New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-14
croHE.FIGHTS BY PRIzE-FTGHTERS.

s1Inp SUGGESTIONS TO THE POLICE AND PRESS.
"a the Edttor Of TIE tribune
SIR: The pa, agraph IN yesterdays TRIBUNE
,,. N be an interview with about the recent
st,ng betyeen Sullivan and Slade has here and there
an expression may have used to some friend out did
mt know it would be published Instead OF the Maori
lacking armpower alone hit as hard as MIS- adversary,
he seems from all accounsas big men oiten uo-to nave
,cted even more the ability to throw his bodys weight
int. the blow for the body does more than the arm in
hard hitting as any one will find who holds his body rig
idly erect and strikes with only his arm
ut there is another side of this affair we'll worthy of
the attention OF the press and OF the public. The
ayowed purpose Of each conoatant was 10 KNOCK out
his adversary: to "knock him silly" sparrng to dis
MAY skill and win points, utterly lost sight Of The
single aim was admittedly to attempt to defeat sub
due or destroy an enemy by blows" But this exac
the definition both In Webster and Worcester and In
every mans own mind as well, OF lighting" And
when il is done reward. namely in this instance
for no less than $4,000 two-thirds OF the gate
Money it precisely what the dictionaries define as
price ghtng" Aud the fight not only premed-
itated" but advertised beforehand very extensively
throughout this city and bJ the Northern press But
section chapter 90 OF the Laws OF 1856 says that
sEvery Ierson who shall carry on. any pre-
meditated fight contention between persons with their
fists" shall be liable TO ne Imprisonment or both Why
have not these two men brought themselves squarey
L
work. But when two men stand up, not merely for a
friendly SPAR which shall by skill, strength and
,tay both ward of blows and them smartly but,
wholly losing sight of these ends avowedy aim to bruse
disable and knock each other insensible " in four
hounds" and tnat under the yes OF a crowd and for
money, why liz il not time 10 enforce the law and stop
ouch work abruptly glove on each fist does not
alter aim, the kind of work or the result Heenan Is
aid to have once struck blow which lifted 377 pounds
,f floor. sullivan, i'll lolns and legs better man,
heavier also for his inches and for years past furious
.fttar hlu Ea mi hard
aAn's. Let two OF ordinary strength take ten
oot fenoe-rail inches thick each way, tie boxing
Iove end, and then bang against Captain
kamss IA hard they and IL doubtful IL
he blow Will be vicious one OF Sulllvans best.
Yet II might possibly enghten that guardian O life and
property whether blows OF that force the blows
friendly sparrfng or OF fighting. Quarter hard
Bio sireethght wond lock up him VINO fetched 1t
or disordery conduct Almost OF the blows by
which Sullivan felled that pound would have
ther permanently disabled actually Killed Ordi-
aary man. unused osparr1ng. asyour own news columns
h0w that some one Is killed annually by some lar hgnter
blow. Why should not this brutal work he stopped in
ms State once and for good Its effect young
men especially Is most hurtful Some respectable men
renders them yet liable to the same punishment
Inc principals But the vast majority stay cd away.
sueh gat herring Fiddler Neary, Dooney Harris
Or Barney Aaron might But would any reader Of
This lair was made profitable by the press. Had no
respectable paper this city alluded ID it before.
The tlne afIerward 1t would have killed 1t
petey the failure TO pay OF the last
ace killed another form OF mUst dangerous though
ess disgraeeful ahIt tie contests WILLIAM BLAKE
Eeo York, August 10, 1883.
THE paragraph In THE TRIBUNE used as the Occa-
non for the above interesting letter purported to
be" Just what it was, stown talk."-the story Of
men about town of what they hear people talking
about in casual conversations-not in the least a
TRIBUNE nteryiew.-Ed.