Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-13
"LET NO ONE ESCAPE"
A Sunday Morning Prize Fight Inter.
rupted by the Police.

Il "A SuuUay CIOrn1uS FTlLe FI8ut Autefs
| rupted by the Police.
Jesse JAxEs" THE BLACK CHAMPION, AND LEE
DAMERIS Plight THREE LIVELY RoUNDs-A
RAID ANpA STAMPEDE WHILE THE FOURTH rs
| IN PRosRsss-ro THE POLICE COURT.
| stampede toward the front door, a cry of
shalt" from Sergeant Boyle and the command
| ''let no one escape was the sudden termina-
ton Of the prize fight which was in progress at
Will Northedge's saloon on 18th street last
Sunday morning when the officers of the first
precinct, under the command of Sergeants
Boyle and Montgomery. rushed in.
After the sparring exhibition at Kernan's Sat-
| urday night the devotees of the fistlc art were
given the tip that there would be fight to a
| finish with small gloves at the above-named
place. just after midnight 1t lacked FIVE min
utes of Sunday morning when a STAR reporter
entered the saloon. He found nothing unusual
about the place except that quite q gathering
OF the local sports were there discussing the
merits OF the English lightweight Fielden,
who had just succeeded in besting Billy Young.
the clever light weight from Baltimore. The
clock behind the bar had scarcely finished
striking IL when the proprietor announced that
1t was time to close. This announcement had
the effect OF getting rid of those who were ig-
to take place.
A TRANSPORTATION SCENE.
No sooner had the doors been closed than the
scene inside developed into one of hustle and
excitement. Men forsook the bar chairs were
vacated and the pool table was deserted. The
objective point was the rear of the building
where a space about Is by "a feet had been
cleared of everything save two chairs placed
Numerically opposite each other, and here the
crowd assembled. There no wait in the
proceedings, for soon a man stood in the mid
IDLE OF the floor and announced that there was
''a-goir' to be a scrap between Jesse James,
dark weight and Lee Damerin, Teller as wants
to be lighter and that as the men were mot
doin' it for fun" all present were expected
to chip in little sumpen for purse"
The hat was accordingly passed around and
upward of 50 collected. Once more the same
orator stood in the middle of the space and in
troduced the fighters something after this stye
'.Gentermen, l want TO make yer painted
wild Jesse James, de black weight champion"
As he gesticulated toward the door a shiny
black man was seen elbowing his way through
the crowd. He was naked to the waist. After
bowling his Acknowledgements in rather an awk-
ward manner he took one of the chairs, while
the crowd applauded.
Stop that noise! Do you want de coppers
in here?" asked the master of ceremonies
cause if yer do some more noise like that'll
fetch 'em, sure" There silence in court
after this and Damerin. the other contestant,
was introduced.
THE FIGHT.
After the customary handshaking time was
called and both men set to work to win the
nine dollars. The first round passed off with
tious.
In the second round they warmed to their
work and some rafting close fighting ensued
The third round was hot from its commence
ment, and as both men took their seats at the
call OF time the sports were all congratulating
themselves on the fact that they were going to
see a good mill. They were doomed to disap-
pointment. however, for hardly had the fourth
round commenced when the rear windows
were smashed in and Sergeant Boyle with a
posse Of blue coats entered
THE STAMPEDE.
Then followed such a stampede as is rarely
Witnessed With mad rush as though run
ming for their lives the crowd surged toward
the front door, overturning stoves, pool tables
and everything III their way. The men seemed
wild and all bent upon escaping by the front
door. Some fell by the way, but the crowd
rushed on, until brought to sudden halt by the
presence of Sergeant Montgomery and a squad
of officers who were there to cut off retreat III
that direction. The officers in their uniforms
surrounding the excited crowd of men formed
striking tabieau. For moment all was quiet
and the dim light threw a strange ghost-like APP
pearnce upon the occupants OF the room. Ser
geant Montgomery broke the silence by detail
ing the men to search the apartments over
head and prevent escape from the windows.
In the meantime the officers had secured one
of the fighters, the proprietor of the house and
halt q dozen witnesses. But where was Jesse
James, the other contestant? He had disap-
peared as mysteriously as though he had melted
into air.
COOLING OFF.
Sergeant Montgomery found him later, with
his hacker, cooling off in the Ice chest. where
they had secreted themselves. The two we're
dragged from their novel hiding place amidst
the laughter of the Interested spectators. 1t
was after o'clock when the strange assemblage
broke up-the officers allowing all to go save
the principals. the proprietor OF the place and
six witnesses, whom they formed in line and
marched around to the station house. where
charge of affray was placed against the
fighters and the charge of keeping o disorderly
house against the propriotors. The witnesses
were released on their own recognizance to
appear at the Police Court this morning. Much
credit is due Sergeants Boyle and Montgomery
for the manner in which they conducted the
raid. Nothing could have been better arranged
----or-