Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-10
A DRAWN BATTLE.
Bowen, the New Orleans Lightweight, Fights
nm unknown Forty Three Holly Con-
tested Rounds-Both Men Badly Pune
ished-fhe sheriff Looks On.

! Bowen, the New Orleans Lightweight, Fights
nm Unknown Forry.Three Holly Con- (,
tested Roundabout Men Badly Pune
ished-fhe sheriff Looks On.
NEW ORLEANS, February 9.-Andy Bowen
the local lightweight who has challenged Billy
Never had fight with skin gloves at Abita
Springs to-day with Charley johnson. who
claims to be from Minneapolis. There has been
bad blood between the men. johnson was one
of the fighters imported by Professor Dennis
Butler, and was charged by the Bowen party
with participating in the loading of McHale's
gloves. Bowen told his managers that the fight
must be made If not cent
500 a side all the money johnson
could raise, and all the gate receipts. Bowen
was taken sick last Wednesday with la grippe,
and got married the same day, so his hackers
decided to forfeit the stake. Bowen would not
hear of it and came over Saturday afternoon,
fought high fever all night, remained in bed
until time to fight and appeared weighing l34
pounds johnson is q head taller, longer in
reach and was in the pink of condition. He
owned up to lS pounds. but appeared much
heavier. After considerable wrangling, George
Queen, leader of the newshoys' band, and
brother of Queen, of Haverly's minstrels, was
chosen referee, and made the best man seen
here in that position, although only STRIPPING.
The fight proved to be for almost nothing. as
only about zoo people were In the bull ring where
the mill was given. and very few of them paid
1t turned out great fight, lasting three hours
and twelve minutes. and would have been going
on yet but for the arrival of the train. In the
first round Bowen rushed his man and knocked
him down three times, punlshing him severely
around the body, but not sufficiently to knock
him out. Bowen was not hurt, but he exhausted
his vigor in the one round and was not strong
enough at any future time to deliver the finish
ing touch. After the first round Bowen con-
tinued to force the fighting but his plucky
leads met with clinches and Johnson's clever
upper-cuts in the face. This continued until
the sixth round, when Bowen cut his eye
against the rough stake in a clinch, and had
his lip cut in the two following rounds After
that he wAited:for johnson to lead, and the
latter could not be coaxed or abused in doing
The fight lasted for 4S rounds without being
finished. Bowen disobeyed his seconds and
rushed his man at intervals. getting IN some
fine body and jaw blows, and receiving upper
cuts in the mouth and eye in return. Bowen's
face was terribly swollen and he bled freely.
and Johnson's chest sides and back were cut
and bruised. In the last few rounds Johnson
did lead several times and land, but Bowen
rushed him in return and did terrible punish
ing, considering his condition. Johnson's upper
cutting at close quarters again served him in
good stead in these ruShes, although the
returns did not phase Bowen one bit
But when train time came the end
of the fight was as far off as ever and the men
were told to come forward and shake hands,
Bowen objected, but yielded finally, and that
ended his first drawn fight johnson is said to
be an alias, that party being declared to be
well-known Northwestern lightweight, while
others say he is jimmy Collins, of st. Louis,
who is wanted in connection with the barge
fight there in which the death of one Of the
fighters resulted. The net gate receipts were
divided between the meE, each getting IS.
Schoenhausen, tn: concert saloon man, who is
managing Bowen, gave him the 500 stake.
Roughs gave considerable trouble. They
were Bowen men. Once they broke into the !
ring and were promptly elected by the Sheriff,
who witnessed the affair as spectator and
peace officer. Bowen offered johnson money to
lead all through the fight, but johnson refused |
and left all the rushing to Bowen who grew
wary himself, SO that sometimes five rounds in |
succession passed without blow. The excur- |
sionists, after being out from early morning, |
only returned tonight minus dinner and |
thoroughly exhausted. Bowen is still willing |
to fight any l33 pound man in the country, and |
can obtain all the backing necessary.