Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-15
DESPERATE PRIZE FIGHT.
THE BATTLE BETWEEN DEMPSEY
md La BLAyCH.
Thirteen Rounds of .sGiye and Take
-Gamencss OF the Men-La
Blanch Knocked Out.
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE aEcoRD-usros.I


NEW YORK, March 14th.-What those
who witnessed the encounter designate as
the greatest middle-weight fight On record,
was fought at o'clock this morning at
Rye, just on the border line between New
York and Connecticut The contestants
were George La Blanch, of Boston, Mass,
and Jack Dempsey, of New York The
stakes were 81 900 side, and about 50. 600
made up by certain notable gentlemen OF
this city. Jack Dempsey was the winner
Thirteen desperate rounds were bitterly
contested, and it is declared that a better
and more manlully contested fight was
never witnessed. There were about forty
persons present, including twenty-eight
members of the New York Racquet Club
The chief difficulty experienced by the
managers of this fight was to hoodwink
those who were watching for it. and
"toughs " who were bent on being present
to mar the fairness of the operati ons. In
this they succeeded. In the first place, the
men were put on board large propeller
which proceeded far up North river and
then took the remainder of the guests on
board and steamed for the battle ground
about twenty-five miles away, which was
reached in good season.
THE TWO PRINCIPALS
Slept for few hours, and the gentlemen
amused themselves as best they could on
board the steamer. The ring was pitched
properly, and those present stood arouud
1t. The two gladiators stripped, and were
rubbed down before the spectators, and
" the Marine" as La Blanch is called, put
on a pair of blue trunks and dark fighting
shoes. His stockings, according to his own
custom, were rolled down, leaving his
calves bare. Jack Dempsey wore his dark
hose and white CATERS. A better-looking
man than the Marine it would have
been hard to find. He was not quite as tall
as Jack Dempsey, but he weighed few
pounds more. He turned the beam at 14Sl
pounds. Dempsey looked Il trihe less
bulky and was equally as calm. Demp-
seys weight was 1444
PRELIMINARIEs.
John O'Neil was chosen referee and two
we'll dressed swells were the time-keepers
One of the best known members Of an
Eastern athletic club made the following
brief speech to the men:
You will fight according to the Marquis
of Queensberry rules, with light gloves
You will break at the call of the referee,
make no noise, and go to your corner
When either of you knocks the other
down, wait until the referee decides
whether the fallen man is done up or not
Now then, shake hands"
Then the principals and their seconds
formed, or, more properly speaking at
tempted to form, Maltese cross" They
failed 10 do so, because Tom Bogue, of Bos-
ton. one Of Marines seconds, did not reach
the outstretched hand of Tom Cleary
Dempsey's first second. Tuthill was mum
Der two for Dempsey, and Patsy Sheppard
number two for Marine. The men went
back to their corners. aud, after DOMINIC
their brown light kid gloves, were sum,
moned to the fray by the referee with these
words: Are you ready? Time"
THE BATTLE.
Round 1.-The men faced each Other
coolly and determinedly, Dempsey stand.
ing remarkably high above his adversary
who was compact, 1.-THE, and resolutely
bent on icing the aggressor. The Marine
tried little one with his right, landing on
Dempsey's breast. This was not very eff
fecive, but it was swiftly followed by an.
and still another with his left on Demp.
sey's breast, which sent him back against
| the ropes. Then Dempsey shifted ground
and tried to change the Marines tactics with
feints with his left, which, however. did
not check the advance of La Blanch until
Dempsey succeeded in putting in a stingel
on his antagonists neck This stopped
him for an instant, then seemed to anger
him, and, gathering himself together he
went for Dempsey with both hands, straight
and vigorously landing his right on the
New Workers. ribs, making a serious
abrasion OF the skin. Time was called
and the men went to their corners amid a
quietude that was simply phenomenal.
Round 2-The Marine was up briskly,
and started in 10 force the fighting. He
looked and felt confident. Dempsey smiled
as of old, and came jauntily to the scratch
The Marine was bent upon effective work,
and rushed his man against the ropes, ad-
ministering severe DO y blows, which were
always countered by Dempsey with his
left. The round ended in nob0dys favor.
Indeed, it was said that it was anybody S
fight, with a slight upward tendency in the
Marines stock"
Round 3-The Marine was again lively
at the scratch. He commenced fighting at
once. His object evidently was to drive
Dempsey into corner and punch him at
short arm distance, and he was partially
successful. He let 20 his right at the head,
was short, but got in with his left sound
whack on Dempsey's body. The latter
broke ground and resolved to change his
tactics. He became very shifty, and like a
clever general at once began to play for the
Marines eyes, in the hope of binding him
In the course of this round, Dempsey
proved himself a marvellous boxer, great
tactician, and thoroughly game fellow.
The Marine dropped his head in an attempt
to deliver his right on Dempsey's jugular,
but was short, and caught a severe upper
cut in the face, which drew the claret from
his nose, and the first blood was claimed
and allowed for Dempsey.
Round 1.-The Marine was very strong
and very aggressive. but could not get
home his right ON Dempsey's neck. He
forced the fighting, and tried hard to 60
his man up. He hit Dempsey several times
on the body, and finally they clinched at
the ropes and broke at the referees order.
Thereafter Dempsey got in a few straight
left. handlers on La Blanch's face, and
raised very large-sized mouse on his
right eye.
Round 5-Dempsey and he came to-
gether like two prairie buffaloes 1t was
give and take, and at the close it was seen
that the Marine had very bad cut on his
left cheekbone, from which the blood
streamed down over his breast. Time was
called, and both went to their corners.
Rounds 6, and were characterized by
such close mitigating that it was almost
impossible to tell Just how it would all
end The Marines face was swollen and
bleeding copiously. He spat out a tooth or
two, which showed Dempsey's remarkable
skill with his left hand. The latters body
was badly bruised.
Round 9-This was another rally, with
terrible give-and- take fighting
Round 10-In this round, after hard
hitting, the Marine and Dempsey clinched
The referee shouted Break the Marine
dropped his hands in obedience and re-
ceived a knock-down blow from Dempsey
Foul was claimed, but not allowed
Round lin this round Dempsey came
up trihe fresher than the Marine. and be-
gan to force the fighting. He was met hall
way by the Marine, but the New Workers.
terrible left hand played upon the Bostoni-
an visage like a piston rod, doing awful
execution. Blood flowed freely from the
Marine, who nevertheless, fought back
gamely and wickedly with both hands,
Furnishing Dempsey more than he was ever
punished before in his career in the ring.
Time was called, and the men went to
their corners, looking badly Dempsey s
body was covered with bruises and his face
was marked here and there