St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-14
The TWenty-Round Mill at
Minneapolis Awarded to
the Streator Man,
Although Needham Gets First
Blood and Is Not
Knocked Out.
The Illinois Man Receives
Much More Punishment
Than the Minnesotian.
Some Kicking Over the De-
eision, Which, However,
Seemed Just.

The twenty-round two-Ounce glove
contest between Dannie Needham, of
st. Paul, and Billy Meyer, of Streator,
H., for the championship of the North
west, at the Washington rink, Mime
apolis, last evening, was decided in
Meyers favor, as having 1.-THE
best of it," although Needham
was not whipped and the question of
superiority, if the fight should go to a
finish, is still unsettled. To put it
tersely, Meyer did most of the fighting
and got the worst of ihe fighting as
far as appearances went. as his face
was badly bruised and cut, while
Needham didn't show much punish
ment. The crowd was slow in assem-
bling. The high tariff rate of s. seat
tor protection inside of the railing had
the effect of leaving good many of the
best seats vacant. The price was finally
reduced to s., and the empty rows were
partially filled. The greater part of the
audience, however, preferred free trade
seats at g head on the outside of the
railing. The usual bombardmentO on the
building was made from without, and
the boards at the windows near the roof
were battered off to allow the holders of
reserved seats on the roof to wit
ness the contest without paying.
The crowd amused itself by cheering
and yelling as well-knOwn men ap-
peared. The aldermanic contingent
that usually graces the king row
was notably conspicuous by its
absence, politics evidently hav-
ing restraining effect upon
the tendency of the average city father
to court the danger of a newspaper
reference TO his presence at pugilistic
event. Mayor Ames appeared arm in
arm with
MAYOR SUTPHIN. OF DULUTH,
and a number of friends, and was
greeted with yell. At $3.50 o'clock
Dannie Needham appears, accompanied
by Prof. John Clark and Jimmy Griffin,
the lightweight. He was cordially
greeted, and this caused a red-faced
Streator man to yell, lone hundred
TO seventy-fve that Meyer wins.
"GO yOu,'' laconicaliy came from
the st. Paul amen corner, and the bet
was made. One minute wait occurred
before Meyer appeared. Wrapped in a
blanket he did not look unlike an In
dian. He was accompanied by Alf Ken
nedy, his backer, who tossed the two
ounce mits into the ring, while Ed Meyer
and "Link" Pope were his seconds.
The announcement that Joe ManniX, of
the Pioneer Press, would referee was
received with approval. James Muir
name, of Duluth, was named as time
keeper for Needham, and B. +. Perry,
of Detroit. Mich, for Meyer, and time"
was called at 9:52. Needham won
FIRST BLOOD
in the second round, and secured the
only square knOck-down of the fight in
the eighth round. Although he showed
up best in the seventh round, and from
that on was the freshest of the two, he
allowed Meyer to force the fighting
throughout. and was on the defensive the
greater part of the time, and it was this
view of the contest that led the referee
to award the match to Meyer. The first
six rounds were about even. The
seventh was slightly in favor of
Meyer. Needham had the best
of the eighth by long odds. The
ninth and tenth were even. Meyer had
the eleventh and twelfth. The three
following rounds were not effective.
Meyer had the advantage in the six
teenth. Needham came up fresh in the
seventeenth, but the remaining rounds
were not effective, although he may
have had just shade the best of
the nineteenth and twentieth. The
crowd evidently desired draw, and,
although the fight was close one, the
referees decision is undoubtedly cor
rect. Needham was backed for 200
by j. l.. Black, of st. Paul. and Meyer
by Alf Kennedy, of StreatOr. H., for
the same amount. There were besides
numerous side bets, aggregating several
thousand dollars. The receipts were
divided, rs per cent to the winner and
% per cent to the loser. About 200
people were present.
APLEA FOR FAIRNESS.
Before the men shook hands the ref
cree said he wanted to see fair and Wig
OrOus fighting on both sides. As the
men faced each other the difference in
the physical makeup might be taken as
all index to the contest that fol-
lowed. Although Needham had weighed
134$4 pounds in the morning, and
Meyer 1887. Meyer looked the heavier.
Being cOmpactly built, with heavy
shoulders and hips, he appeared, as he
proved to be, the stronger man. Need
ham had the advantage in reach and
height, and was quicker on his feet.
Round First-NOt really effective
blow was struck. Both men looked for
openings, which they did not find,
Meyer was on the aggressive, but both
fell short in their deliveries.
Round SecOnd-The work was some
what livelier. Meyer tried several
rushes and forced Needham to
his corner and got in a
couple of hard smashes on Needham's
head. The latter returned with blow
that brought the blood from a cut over
Meyers left eye. At the close Meyer
rushed again and got in couple of
sharp facers with his left and swung
his right against Needham's body.
Needham retaliated with two blows on
Meyers face.
Third ROund-NOt blow was landed
in this round, both falling short.
Fourth ROund-Meyer rushed Need
ham several times and forced him to the
ropes twice, but Needham got away
handily by lodging and ducking. Meyer
got in swing with his right that cut
Needham's head, bringing the blood.
Neither had the advantage.
Fifth ROund-Needham was forced to
the ropes again, and dropped to the
floor twice to avoid punishment. Meyers
had the best of the round perhaps, as
he go in some hard deliveries, and only
received light exchanges.
Round Six-Needham delivered a
facer at the start off that swung Meyer
off his feet, although he was up in an
instant. This angered Meyer, who
rushed Needham repeatedly, the latter
dropping to the floor several times.
Needham landed the most blows, but
they were all light.
Round Seven-Meyer had slight adj
vantage. He got in several hard punches
with his left and body swing with his