The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-30
A MILD AND GENTLE FIGHT.
Sullivan and McCaffrey Go Through the
Motions According to Rule,
And Six Alleged Rounds Are Fought With
ont First Blood or a Knock Down-The
Victory Awarded to Sullivan.

CGNolNNATI Aug, 29-The sparring match
| between John l.. Sullivan and Dominick Ne
Catirey, this afternoon, did not attract so great
number of people as had been expected At 4
o'clock, when it thought the match would
| begin, there were not more than five thousand
| people at Chester Park. The audience were not
ill-behaved, nor did they manifest impotence at
the delay in opening the exhibition, 1t was 430
o'clock when the preliminary box
ing began. The platform for the
match was set in the middle of
the track between the two stands, and was
thirty feet square and FIVE feet from the ground
The inner ring Of twenty-four feet square was
marked by three ropes around eight posts, which
were padded on the inside The spectators were
admitted to rope within twenty feet of the
platform, and, besides, filled the stands, the
fence, and all other available points. An ample
police force prevented any breaking of ropes.
From 4:3O till o'clock the time was spent in
number Of short boxing contests that served to
| keep, the attention of the crowd, and to even
| awaken enthusiasm, when one man was knocked
| senseless on the ropes. 1t kept the attention
so closely that John L. Sullivan
was not observed pushing his way
to the platform. and was not recognized until he
mounted it, when there brief burst of APP
plause. He wore silk armor over his chest. but
his arms were bare. His cream colored tights
were enclrcled with green sash. He was accom-
panied by his seconds, Arthur Chambers and
Tom Deloy, who went to his corner. Ten min
utes later VIM. Muldoon. master of ceremonies,
made formal call for Mccartney, or for some
friend to go after him. A cheer was the re-
Spouse, and carriage appeared with the other
contestant McCaffrey was received with Wild
bursts of enthusiasm. He seemed to be in per
feet physical condition lie was attired the same
as Sullivan, except that his flesh colored tights
were encrcled by maroon sash.
Considerable time was spent in choosing
referee. Conferences between Messrs. Lunt and
O'Brlen McCatfrey's seconds, and those of Sulli-
van held. William Tate, Of Toledo, O.,
was called for, but he declined. Subsequently
he reconsidered and accepted, and at 5:2l the
men shook hands, and the first round began
amid almost breathless Stiffness
Mccartney made the first lead but Sull: IAN
stopped him easily, and in the cautious work
which followed both succeeded in getting in
| slight blows McCaffrey ducked to avoid
heavy blow. and, as he arose, struck wildly at
Sullivan, and was pressed to the ropes, where he
fell to his knee. Rising, they clinched Sullivan
| managing to give Mccartney light blow as they
| did So This was repeated, and the round closed.
Second Round-There was but minutes
breathing spell. Sullivan opened the fighting
this time by blow which Mccartney artfully
evaded. Mccartney then made a fierce drive at
Sullivan which he lodged gracefully, but Nc
Caffrey gave him resounding tap on the back
of the neck AS he recovered, which started
chorus of cheers. Another of the same kind set
McCaffrev's admirers wild A clinch followed,
Sullivan getting another blow on Mccartney
He then pushed McCaffrey to the ropes, where
danger seemed imminent, but Mccartney slipped
away and the men went to their corners
Third Round-This was the worst for McCaf-
frey. He struck out for Sullivan. but to no pur-
pose, and in the quick work that followed,
Mccartney slipped down. Sullivan then began
| to push Mccartney, and the latter took up the
| tactics of running away, but finally made
| stroke which Sullivan easily euded. Quick as
thought Sullivan closed on Mccartney and pressed
him down. Growing apparently vicious he
drove Mccartney towards his own corner, and
pushed him down across tho ropes Here some
one called time" and many thought the round
had closed but the referee told the men to go
on, and they did, Sullivan driving Mccartney
over to his corner, where the latter fell,
| either by Sullivan's blow, tripping against
chair and slipped almost off the platform. Nc
Catfrey more cautious, and closed with
| Sullivan each delivering shortrange blows of
no force. After Mccartney was pressed down
| second time, the time expired.
Fourth Round-Sullivan opened this round
with blow on McCaffrey's jaw. 1t looked as if
| McCaffreys powers were waning, while Sullivan
was apparently fresh. McCaffrey made no ven
| lures but continually clung to Sullivan. Sulli-
| van managed to reach the side of McCatfreys
nose and to bring show of blood. The round
ended with another fall by McCafrey, though
| the blow was not claimed knock down
Fifth R0und-BOth men seemed willing to be
careful They played with each other for while,
when Mccartney got light blow in or Sullivan.
| Then Sullivan attacked, but McCatfrey ran
| away, and the latter returned to the attack,
which Sullivan escaped by his favorite method
| of ducking After more play with no work, the
| time expired.
| Sixth Round-Sullivan now seemed desperate,
| though it was apparent that he growing
| weary while McCafrey was fresher. Sullivan
| closed, and they gave number of ln-blows. and
| separated Sullivan kept pushing his adversary
around and when near the ropes, they clinched
| and both fell Rising, Sullivan closed again,
| but this time McCatfrey got away without fall,
| and delivered light blow on Sullivan, who sent
| terrific blow back, but McCaffrey ducked and
| escaped and the time of the sixth round ex-
| PRED
| Instantly there was shout all over the vast
crowd, which, by this time seemed to have
| sweed to 1000, in honor of McCaffrey, whom
| they all supposed had won the match. He had
stood up before Sullivan six rounds, and seemed
| able and willing to go on to finish. He
was overwhelmed with congratulations, while
| Sullivan was left to be cared for by his
stage attendants only. As the crowd understood
| the terms, it was a draw, and thus virtual
| victory for the young Pittsburg boxer. But
| after some time when threefourths of the peo
| pie had started for the trains, and while the
mander were in loud discussion of the merits of
| JIG uldIcu MI 4hulOOOl iNduo al lHSuti
| which only few heard that the referee had de-
| cided to give the match to Sullivan, on the
| ground that he had made the greater number of
points. This announcement was wholly inaudi-
| bic at the press seats and various versions of it
were circulated, among others that it was given
| because of foul. Sullivan left the platform
with no demonstrate tons in his honor, but McCaf-
frey's friends were iubilant, Notwithstanding the
referees adverse decision, and they lifted him to
| their shoulders and bore him, amid the cheers of
spectators to his carriage The decision was
decidedly unpopular, probably owing to the
doubtful understanding of the terms. 1t was
generally supposed that Sullivan was to knock
| McCaffrey out in six rounds or less in order to
win and McCaffrey himself stated, after the
match was over, that he thought He even
wanted to go on to finish but that was impos-
sible, as Sullivan had left the platform. Being
| asked if there was any ground for claim Of foul