The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-05
A SAVAGE PRIzE-FIGHT.
Contest Between McHugh and Fitzgerald-A
Battle Lasting More than Three Hours.

RocKAwAY BEACH, Sept AT daybreak
this morning 500 sporting men filed the Pavilion
sporting house, to witness a fight with hard
gloves, Marquis of Queensbury rules, between
Jim Ntzhugh, of Glasgow, and Dave Fitzgerald,
of Toronto, for s.. 600 and the gate money The
men appeared in the ring promptly. Ntzhugh,
weighed 126 pounds, and Fitzgerald 14O. The
preliminaries being finished, the men advanced,
when time was called, to the centre of the
ring. and then commenced one of the most ex-
citing fights on record, lasting three hours and
thirty-fve minutes, and ending in draw in
favor of the Scotch lad. 1t would have been
fought to the finish but for the conduct of the
crowd, which was evenly divided in the interest
of the contestants. Large sums of money were
wagered on the result, and there appeared
to be disposition on the part of
Fitzgerald's friends, towards the close, to
crowd the ring and bring about 'foul1 on the
part of McHugh. At the conclusion of the thir-
ty-sixth round the crowd became so demonstra-
tive and SO disposed to interfere that ereferee
withdrew and another had to be chosen, the men
taking rest of about twenty minutes. In the
meantime both men had been badly punished,
Fitzgerald having his left ear cut and swollen
and his face dis6gured; McHugh had badly
swollen eye and nose, and cuts about the face.
In the first round there was little except spar
ring, the men showing whatever science they
possessed without getting down to business
The second, third and fourth rounds were Of the
same tame nature but when they walked up for
the fifth Fitzgerald opened the ball in business
like way, planting lefthander on McHugh's
nose; McHugh returned the compliment with a
terrific undercut, which sent Fitzgerald spin
ming to the ropes Then followed hard
hitting on both sides until time was called.
Up 70 this time the fighting was in favor of the
Canadian In the SIXTH seventh, eighth, ninth.
tenth and eleventh rounds the men did little
hard work. though Fitzgerald got McHugh's
head in chaneery several times, but was called
off by the referee. The thirteenth round devel-
oped good scientific fighting McHugh dis
tinguishing himself in that regard and getting
in some hard, straight undercuts, counters to
which were well guarded by his opponent, who
used his left hand to good advantage on Nc
Hughs head The following rounds up to
the twenty first, were tame, both men evidently
sparring for wind Fitzgerald began to show
signs of fatigue and used his hands lazily,
allowing McHugh to get in several heavy
underclips on his ears and chin, and he showed
many ugly marks on his face. More rounds
were disposed of in very much the same style,
when McHugE, in the thirty fifth, in response to
the urging of his friends put on a determined
air and showed a disposition to commence real
business. Fitzgerald did not respond very en-
couragingly in this round, combining his work to
guarding off his opponents hard blows The
thirty sixth and thirty seventh rounds were well
fought, Fitzgeralds friends shouting, yelling
and crowding round him until he .braced up and
faced the music in dead earnest McHugh opened
the thirty sixth round with a straight shoulder
blow, planting it on Fitzgeralds nose and knock
ing him to the ropes Fitzgerald rushed up
and let out with his left hitting McHugh on the
right eye. Four minute rounds were now being
fought, and the two fought desperately for the
balance of the round. The thirty seventh was
equally well fought, and both men showed signs
of collapse at its conclusion. In the latter part
of the forty-seyenth round the men began to
show yiciousness and an inclination to kick and
bite each other. The crowd, closing in on the
ropes, threatened to take hand and enjoy a
general fight The referee declared the fight a
draw, and ordered the seconds to take the men
from the ring. Fitzgerald showed the worst
condition, having been badly punished in the lat
ter part of the fight.