St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-06-16
SUNDAY SLUGGING.
The Mellin-Keefe Prize Fight
With Three-0unce
Gloves.
Attended Almost Exclusively by
the Sporting Men Of
Minneapolis.
A Pretty Hard Fight in Which
MelIin is Most Severely
Punished,
But Keefe Breaks Ligaments of His Right
Hand Early in the Fight,
But Keefe Breaks Ligaments of His Right
Hand Early in the Fight,
And On That Account Gives Up at Last.
The Crowd All Against Him.
From the MINNEAPOLIS Department.


! sofa occurred yesterday, and it was hard
fought and intensely exciting contest. 1t was
the much talked of Keefe-Mellin mill and was
won by the latter in fourteen four minute
rounds, Marquis of Queensbury rules, with
three ounce boxing gloves.
The party which witnessed the encounter
left the Manitoba depot on Minneapolis 81
st. Louis excursion train at 9:20 yesterday
morning, going out on the branch line past
Lake Minnetonka, to Young America town
ship, in Wright county. The train consisted
of two coaches, which were filed
to more than their seating capacity. 1t is
estimated that the attendance aggregated $50
people. 1t was most pleasurable trip out,
passing through heavy oak woods, poplar
groves, over rolling prairie, and past num-
berless pretty lakes, including Minnetonka.
The day was beautiful and the cheerful sun
shine contributed in no slight degree to the
pleasurable excursion through the most pic
turesque section of the state. The corn and
wheat fields looked fresh and vigorous. To
one not acquainted with the facts, the ap-
pearances, the exuberant spirit of the excur-
sionists, nor any Of the conceivable condi-
tions, would have conveyed any idea of the
mission. 1t was an orderly crowd. In fact,
it was principally made up of citizens who
had never witnessed a genuine pugilistic en-
counter, governed by regular rules, and who
were mainly led to attend through curiosity
and through the novelty afforded in the at
traction. The people did not in any wise
SAVIOR of the hummer element. This is prob
ably partially owing to the impression which
had gained prevalence that the fight would
be hippodrome, and run in the interest OF
the management purely as speculation.
But the results will bear out the as
sertion that the mill was in dead
earne st, each pugilist being bent upon deter
mining who is the best man. This also
doubtless accounts for the absence of the
points, as well as the limited attendance
from Minneapolis. The following card from
the mayor also had the effect to frighten the
timid into going to church instead of the
fight:
''MINNEAPoLIs, MINI, June Il, 1854
John West, Esq, Chief of Police-Sir 1 am
informed that arrangements are made, OF
being made, in this city for a prize fight tc
come off in the vicinity of Minneapolis.
wish you to ascertain, if possible, when such
fight is to take place, and, if in this city, to
prevent it and arrest ali parties concerned in
it. If in the county of Hennepin to notify
the sheriff of the time and place, and if ou
of the city and county of Hennepin, the
sheriff OF the county where such prize fight
is to take place. 1 wish you to use your ut
most endeavors to prevent so disgraceful al
affair from taking place anywhere. Yours
truly, GEORGE A. PnLsBURY, Mayor"
The above, it is considered was promulga
ted more for effect than to circumvent the
event At all events that was the freely ex-
pressed opinion OF all who were on the train
A surgeon had been secured to dress any
wounds that might be inflicted in the con-
test
TAKING THE HITTERS ON.
Jack Keefe had gone out in company with
his trainer P. Mcnamara, to Hopkins station
the previous night, and Patsy Mellin hat
gone on to Excelsior, witt
McMeehan, his trainer. Arrivin:
| at the former place Keefe and McNamar,
1 got aboard. keefe was cheerful, and related
| his trials and troubles in securing lodging
dG bllC plONluSidl otdliuS tiltlG uC lil
walked nearly five miles from house to hous
on Saturday night before finding hospitality
At Excelsior the others stepped on the trail
and away the party flew. Both seemed il
excellent spirits and imbued with remarka
BILE amount of confidence. They chattet
5 freely with their friends, one seated in on
, end of the coach and the other in the oppo
site end. They looked upon the fight merel,
! in business point of view. The,
wanted the money and to ascer
tain who was the best man
The last few miles Keefe whistled and SAN
) merrily as he sat leaning back in his seat
Pies, sandwiches and lemonade was serve,
at frequent intervals and comprised the re
,, freshments of the trip.
THE GROUNDS.
The spot selected for the mill was a poin
in the oak groye just equi-distant from Wa
coma and Young America stations som
, thirty-seven miles from the city. The groun
was level and shady, all brush and grass wa
quickly and quietly removed. and the rope
were stretched to trees which happened to b
located at the right distances from each othe
to form the four corners of the prize ring
The rope which the seconds had provide
not being of sufficient length the bell rop
: of the train was brought int
: trainers lost no time, but at once bega
: the work of getting their men in readiness
e Keefe wore white trunks and black stocking:
and Mellin wore pink trunks and red stocl
ings Pals of water were brought from th
train and the seat cushions were placed i
{ the corners of the rings for resting seats fc
the pugilists during the single minutes whic
should intervene between the rounds.
THE SECONDS.
> Keefe's seconds were Prof. John Don alt
, son and P. Mcnamara, and Mellin's second
: were Mcmahon and Jerry Murphy. The la
= ter was the only second who appeared in flu
y ring costume, the others being i
n shirt sleeves. Mellin was first to a,
pear at the ropes. Donaldso
e and McMaban then stepped into the rim
). and tossed for choice of corners. The fo
Il mer won and selected the north corner, lea7
! ing Mellin the south corner
PRELIMINARIEs SETTLED.
Donaldson-s'Who do you want for re
e ereel"
McMahan-'sWe want a fair man an
q will take Duplessis.n
! Interested citizens in loud voice-s'Ye
let Duplessis be the referee. He is the on
man on the grounds who can do it.'
Donaldson-.sSo far as 1 am concerned
+ have no objections, but owing
!. the difficulty between Keefe and Dupless
# at Market hall l do not thin
e he would be an unprejudiced mai
Therefore We must object to him. You kno