, 1889-12-24
SLAVIN ON TOP.
Slavin and Smith Meet at
Bruges in Belgium.
The Australian Has the Best of
the Fight,
But is Badly Used by Smiths
Thugs.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 23.-Ihe fight be.
tween Jem Smith of England and Frank
Slavin, the Australian champion, was
fought this morning in private grounds
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 saw that their
man would be beaten and broke into the
ring and lnterfered 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 tie mouth. In the
third round Smith got home with his
right and left and in return was knocked
down by Slavin. The fourth round was
marked by hard fighting.
In the sixth Slavin landed a terrific
blow on one of Smiths eyes. In the
seventh Smith fought Slavin to the ropes,
when a crowd of Smiths friends kicked
Slayin. who however, remained silent. In
the eighth, Slavin again knocked Smith
down.
In the ninth round the mob surround
ing the ring struck Slavin several times.
In the eleventh. Siavin again knocked
his opponent down. In the thirteenth,
Smiths friends again struck Slavin. but
their man was once more knocked 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 police"
and bolted from the ground. Slavin re-
manned in the ring and Smith, who had
left when his friends ran away, returned.
The referee then said it was impossible to
secure fair play for Slavin, and declared
the fight a draw. Slavin was full Of fight
to the finish.
LONDON. Dec. GA report received
here of the Smith lavin prize fight ID
Belgium says Slavin showed all through
the fight that he was the better man. A
number of roughs at the ringside were
armed with knuckle busters and sticks
and tried to reach Slavin over the ropes
and the Australian was struck several
times. At the end of the thirteen
round Smith left the ring and 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 an up
roar all around the ring. At the close OF
the round Smith was very sick. Slavin
was perfectly well. The fight lasted
twenty-five minutes. 1t was reported at
one time Slayin had been killed, but the
repoI. proved false.
A later dispatch SAYS: The r%uf6anly
conduct of Smiths friends at the ring
side has disguised every lover OF fair
play In the United Kingdom and the I'M
Just and cowardly decision of the referee
in declaring the fight a draw instead of
giving the stakes to Slayin who had his
man whipped from the start, has added
to the evaporation of sporting men. One
good result has come from the fight, how
ever, which affords a good deal Of con-
ISOLATION. The status of Smith as a
fighter is a definitely settled as though he
had won the battle easily and fairly, or
had been fairly knocked out, as he GER
tainly would have been had the fight been
permitted to go on.
All accounts will agree that Smith was
not in it and this fact, together with the
action OF the thugs who went to the ring
side in his behalf will render it impossible
for Iii to ever again obtain reputable
packing, While every puRlllst with a repu-
tation will be ~abundantly Justified in treat
ing his attempts to arrange a fight with
contempt. When the news was received
at the Pelican club not a man had a good
word to say for Smith, while everyone
praised Slavin. 1t was proposed to raise
a testimonial fund of f500 for Slavin and
s300 of that sum was Immediately sub.
scribed by those present.
On Slavin's arrival at Maigate. after
hls battle with Smith there was a good
deal of enthusiasm over HIM and he
made a speech in which he said he was a
good deal more hurt by roughs who in
dulged in rufianly tactics common with
them than by Smith in the fight. Slavin's
hackers assert that Smith never hit
Slavin and he was hurt only by the crowd
who beat Slavin because they were en-
ragged al the defeat of Smith.
IN Won EnnU