Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-12
THE MANLY ART.
The Dzanning-Connors sparrsnG
Match mt the Race Track.

Match mt the Race Track.
Sunday afternoon, from P. NJ. until
3, big crowd was to be observed on the
way to the race track to see the mill be-
tween Billy Manning and Dan Connors-
Manning is 5 feet 81 inches high and
weighs. fighting weight, lao pounds.
Connors 10 feet l0a inches high and
weighs ITO pounds. There were about
500 people present, and they were kept
in good humor for an hour OF more by
an attempt to get up a match between
Jones aud another youth, but this failed.
Henry Wenzel and j O'Connor acted as
seconds to Manning and Fred Short and
Hugh Roark were to see that
all went well with Connors X.
T. Wilcox was chosen as reie-
rec, and most thorough one he
made. Joe Manning was time-keeper.
The referee read the contract, that Con
nors was to knock Manning out in six
rounds, or If he failed to do go he was to
divide the gate money. Sheriff Gard
aud the District Attorney were on the
ground to guard the sacred majesty
of the law. When pair of handsome
kid gloves were shown up to the Major
he said, in his suavest tones; Gentle
men, a little more stuffing, II you
please" A second pair we're produced,
which were promising to the eye, but
when felt found to be full of wind. The
officer said: II think pair Of six
ounce gloves are on the ground,
and it will save time to produce
them at once" The big feather
beds were accordingly produced and
donned by the doughty cambatants and
at last at 4:30 time was called. At the
eud Of the first round q few slight taps
Mad been exchanged and IL was q fair
sland off between the two men. Marquis
Of Queensberry rules, OF course, we're
4 otserved. Three minutes to fight and
6ne 10 rest.
The second round was little more
lively than the first, but still the men
Kers evidently taking stock Of each
'6ther. Connors, who had great ad-
vantage over Manning in his reach, got
F IN few heavy right handlers. marking
Manning's neck somewhat.
The third round opened with
. terrific attack by Connors, who
seemed to think he had made
some discovery Of weak point in his an.
& tagonist. Connors was smiling, but the
smile was uglier than any average scowl.
His fms followed, tho right the left and
the left the right like trip hammers for
about minute. and here the little
Johnny Bull displayed his skill. He
ducked like a hell-diver, at which q
crowd Of boys we're hurling stones.
Every time Connors let out at him.
5 down went Manning's cocoanut far out
of reach. As the round bullet-head
came up propelled by all the force Of the
short, thick neck, he guided 1t close TO
the trunk of his opponent, twice giving
him an unearthly punch In the side. At
I last Manning got in q left handler
ON Connors' bellows, which made the big
fellow slow up for the rest Of thatroun
Had Manning possessed little more
length Of arm It had been all day with
Connors. The blow fell q little short,
still it did good service. The fourth
round was not eventful. In the fifth
Connors again made fierce fight, but
Manning lodged with the agility of
bird and each and every time escaped
punishment. Connors reached him two
or three times, but not seriously. The
heaviest blow was swinging round.
er with the right hand aimed
ut Manninp's neck, but it fell
above the ear. owing to Mannings
skill in ducking.
The sixth round was the one where
Conners meant business. All along the
little fellow forced the fighting quite as
much as the "big un" did, but he had
hurt bis right hand In the second round.
and each moment il was growing more
and more painful. In this last round he
was forced to act purely on the defensive,
and the big fellow hammered at him
like catapult, Few oil the blows got
every time. One or two reached Man
niDg's proboscis and few drops OF fine
: colored claret flowed out Of the tap. Billy
showed he had the merit OF being able to
take punishmentquite aswell as OF escap-
ing 1t, when the time came to take it. He
was hurt, and very tired in getting away
from so powerful foe, but the foe was
pretty nearly as much used up and had
but little force left to hit with--far from
enough to knock Manning out. The
three minutes seemed an hour to Billy's
friends, and the last minute seemed
day. But Manning stood up to 1t
until the last tick was given and the
referee parted the men. Connors is
good boxer, powerful man, and he
who tackles him on any other supposi-
tion will be disappointed. Manning is
gamey and fought TO win. The Sheriff
did his duty, no one was hurt, and the
people had an excellent exhibition Of
the science in the manly art of self-de-
{ense.