Wichita eagle., 1889-02-27

tainly ought to be, considering the presens
apparent popularity" Of scientific hsti-
cuffs. What, then, is the difference between
the two modesa Let US see.
The first rule which governs the prize
ring, says the London Sunday Times, is that
the battle shall be fought upon bit OF
turf. By the consent of the high contract
ing parties the ropes and stakes, forming
square Of twenty four feet, might be allowed
to enclose so much sand mating, mattress,
sawdusted deal foor or feather bed. but the
rule says, CURLY, turf. The scratch Is
mark IN the center of the ring. Each man
shall be attended by a second and bottle
holder" Tossing for corners (the man who
has his antagonist placed down hill with the
sun in his eyes has an advantage to start
with, providing each fighter :" with hand
kerchief of a color suitable to his own
fancy" the final disposal of those trophies,
the appointment of umplres and referee
need not be dwelt upon.
The seconds are to see that the men carry
no improper substance in their scant con-
limitations, and to take care that the boots
worn by the gladiators contain no more
than the regulation number OF spikes
namely, two in the broadest part of the sole
and one IN the heel Then, principals and
seconds having shaken "hands across" in
the center of the ring, the squires are to
withdraw and suffer the battle to proceed.
1t is the duty Of the seconds to remove their
men when one or both fall to their respective
corners, and afford them the necessary
assistance" until, at the expiration OF thirty
seconds, the umpire cries Timc!" There.
upon each man must leave the knee OF his
bottle-h0lder unaided and walk to his own
side of the scratch Tho rule as to foul
blows, getting down without being hit, but
ting, and SO forth. are generally known,
but there is one solemn III junction which is
not, and as it was evidently the suggestion
of a dry humoFist, | quote it: 9TH sec
onds," etc, "shall refrain from all offensive
and irritating expressions, in all respects
conducting themselves with order and de.
corum, and confine themselves TO the dill
gent and careful discharge Of their duties to
the principalsn The comments of one
Baldock on this admonition would be eGify-
ing: 1.-The use of hard substances, such as
stones, or sticks, or of resin (Stc) shall be
deemed foul!' So runs the law; but while
the letter of it is obeyed its spirit is disre-
garded A pocketful of powdered resin is
part of the equipment Of a second, who now
and then dUsts his principals hands with
the stuff. 1t may be mentioned in passing
that some days before the day of battle the
hands of the bruiscrs are soaked in pickle
for the purpose Of making them hard. So
much for knuckles; now for gloves
Under Lord Queensberry's rules compet-
itors are to box in a twenty four-foot ring in
light boots and shoes without spikes, or in
socks, with knickerbockers, breeches or
trousers. and to wear jerseys. The number
of rounds shall be three; the duration of
the first two rounds shall be respectively
three minutes, and the third four minutes,
the interval between each round one min
ute. The spirit Of fair play dominates these
regulations. Note. for example, these:
''The referee shall have power to stop the
contest in either the second or third round
in the event of its being very one-sded,n
and he may ''disqualify competitor who is
boxing unfairly by fiicking or hitting with
the open glove, or by hitting with the inside
or butt of the hand, the wrist, or elbow, or
by wrestling or roughing at the ropes" In
glove contests for endurance, in point of
fact glove fights, we nave the nearest ap-
preach to the severity of knuckle fights.
The rounds are of three minutes duration,
and one minute time. No wrestling or hug
ging allowed. The men fight to a finish,
that is, until one is knocked out.n