The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-10
Pugilism in 1888.
How Specialized Thumpers Will Maui
Each Other Century Hence.


Description of prize-fight in Bos-
ton suburb in the year 1888, as pub
lished in Boston paper of that
period:
1t has been long time since any
event of local Importance has at
tracted so much attention or drawn
together a concourse of such mag
nitude, fashion, wealth and cul-
ture as that which gathered in
Harvard College Campus last even
ing to witness the long heralded
combat between Professor Elliott
Waldo Sullivan and Professor
Ticknor Lowell Kilrain, lineal de-
scendants of two celebrated mas
ters of pugilism who flourished in
the latter part of the nineteenth
century.
The scene was a dazzling one.
The ladies attired in full opera
dress, their diamonds and spectac-
les flashing in the electric light,
their jeweled fans waving and
glittering in the sultry air, the
front seats filed with the aged Pre-
sidents of colleges and venerable
Judges of our Courts, from the
crowns of whose honored heads
were reflected in all directions the
rays of the brilliant light that ILL
animated the spacious area-all
these features made up radiant
spectacle that will linger long in
the memory.
Punctually at the appointed hour
the renowned champions of the
quadrangle-it seems incredible that
at one age of the world it was alb
surdly called the "ring"-took their
places on the richly upholstered
chairs awaiting them in their re-
spective corners amid the enthusi-
astic applause of the immense as
sembly and bowed with courteous
dignity at each other. Some diff
Guilty was experienced in procuring
a master of ceromonies-once vul-
carly called a "referee"-but the
venerable DR.. Howells James final
ly consented to act in that capacity.
Professor Sullivan was seconded by
Judge Benjamin Butler Fields,
while the Rev. DIR. Oliver Wendell
Moulton acted as coadjutant for
Professor Kilrain. The timekeep-
ers were Mayor Emerson Bailey
Cabot and City Attorney Homes
Aldrich Lodge.
AT the call Of time Professor Sui
livan advanced to the center of the
quadrangle, where he was met a
moment later by Professor Kilrain,
who had become engaged in dis
cussion with his second pertaining
to the materialistic tendencies of
modern systems of philosophy, and
forgot for the moment where he
was.
Round 1-Carefully adjusting his
spectacles Professor Sullivan ex-
tended his hand. 1t was grasped
by his antagonist, whose linen cuffs,
it was remarked, had been more
carefully laundried than those of
Professor Sullivan. With studied
and methodical movements the
two greatest living eXponents of
muscular science them began the
contest. At first the gesticulation
of Professor Kilrain seemed the
more brilliant.
by strategic advance and grace
full wave of his left he succeeded in
dislodging the eyeglass of his an
tagonist. A shudder ran through
the vast congregation. Disdaining
to take advantage of this partial
discontinue of Professor Sullivan
he folded his arms and stood erect
and dignified, awiting the recovery
OF his accomplished foe. Time was
called and the contestants resumed
their seats.
Round 2-This round was mark
ed in the beginning by playful
badinage between the two distingu-
ished professors. which was almost
undignified in its levity,
III merely throw this out as a
fealer," said Professor Kilrain,
SLOW does it strike you ?"
With concussion that could
have been heard ten feet or more
away, accompanied by sound OF
breaking glass. Professor SulIivan's
muscular left impacted itself for
chilly against his antagonists right
eye. Professor Kilrain oonvulsive.
~ grasped his second, the Rev. Dr.
Oliver Wendell Moulton, and both
fell to the ground and rolled over
soiiing their full dress suits most
shockingly.