The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-25
A CUB Fight.
Smith, His Friends, and the Referee Conldn't
whip the Australian.

whip the Australian.
BRUSSELS, Dec. 23.-The fight between Jem
Smith of England and 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 Smith 8
party, at the conclusion Of the fourteenth
round, the referee declared the fight draw,
and refused TO remain on the ground. Smiths
party evidently saw that the Englishman would
be beaten and they broke into the ring and in
terfered with the fair progress Of the fight.
Slavin forced the lighting 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 Savin.
The fourth round was marked by hard fight.
ing.
In the sixth round, Slavin landed a terrific
blow on one of Smiths eyes.
In the seventh round, Smith fought Slavin
to the ropes, where crowd of Smiths friends
kicked Slavin, who, however, renamed silent
Slavin again knocked Smith down in the
eighth round.
In the ninth the mob surrounding the ring
struck SlaVln 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 Rocked down.
In the fourteenth Slavin protested against
the treatment he was receiving and appealed
TO the referee for fair play His appeal was
greeted with derisiOn by Smiths friends who
shouted "PoliceW and bolted from the ground.
Slavin remained IN the ring, and Smith,
who had left when bis friends ran away,
returned. The referee then said that il was
impossible to secure fair treatment for Slavin,
and declared the fight draw. Slayin was full
of fight to the finish.
LONDON, Dec. 23.-The rufianly conduct of
Jem Smiths friends at the ring side has dis
gusted every lover OF fair play IN the kingdom,
and the unjust and cowardly decision
OF the referee declaring the fight draw,
instead of giving the stakes to Slavin,
who had his man whipped from the start,
has added to the evaporation of sport
ing men. One good result has come
from the fight, however, which affords a good
deal of consolation to all men who take interest
in pugilistic matters. The status of Smith as a
fighter is as definitely settled as though he had
won the battle easily and fairly or had been
fairly Knocked out-as he certainly would have
been had the fight been permitted to 90 on.
All accounts OF the mill agree that Smith was
was not in il. and this fact. together with the
action of the thugs who went to
the ring side in his behalf to
prevent his being whipped, will
render il impossible for him to ever again OBJ
tain reputable backing while every pugilist of
reputation will be abuudantly justified In treat
ing ghisattempts to arrangea fghtwith contempt.
When the news of the fight was received at the
Pelican club not a man present had a good
word to say for Smith, while every one praised
Slavin, who had bested the alleged champion
al - IN he CT
Smiths mob of cutthroats, who surrounded
the ring. 1t was Immediately proposed to raise
a testimonial fund OF $500 for Slavin and
f30O of the subscribed by those pres
ent within fifteen minutes.
Slavin challenges John i. Sullivan to fight
for =, 500 or 5000 a side and the champion.
ship in six months. The battle TO be either in
America or in Australia