Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-28
"DISoUSTINGLY BRUTAL,
A Vicious Five Found Fight at Nc.
KEGS Rocks, Pa,

PITTsBrRG, September 26.-The Chronicle
Telegraph has the following:
A desperate fight took place this after
noon at McKee's rocks, between Jonn
Joyce, Of L,.tonia, Ohio, champion Of that
State, and P.t Burke, Of McKeesport.
1t was re- Jrted to the police authorities
that the fG.t was 10 take place this morn,
ing at Ror and's saloon, on Third avenue,
Detectives O'Mara aid Gumbert went to
the place, and found the men in the very
act Of commencing the battle. The officers
interfered and stopped the mill, the
the principals promising not to 20
on with it. This was only for
o blind, however, as tie intention all along
was 10 eight to q finish to-day. Various re.
ports were circulated 10 throw the u%ninitia-
led of the scent, such as that the battle was
10 come off at a noted resort q few miles
out the Perrysville road; also, that q point
near S~ewickley mad been selected. The
fancy element who were in the secret could
not be fooled by any such reports, but wait
ed quietly in the city until the tip was given
fer the proper spot. AS soon as the fight
was stopped at Rowland the steamer Venice
wBs engaged. A select crowd OF about 30
well.known sporting men Of this vicinity
boarded the boat, which steamed down the
river until
McKce's Rocks We're Reached,
shen the crowd d~iscmbarked and took po.-
session Of the skating rink.
The ring YVES pi' cred on the platform in the
NIX. Joyce stripped al 200 pounds, BIrke
Il lS5. The match was for 500 a side, with
r~kree-cuAce gloves, under Marquis Of Qleens-
curry rules. John Turner, of Philadelphia,
was selected a. refer e AID the fight began.
The Fight by Rounds
First Round-After shaking hands and
ONE preliminary sparring, Joyce began to
COgce the fighting with the apparent inten-
ton OF knocking out Burke in q round or
TWO. joyce drove Burke all around the plat
form, and finally by q terrific blow on the
mouth knocked him down. Burke struck ut
Joyce while down, and a foul was claimed,
but the referee refused TO allow it, warning
the men that if anything Of the kind was re-
peated he would allow q foul.
Second r~ound-Joyce again forced the
lighting and knocked Burke down five
times, getting in some terrific blows on the
head and face. During this round there
was great confusion from the crowd yelling
and pressing around the principals The
confusion was quoted and the round given
to Joyce.
burke Shows Signs of Distress.
Third round-Burke came up very 'grog-
", while Joyce seemed as fresh ss ever.
At the very beginning Joyce hit Burke o
savage blow aud knocked him clear out of
ne rlng. Burke stood up and received fear
full punishment, being knocked down four
times.
Fourth round-Burke was apparently
badly winded, and dropped every chance
he got, to escape punishment. Joyce final
ly got in q good blow and knocked Burke
fiat.
The Last Round.
Fifth round-Burke seemed to have re.
covered his wind and showed un in better
shape than he had done IN previous rounds.
Burke attempted TO force the fighting, but
had waited too lo2g. He fought tec5ly and
the round ended by Joyce knocking Burke
down, and be fell with q sound that was
heard all over the rink. Burke was unable
TO respond at the call Of time" aud the
fight was given to Joyce. :,
The agreement was that if Burke stood
M for five rounds he would win, and his
idea WAS to dodge as much as possible in
the early rounds and DO ali his fighting in
the fifth. Burke was horribly punished
about the head, face and chest, while Joyce
had not a scratch.
As soon as the fight was over the mojo Or.
;ty Of the spectators boarded the boat aud
returned to the city, although many crossed
The river and came home by thu street care.
Another match is talked about.