavy one in the right eye and measured
his full length on the sod. He was car
rled to his corner looking very weary.
This seemed to infuse new life into WEIGH,
and III the next four or five rounds, in
each of which the men clinched the first
thing before commencing their usual
smuggling, Lynch got much the worst of it.
WEIGH had it all his own way after that.
In the thirty-siXth round he surprised
everybody with the force with which
he let drive his right in Lynch's eve.
Lynch fell, and barely had the strength to
respond when time was called again,
Both his eyes were nearly clOsed, He
was game, however, and came to the
front three more times only to be prompt
ly knocked down by WEIGH, At the end
of the thirty-ninth round McManus threw
up the. sponge and Lynch was Carried
over to the grove, where he was some
time recovering strength enough to stand.
The fight lasted one hour and five min
utes.
Welch was soon dressed, and he Joined
the party returning by boat. Lynch,
after his head had been tied up, started
for South Chicago in a hack with Nc
Manus.
Nat Goodwin, the actor, accompanied
by Mrs. Goodwin, sailed from New York
for Europe last week. There is a good