Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-06
William Bissell and George Gillen
Have a Desperate Battle on a
Boat Yesterday Morning.
THE M'KEESPORT MAN WINS.
An Accident Ends the Fight and the
Men Are Carried Away Battered,
BrHiSed and Helpless.
RYAN DEFEATS DOYLE IN 27 ROUNDS
Local Football Plsyers to Begin Practice at Exposition
Park To-Day.

What the pugilistic talent would call a
''rattling" prize fight took place early yes
terdav morning, between William Bissell
of McKeesport, and George Gillen, of Mans
field. 1t is some time since a local tstlc
argument was fraught with so many features
Of old-time bruising as the one in question.
and the few who saw it couldn't well desire to
see livelier scenes of gore. The battle was for
500 side and $500 of gate receipts. Queens
berry rules governed and two-ounce gloves were
used The battle ground was boat far
from the maddinC crowd" Nobody aboard
the boat seemed to be able to tell Just where it
was located when the fight took place. 1t was
on the Ohio river. but whether it was in Ohio,
PENNSYLVANIA or West Virginia waters was a
puzzle that nobody could solve
There were about lIG spectators at the fight
made up of all sorts and conditions of men
from the honest politician to the chuck-a-luck
manipulation. OF the number named 20 paid s.
each to board the boat. The ''crowd" left
Union depot at 1905 yesterday morning. and
iourneyed TO Rochester, where the boat was
boarded Once aboard all was serene, as re-
fre>hments and TASKS were numerous. The
boat steamed of. and was soon enveloped IN
dense log. The principals were put 10 Deu,
and during their rest of about three hours
there were lots OF fun.
THE BRUISING STARTS.
shortly after O'Clock the bruIsers and their
seconds appeared in a ring formed on the bare
deck of the boat The ring was abou: q feet.
William Simpson was selected to carry out the
very thankIess duties of referee. Bissen was
attended by a Nick eesport man, while a Mans
field citizen esquired Gillen. The latter
weighed l411a pounds, and Blssell was pound
heavier. Gillen certainly looked in the better
condition, Bssell was much TOO finely drawn.
This fact nearly lost the Mcheesport man the
battle. Just before the proceedings started
betting brisk at SO to IS on Bissell. The
referee introduced the contestants and added:
"Now, gentlemen, We want no remarks.
These two men are friendly, but are going TO
fight. We want no more. Dye hear that?"
This oratorial effort was greeted with cheers.
but the noise which subsequently followed
Showed that there was no respect at all for the
referee, and the battered faces and bruised bod
les showed that theirs must have been very
funny friendship.
The battle lasted five rounds nearly 20
minutes and for banging, humping. smashing
and rolling over few if any have eXcelled 1t
From start to finish the contestants simply
battered away at each others bodies and faces
without intermission except during the minute
at end of each round: indeed, it was surprising
that human nature under the circumstances
could hold out so long.
THERE WAS LITTLE SCIENCE.
The first round showed that neither man had
much regard for science. and they banged
awav at each other just like two energetic
blacksmiths az work. Bissell, to use phrase,
handled himself much better than the young
man from Mansfield but the latter insisted on
giving one in return for everyone he got. He
used his right hand with great success, while
Blssell kept pegging away at Bisselrs ribs.
Whatever honor their WAS in first blood Giilen
got it by cutting Bissels mouth. The round
ended iE favor of Gillen, and oven money was
bet on his chances of victory.
In the next round, however, Gillen was
almost beaten into helpless mass. His face
was knocked out of shape and his body
bruised. Once or twice he stood dazed and
exhausted amid the yells OF his friend urging
the poor fellow on. He rallied and thumped
Bissen around until the latter's mouth and
eyes were awful to look at The argument
continued, anG in the third round Gillen ap-
peared more vigorous than ever. He fought
BisseE round and round the ring; knocking
his face into mass of blood Bissell now
stood sJll, with his hands down, and looked
most pitiab!e object
AN EXCITING SCENE.
His wind had failed him. but Gillen was ac-
tuaIly so stupid and blind himself that, instead
of gong in entirely tor Bisselrs gore, he made
his way to Bisselps corner, the opposite direc-
tion TO where Bissell was standing. The yells
and shouts of the crowd were deafening. Gill
len had chance to settle the affair. but his
senses were so much battered out of him that
he dldE' know which way to turn. They closed
again, and BiSsell was knocked to his knees by
a swinging riCht-hand blow.
From this stage on the affair was simply
question Of brute strength. Each blindly
struck out at the other as long as human ma
ture would stand il. Clinch after cinch took
place amid the most lndian-like yells of the
crowd. Both men were cut and bleeding ter
ribly and when the fifth round was halfthrough
Gillen really seemed to have more life in him
than his opponent They were as GLAD to clinch
as a drowning man is to grasp a life bouy, and
during one of their clihches near the roDes
they both topped over the ropes, GIllen under
most His head struck the deck violently and
lie became unconscious He lay in that con-
dition for nearly a minute and the fight was
awarded to Bissell. Oh! what wild scenes fol-
lowed.
The party returned 10 the city at / o'clock
yesterday afternoon. The principals presented
a sorry appearance.