The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-01
The Great Talked of Fight a Fizzle.
It Proves To Be Only Talking, @
Walking and Jumping Match,
After Ten Well Fought and Very
Scientific Rounds.
Eighty Bouts Are Engaged In and
no Decision Reached,
Except That II Was a Draw-A Dlsap-
pointed and Dlsgusted Crowd of
Sports Files Into Chicago as
Good People go to Church.

CnIcAGo Ill.,, March Si-The long talked
Of fight between the fcatherweghts, Ike
Weir, the Belfast Spider, and Frank Murphy,
OF England, for the championship OF the
world, took place at Koutts, Ind, this morn
ing, but resulted as 50 many fights have
latoly-in a most unsatisfactory manner
The referee, after the eightieth round being
Obliged to declare the fight OF for the day,
announced that II would have TO be finished
some time before Tuesday II is extremely
doubtful, however, II the men come together
again-certainly not within that time, and
another draw will have TO 80 on record, The
fight this morning was most peculiar one.
For eighteen rounds II was as scientific and
as hardly fought battle as has ever been
seen In the prize ring but the other sixty
two rounds save the sixty.sevcnth and sixty
eighth, amounted 10 absolutely nothing. In
not more than ten of them was a blow
struck and most Of the time the men did
not even put their hands up. The cNplana-
ton for this act Is the fact that after ten or
twelve rounds, the Spiders hands went back
on him, and lac could do nothing with them.
Murphy, who proved himself a most plucky
fighter, and a most wrctched general, failed
to got any advantage out Of Woirs predca-
mcnt who kept dancing just out Of tho Eng.
lish lads reach. Another thing was that
Murphy was in the best condition, aud the
great wclts left from each blow plainly
showed that he had not been rubbed"
enough as Billy Myers put H.
The spider proved himself the clcvercr OF
the two, and the way In which he sailed into
Murphy the first few rounds, smashing him
first on ono eye, then on the other, then ON
the nose, and twice knocking him down
with a rcsoundng crack on the neck, con-
yinced many that he could have won the
fight had his hands held out There were
Others, however, who were loud I'm their as-
sertions that Murphy showed himself the
better man Of the two. lie certainly proved
himself 10 be one of the gamost men that
ever entered the ring. and with his two eyes
almost closed and IN spite OF having been
sent 10 the grass twice, lac rushed his long
limbcd antagonist all over the ring. This
was In the early part Of the fight, however
| During the rest oi 10 neither seemed inclined
| to do much Of anything. and the two mel
alternately chancd and blackguardcd eacl
other, the spectators occasionally yaryinl
the monotony of the proceedings by tukinl
a hand In tho talking match, and urging th'
| lighters to give them their moneys worth
After round after round had beer fought
without a blow, Weir made n splendid rnlly
The siNty-scycnth aud siNty.oghth were M
| lively ns the most bloo1.thirsty could desire
aud Weir almost had the little fellow
knocked out. The spurt was a short one.
however, aud the old tactics were resumed,
under the instruction of the hackers. When
the spectators saw that nothing could be
expected they soon tired Of the show, aud
| the postponcmont was really made at the
crowds demand. Wulrs hacker acted very
| square aud before the rally repeatedly urgcd
the spider TO 30 In and fight even " he got
| licked.
Parson Dnyies'a management of the affair
was excellent aud his arrangements were all
carried out like clock work. A special ttnin
guarded with Pnkcrton men took the party
down and back, and the crowd was most
| orderly one considering. There were one
or two little encounters between the sports
aud the natives of Koutts that served 10 en-.
liyCn the proceedings. A very quccr spcci-
men, representing himself ~ an officer,
Sorked hir way through the crowd and cried.
| This fight Is stopped"
''Thc h YOU saw" said one Of the Chicago
admirers Of the manly art, n hc let him have
one behind the ear. and sont him rolling TO.
ward the door. Another gave him liftn
/ the man finally reached the outside in u
somewhat dnzcd condition
After the fight Weir showed but little pun
/ ishment, though b. -nid his ribs were fright
fully sorc aud ho thought his jaw was bfuk
en-. Murphy was badly bungcd up. Ills
| eyes almost closed and on his ribs was
lump 40 big ~ a California pear.
IN the sixteenth aud seventeenth rounds.
not blow was struck Or any spnrfing done
The eighteenth round both men spared
very cautiously ior an opening. Welt
finally leading. but fell short Murphy did
the same thing. aud as the round closed.
Weir got In n good one on Murphy's ribs.
10. Murphya eyes seemed almost shut.
After few moments Of caution, Murphy
mndca vicious rush, which Weir dudgcd
The round closed without any damage e
either
%. Weir led a. soon ns Murphy
came to the scratch. A cllnch fol
lowed, then n short lead from Murphy and
the round closed with the men cautiously
| walking around each other.
a. Another clinch opened this round nl
the result ~ Murphy's lead. Weir got IN !
good one ON the ribs. but nt the cnd ~ th,
| round the Spider seemed a. be cut Of wind
aud n little sick nt the stomach.
~ Murphy opened with n rush, aud 20
In good crack on the Spiders ribs, whicl
were by this time considerably cut up Wei
tried bis vicious upper cut but fell short
and ~ the round closed, Murphy gave hin
another good smash on the ribs
~. Not blow vas struck
| 20 Murphy cofncrcd Weir against th
rope aud got crack on the SPIDERS ribs
| This was the only blow of the round.
-. Weir led and the men climbed. Ate
The brcak.away Murphy, with rush
knocked his antagonist against the ropes
| In doing 10, however. ho Slipped, but "a
gaining his feet he quickly chased Weir un
til time was called.
~. This was q walk around, but Just at th
close there wns n sharp exchange, and th
round ended with clinch. The men st00
with their hands down during rounds n, p
20 20. 81 aud ~, not blow being struck.
II cawn't run around the ring like you,
says Murphy.
Come and foight me-"
30. Murphy nt last makes n rush. but ~
result followed The Spider seemed 81 hay
recovered his wind and spirits and resume
his dancing tactics practiccd early Ia th
hght but kept well away from Murphy.
The nekt thirteen rounds were withou
result aud not blow was struck the inc
Htanding looking at each other aud IA
crowd urging them ~ fight. Tho Spider
bands looked badly, and there IL a great bi
swelling on his right elbow.
~. McAyoy the Spiders hacker, tells h
man 10 stand up Ia the middle Of the rim
and Eight. Weir seemed reluctant 10 obc!