Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-03

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ton Players Club. Mccormick wins the
worlds skating championship.
NEW ORLEANS, February 2.-Notwith-
standing all that has been said about the
death of prize fighting in New Orleans,
Kilrain appeared in the role of gladiator
to-day at West End in the full ligh: of day,
with the police keeping guard over the
crowd and in front of as fine an assemblage
as ever gathered on such an occasion. Kill
rain made good deal out of the Sullivan
fight but his flight from the law and his sub
sequent return to stand trial at the site OF
his defeat by Sullivan cost him all he had.
In consequence he was not flush when he
came from Richburg to New Orleans after
having been found guilty of assault and
battery. The big pugilist has many friends
here and they are anxious to get up
some sort of an exhibition TO assist
him. His return was at the right time.
FELIX WAS A STAR.
There was heavyweight starring the pugi-
lists nrmanent of New Orleans who many peo-
pie commenced to believe was of the first mag
nitude. HIS name is Felix Vacquelin, a tall
strapping youngster, quick on his feet, strong
as a lion and hands like battering rams, both as
to size and driving power. An Englishman
named Hin, who was exhibiting in a concert
saloon, picked him up for an easy target and
Vacquelin knocked him out in one round.
A Mississippi Italian giant, from Bay st.
Louis was matched against him and Bozzett
was whipped out in two rounds Then Prof
Dennis Butler played a seeming joke the
Frenchman and matched him against Lem Nc
Gregor the St Joe Kid. They fought on De-
cember l and Vacquelin knocked him helpless
in the thirteenth round. Vacquelin wasted
half his blows in tha: battle, but when he did
hit he hit like Sullivan and stood punishment
with the same scornful indifference. The
town, that is, the sporting part of it, went wild
with enthusiasm, and Vacquelin was put upon
championship pedestal and worshipped as
coming king. So when Kilrain came there was
match waiting for him.
A GOOD NATURED MAN.
Vacquelin is a good-natured, lion-hesrted
sort of fellow who would fight anybody. and
his friends were anxious for him to meet tho
Baltimorean, because he is probably the most
scientific man IN the world, and Vacquelin's
measure could be best taken by such stand
ard. Then there was the certainty of large
attendance and besides the local mans friends
had secret feeling that he might accidentally
knock out Sullivan's late antagonist and jump
into prominence at once Kilrain was as will
ing as the home man. He saw chance for
earning big purse without much trouble, and
at the same time, give him full opportunity to
work up favorable sentiment in Mississippi
by remaining here a few weeks longer Kill
rain wanted four round 90, thinking that it
would be long enough for all purposes. but
Vacquelin's men wanted ten, so they compro-
missed upon six rounds with soft gloves. A
purse of So 900 was raised and put up in safe
hands, January l9 fixed as the date, and Vac
quelin went into training, while hIlrain went
back to Richburg, hunted and lived regularly,
doing well and strong without reducing himself
to starvation weight
PASSED AN ORDINANCE.
The last Butler show, in which he loaded Nc
Hale's gloves so as to knock out Andy Bowen,
caused a reaction against fighting and led to
the passage of an ordinance prohibiting such
sport. Kilrain had spent Christmas away from
his family and wasted a month in the South
and opposed postponement but finally agreed
to a change OF date until to-day. In the mean
time, the City Attorney decided that boxing
exhibitions did not come under the head of
prize fights prohibited by law. and this obViated
the necessity of going outside the city. Last
Tuesday the council passed an ordinance allow
ing fighting before chartered clubs except on
Sunday, but the Mayor held the law over until
Monday before signing and that allowed the
Kilrain affair to come of. The theater at West
End was the scene of the contest and both
men were out at the lake side early and ready
for the meeting. KiIrain came from Richburg
Friday looked as brown as berry, weighed
2O7 pounds and was a better man than the day
ne fought Sullivan.
KILRAIN IN GREAT SHAPE.
There was a good color in his face, his skin
was pink with the glow of health, and the
muscles were splendidly developed without
being stiff. Poor Vacquelin was also fit physi-
cally in a general way, but complained of pain
in the groin, which caused a swelling in his left
leg and made him little lame. He never
thought of backing out however and when, a
few days ago. Mike Cleary was engaged to put
the finishing touches to his training he gladly
accepted the chance for a daily bout with
Sullivan's second. The crowd commenced as
sembling at about O'Clock. By $50 there was
a notable gathering Of nearly l5OO people.
Tickets were placed at s. and IS, and that had
the double effect of shutting out the impecuni-
Gus hoodlum and making she gate receipts
more than pay the purse. Some of the ''oldest
and best were out. There were prominent
educators, members of the exchanges and bon
ton clubs Federal State and city officers
militia men and athletes and the race horse
men were out in force.
PROMINENT PEOPLE PRESENT.
Among the larter were Phil Dwyer and Dave
Gideon, who had just arrived from New York
Colonel ]. B. Deason and A. T. Perryman of
Hattressburg, Kilrain's lawyers, were also
present. They came down from Jackson where
they had just submitted Kilrain's brief to the
Supreme Court, and were so confident of a
happy result from what they heard there that
they rushed down with the news
A number of Purvis people and other country
people also came TO the city, and especially for
the affair, and altogether it was quite respect
able gathering.
In the center of the theater a platform was
erected, surrounded by strong stakes and three
lines of ropes About $3.50 p. NJ Kilraln stalked
in like an Indian chief, Dareheaded and a
blanket wrapped around his shoulders His
hair was not close cropped his handsome mus
tache was allowed to remain, his beard was un-
shaven and only his carefully trained appear
ance, his bare chest, white tights black socks |
and canvas shoes showed that he was on deck |
for an argument off hand.
MULDooN BEHIND KILRAIN.
Doc Adler. Kilrain's Baltimore friend, was by |
his side as second That was expected but il |
was somewhat of a surprise to see wrestler |
William Muldoon, Sullivan's trainer. acting in |
the same capacity. The three made snowy |
group of American health and strength, and |
were given a warm reception. Ten minutes |
later Vacquelin marched in with his retInue |
and was accorded an ovation. He was accom- |
panied by Mike Cleary and James Sweeney, as |
seconds, and Mike Oliver as bottle-hoider. |
Nacquelin SHE'D his hat into the ring |
before jumping lightly to the plat.
Kilrain and then threw off his Overcoat and
displayed his naked bosom, brown tights, red i
sash tied with a lovers knot at the side, and |
leather fighting shoes Although VacQuelin /
measures 6 feet inches. he did not look larger |
than Kilrain, who is only feet 1015 inches. /
Vacquelin is as clean built as greyhound,
with sturdy neck, well set chest and shoulders, |
and arms and legs that do not seem to be as
strongly muscled as they are on account of /
their length. Kilrain, on the contrary, looked
broad and heavily muscled and doomed up like |
Sullivan did when he faced the Baltimorean at
Richburg
THE REFEREE APPOINTED.
There was not much trouble selecting a ref
cree. Pat Kendrick was suggested and was