Wichita eagle., 1889-12-24
DECLARED a DRAW.
Smiths Backers Display Rowdyism and
Close the Fight

BRUSSELS, Dec 23.-The fight between
Jem Smith, of England, and Frank Slavin.
the Australian champion, was fought this
morning in private arounds situated three
miles from Burgess. There was much
sQuabbling from the outset, and owing to
the outrageous conduct of Smiths party
Mt the conclusion of the fourteenth round,
the referee declared the fight draw and
refused to remain on the ground. Smith
party evidently saw their man would be
beaten and they broke into the ring
and interfered with the 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 Slavin. The fourth round was
marked by hard fighting. In the sixth
tonnd Slavin landed a terrific blow on one
of Smiths eyes. In the seventh round
Smith fought Slavis to the ropes, where a
crowd of Smiths friends kicked Slavin,
who however remained silent Slavin
again knocked Smith down in the eighth
round In the ninth the mob surrounding
the ring struck Slsvin 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 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. Sla-
win remained in the ring, and Smith who
had let when his friends ran away, re-
turned. The referee then said it was i'm
possible to secure fair treatment for Slavin
and declared the fight draw. Slavin was
full of fightto the finish.
INDIGNATION IN ENGLAND.
LONDON, Dec. 23.-The conduct of ,Jem
Smiths friends at the ringside has dis
gusted every lover of fair play in the king
dom and the cowardly decision of the ref
cree 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 sporting men, One
good result has come from the fight, how
ever. which affords a good deal of conso-
lation to those who take an interest in
pugilistic matters. The status of Smith
Rs Il 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 go on. All ac-
was not in it; 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 it impossible for him |
to ever again obtain reputable backing, |
while every puglllst of reputation will be |
justified in treating his at
tempts TO arrange fight with contempt
W hen the news of the fight was received /
at the Pelican club not man present had |
u good word 70 say for Smith, while every /
one praised Slavin, who had bested the /
alleged champion, and ut the same time |
held his own against Smiths mob Of cut \
throats, who surrounded the ring 1t was |
immediately proposed TO raise n testimo-
NAL fund of $500 for Slsvin and $500 of tho |
sum was subscribed by those present within /
fifteen minutes.
Slsvin has arrived at Marguerite on his /
return from the battle with Smith There /
was q good deal of enthusiasm over him |
upon his arrival, and he made speech. in
which he said that he was a good deal I.
more hurt by the roughs, who INDUCED in
the ruthanly tactics common with them,
than by 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 il was enraged at the /
defeat OF Smith. Slavin is now said to be |
ready to meet Sullivan or any one and /
light for the championship of the world.
A CHALLENGE TO SULLIVAN.
Slavin challenges John L. Sullivan to
light for $500 or 5000 side and the
championship in six months, the battle 20
oe slther IN America or in Australia.