Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-27
JUST 4 SOCIAL ENCOUNTER
Fight Between Jem Smith and Slayin
Ended in Draw,
The White Liyered Flunky Has no
Staying Qualities.
DiSgraeefnl Acts OF Smiths Friends at
the Ring Side.

BRussEIS, Dec. 2S.-The fight between
1em Smith, of England, and Frank Slavin,
the Australian champion, was fought this
morning IN private grounds situated three
miles from BrugeS. There was much
Squabbling from the outset, and owing to
the outrageous conduct of Smiths party,
at the conclusion of the fourteenth round
the referee declared the fight a draw and
refused to remain ON the ground, Smiths
party evidently saw h,at their man would
be beaten, and they broke into the ring and
int-rfered with the fair progress of the
fight.
Slavin forced the fighting at the start.
hitting Smith several times ON the chest
and head in the first two rounds. The
men fell together and when Slavin rose he
was bleeding from the mouth. In the
third round Smith got home with his right
and left and in return was knocked down
by Slayin. The fourth round was marked
by hard lighting. In the sixth round
Slavin landed terrific blow on one of
Smith 5 eyes. In the seventh round Smith
fought Savim to the ropes, where a crowd
of Smith friends kicked Slavin, who,
however, remained silent Slavin again
Knocked Smith down in the eight round.
In the ninth the mob surrounding the ring
struck Slavin several times. In the
eleventh round Slavin again knocked his
opponent down. Smiths friends again
struck Slavin during the thirteenth round,
but their man was once more knocked
down.
In the fourteeth Slavin protested against
the treatment he was receiving and APP
pealed to the referee for fair play. His APP
peal was greeted with derision by Smiths
friends who shouted Police. " and bolted
from the ground Slavin remained in the
ring, and Smith who had left when his
friends ran away, returned. the referee
then said that it was impossible to secure
fair treatment for Slavin, and decided the
fight n draw. Siavin was full of fight to
the finish.
Slavin showed all through tho fight that
he was the best man. 4 number of roughs
ut the ring side. armed with knuckle-dus-
terS and sticks, tried TO reach Slavin over
the ropes, and the Australian was struck
several times. At the end of the thirteenth
round Smith left the ring. Slavin re-
manned and claimed the fight, but the
referee would not award it to him. After
a short time Smith returned to the ring.
During the next round there was great
uproar all around the ring. At the close
of the round Smith was very sick, Slavin
was perfectly well. The fight lasted
twenty-five minutes.
LONDON. Dec. 23.-The ruffianly con-
duct of Smiths friends at the ring side
has disguSted every lover of fair play in
the kingdom and the unjust and cowardly
decision of the referee in declaring the
fight draw instead of givingit to Slavin,
who had his man whipped from the start,
has added TO the exasperation of sport
ingmen. One good result has come from
the fight, however, which affords good
deal of consolation. The status of Smith
as a fighter is as definitely settled as
though he had won the battle easily and
fairly or oeen fairly knocked out-as he
certainly would have been had the fight
been permitted to go ON. All accounts
of the mill agree that Smith was not
in it and this fact together with the ac.
ton of the thugs who went to the ring~side
in his behalf, will render it impossible for
him to ever again obtain reputable back
ing, while every pugilists reputation will
be abundantly justified in treating his at
temptS to arrange fight with contempt.
When the news was received at the Peli-
can club not a man had good word to
say for Smith, while every one praised
Slavin. 1t was proposed TO raise testi-
monial fund of f500 for Slavin and $500
of the sum was Immediately subscribed by
those present.
LONDON, Dec. 23-Slavin, the pugilist,
has arrived at Margate on his return from
the battle with Smith There was good
deal of enthusiasm over him when he ar
rived, and he made speech in which he
said that he was good deal more hurt by
the roughs, who indulged in the rufhanly
tactics common with thsm than 10y Smith
in the fight.
Slavin's hacker asserts that Smith never
hit Slavin, and that he was hurt only by
the crowd, which beat Slavin because en-
ragged at the defeat of Smith Slavin is
now said to be ready to meet Sullivan or
any one and fight for the championship of
the world.
LONDON, Dec 23.-Slavin challenges
Sullivan to fight for 81, 500 or g., 600 a side
and the championship in six months, the
battle to be either in America or Aus
tralia