Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-14

to imagine that the contest will
be comparatively harmless No greater
mistake could be made. Some very wise
pugilists have told me that fighting with
two ounce gloves is considerably worse for
the fighters than bare fists can we'll un-
derstand the truth of this statement A con-
test hardly begins before the small amount
hair in the gloves is pushed back from the
knuckIes and the leather Of the glove soon
becomes wet and bloody, and certainly a
blow from a fist covered with material of
that kind is much more brutal than blow
from a bare fist. But the latter day brutality
has all been brought about by the interfer-
ence of those who hardly believe in or enjoy
sport of any kind. 1t seems to me, how
ever, that the club system will almost en-
tirely be vetoed, and if it is expect to find
some other method resorted to. II there is
another method introduced predict that it
will be worse than the old method.
Quite Big Claim.
While am discussing matters pugilistic,
1 am reminded of very extraordinary
claim that William Madden, manager Of
Joseph McAuliffe, the pugilist, made the
other day. The aforesaid Mr.. Madden has
told the world that McAuliffe and Slavin are
to fight ior the championship of the world.
Another extremely blatant gentleman, now
in England seeking notoriety, has indorsed
Manager Madden's declaration, and doubt
less the pair of them have worked them
selves into the belief that Manager Mad
den's opinion is quite true. The manager
ought not to stop at the worlds champion
ship, but ought to add sand of all the other
planets" What earthly reason is there to
say that McAuliffe has any claim to
any championship? None whatever. He
is. as we all know. beaten man
to start with. And Slavin: Where is his
claim? 1 can find none. So far he has
proven himself a very good second class
man and may prove himself to be even
better than that, but L don't think, nay, I'm
certain, that not a man in the world, who
knows anything at all about affairs pugilist-
ic, will for moment agree that Slavin has
the least claim to any championship title at
all. Where does Mr.. Madden put John L.
Sullivan? Certainly John amid all his
variations has not forfeited that title he has
won more than once. But once more
financial reasons are behind the
ridiculous statement of Madden. His
statement gives us to understand that as
soon as the Slavin- McAuliffe affair is over,
there will be tour" on the part of Nc
Auliffe at least Should he be the victor,
the little champion of the world may be
something attractive to gull portion Of the
public However, the farcical phase of this
business will be seen plainly enough. The
trouth is, don't expect to see McAuliffe
ever champion pugilist of the world.
Some Pertinent Remarks.
The following interesting remarks, relating
to the alleged difference of fighting certain
number of rounds and to finish, are taken
from the London Referee:
At so-called sporting club in the walworth
road, which suggests the famous lines "At
queer little club which was more like pub
(unlcensed) the long-expected glove fight be-
tween Reader and Overton took place on Fri
day night Reader is one of the soi-disaut
champions at given weight to an ounce who
are now so numerous, and Overton, though
spoken of as a novice from Birmingham, has
fairly good record. This fight was to have
been with small gloves. but owing to the set de-
lIvered at the club" containing three left +
hand gloves and only one right-hand, the most
convenient set that could be obtained was
brought into reQuisition. and these happened
to be of the large or ordinary and, compare
theless, Reader managed nearly to knock
Overton out with them. If the small
gloves had been In use as per arti.
cles, it is more than probable that
at this juncture Reader would have finished
Oyerton off; and in this particular Reader was
uplucky. Then Overton, who was not to be
disposed of Otf-hand, and who appears rare
sticker, pulled himself together and succeeded
in actually knocking Reader out at the end of
a short but somewhat merry encounter Over
ton was admirably trained, and when he was
IN dlficulties was nursed carefully, and
brought ound almost entirely BY the skill and
attention of his chief second, Baldock. The
fight SO the referee stated, was arranged to be
of 30 rounds but if the referee (B ]. ApgIe)
was not able to decide upon a winner at the
end Of that number he was empowered to
order continuance until the desired result
was arrived at Previously to this it had been
stated, in print and by word of mouth, that
Reader and Overtons bout was to be ito a
finish" But as will be seen, this is distinc-
tion without a difference. Whatever the
referee may have said, and whatever he may
have thought. what we got was actually
fight to flush. Mr.. Angles statement is
merely the modern way of evading the law
that exist against fights to finish. As it hap
pened, the highland it was very heavy and
stubborn fight while it lasted-was settled at
the end of the thirteenth round; but it was as
much fight to finish in all its arrangement
as if that fact had been stipulated in the ar
ticles. Probably it was; we are told it was
though it need not have been, seeing that the
new plan makes the thing exactly the same no
matter how it is stated. Presently we shall
find two men-especally if they are contend
ing for purse-continuing up to the thirtieth \
round, or whatever is the number mentioned,
and then the referee will order them to go on
till one gives in. 1t is perhaps unlikely that
two men contending for purse only will 60 on
for so long; still they might. and as it would be
easier than knocking one another out they may
do so one OF these days. And so we mention
4laar hlit %xr
end of illustrating our argument
If this Reader and Overton's was not
a fight to the finish should like to know
what is one. and also what the police, who a
to put down harmless display boxing with
threats of Furnishing the boxers, and other
threats of taking away the licenses of people
who allowed the boxing, have to say to this in
novation. There is another feature of the fight
which is well worthy of mention. Reader and
Oyerton fought for stake as distinguished
from PURSE e., for money put down by
their hackers under old.style conditions. This
men set about one another. Had the fight been
for one of the purses SO liberally subscribed
nowadays Reader and Overton might have
tapped one another, and looked at one another,
and cuddled one another, till both were sick of
the performance; and then one of them, as
previously arranged. by tossing otherwise
would have given in. and they would have re-
tired to cut up the subscription. The attend
ance at the Ormonde CLUB was not Of the
odor of West End fashion, but savored strongly
Of the slums and the betting ring. as anyone
can see for himself who chooses to scrutinize
the list Of real good sporrsmen" who were
present,
Baseball Affairs.
A titled poet says:
Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be.