Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-05
BARE KNUCKLES.
A FAIR FIGHT TO THE FINISH.

A FAIR FIGHT TO THE FINISH.
Two Athletes Determine Their Merits
in Twenty-four-FoOt
Ring.
Between the hours OF 3 and 4 yes
terday morning Spring street, between
the Nadeau Hotel and the Brunswick,
was grand hack stand. Vehicles lined
the space and the drivers thereof, like
the fabled Sphinx, gave no sign of the
secret of their presence there. Groups
of men gathered upon the sidewalk or
sauntered up and down. At :15 or there
abouts, one after another of the well-flled
hacks drove away to the Arroyo Seco.
The cause of this mysterious early
morning excursion was explained when
half dozen men began stretching ropes
in the dancing pavilion until the tradi-
tional twenty-four foot ring was made.
1t was, indeed, the spot and place of a
fistic encounter.
The principals in the affair we're James
Harrison, steTeotyper on one of the
morning papers of this city, and Charley
Burke, cook in the employ of the vi
emma Bakery. After the usual prelimi-
naries Trainer Geo. Flint announced
that the fight would be to q finish for
scientific points, with skin gloves, Mar
quis of Queensberry rules. He called
upon the officers of the law present to
stop the fight at the beginning or let it
proceed to the end. They declined to
interfere.
| SHE'D THEIR CAsToRss.
At 6:2O A. M, Harrison, in company
with his seconds, Fred. Short and George
Flint, appeared in the ring and took
their positions in the northeast corner.
They were soon followed by Burke, his
second, Martin Murphy, and the bottle
holder. Harrison wore white tights,
with purple trunks and white guage
shirt without sleeves. Burke had on
blue knee-breeches and was stripped to
the waist. The former weighed 1873
pounds and the latter 100. Both men
were in fair condition but showed lack
of sufficient training.
Charles King, the well-known light
weight of New York City, was selected
as referee and Joseph Manning time
keeper. Bets were freely made on Har-
rison without takers. One rash indivi-
dual bet twenty dollars on The Kid
(Burke.) A collection was taken upeto
defray the expenses of the affair, the
floor sanded and the eager throng
strained forward in expectancy as at
6 :34 O'Clock the referee called 'time."
TO THE SCRATCH.
The men shook hands and cautiously
spared for an opening. Harrison led
out first on Burke's ribs; there were q
few light exchanges, clinch, break. and
Harrison tapped Burke's cheek just as
time was called. 1t was very neat bout
| for points.
SECOND ROUND.
Burke was aggressive and took Harri-
son on the cheek with his left. Harrison
returned on Burke's chin. After sparring
for wind Harrison planted a stinging
blow on Burke's right cheek, quickly
following with one on his nose, which
brought the blood. (First blood allowed
Harrison by referee.) Burke rushed
little and made lunge for Harrison's
ribs, but fell short. Burke was little
ratified in this round and showed his dis
comfture.
THIRD ROUND.
Harrison came up boldly while Burke
ing and dealt Burke couple OF star
this point of the fight claret flowed freely
III Sc, nd o,,ts I.
right cheek. The latter made an effort
short. A good cross cut, however, fol-
Here Harrison lost his self-control and
| the latter's worries. Burke forced the
fighting and Harrison dropped against
the ropes. He found his feet and again
was forced to the ropes. After some
rapid exchanges Harrison was rushed
under the ropes. By this time Burke's
optics began to close, blood was pouring
| from his nose and he was short of wind.
Harrison let loose some claret and there
was slight bruise under his left eye.
The round finished with clinch.
FOURTH ROUND.
Harrison got in several swingers on
Burke's face with terrific force. After
sparring for wind, Burke rallied little
and landed on Harrison's cheek. The
latter countered with stinger. A little
in-fghting and Harrison dropped. Re-
gaining his feet, Harrison played on
| Burke's eyes, and after slight retalia-
ton by Burke, the former was pushed
against the ropes.
FIFTH ROUND.
! Burke came up, and Harrison went in
to end the round with rush, and let out
with telling sledge-hammer blows.
Burke managed to get in one light blow,
followed by close fighting, Harrison get
ting in heavily. Burke could scarcely
see. His face was swollen and puffed
into purple mass. After fierce blow
on his bruised and bleeding face he stag
gered to his corner and his second threw
up the sponge.
The referee declared the fight in favor
of Harrison, whose friends, jumping
over the ropes into the ring, congratul-
ated him, while the friends of Burke
praised him for his gamey work.
The fight actually lasted thirteen min
utes, barring rests between rounds.
Harrison's hands were badly used up,
but otherwise he was scarcely hurt.
Burke's punishment was severe, but it
was all on the face and head. In other
1